Yes, I’ve finally decided to do it: host my own film blogathon!
I considered many, many different topics for my first blogathon, but kept coming back to the Sword & Sandal epics that have captivated film and TV viewers from the silent era right up to the present day. Please join in and celebrate the clash of steel in the arena, the miraculous events of the Bible, the political upheavals of ancient empires!
The event will take place July 8, 9 & 10, 2016. I will not be assigning days. Simply post your articles on or before these dates.
I will allow articles about films made in any country from the birth of film to the present day.
Since there are so many great TV shows that fall under this subject, I will allow them, too. One-off TV movies, mini-series, and weekly TV shows are all permissible.
NO DUPLICATES. There is so much to choose from that I ask you please not to repeat films/topics. However, different versions of the same story are fine.
You do not have to cover a specific film or TV show. General/overview topics about the genre would be great!
What kinds of films/TV shows are eligible?
Bible stories, both Old and New Testament.
Fantasy movies based on ancient mythology.
Anything taking place during ancient history—from biblical times to the fall of the Roman Empire.
Barbarians, both historical and fantasy versions.
Sword and Sandal movies tend to take place in Europe (Greece & Rome), North Africa (Egypt), and the Middle East (what is now modern Israel, Iran, etc.). I will stretch the time constraint to allow other areas of the world. For instance, if you’re dying to write about a Genghis Khan movie, I’ll say yes, even though that’s after the fall of the Roman Empire.
Modern retellings/reimaginings: I will allow this on a case by case basis. If you’re not sure it fits the theme, run it by me and I’ll let you know if it is O.K.
Comedies/parodies and animated films are also welcome!
If you need some suggestions, here are a few lists to help you make your choice:
Films Based on Greco-Roman Mythology
These lists are not comprehensive! They are just to help inspire you.
I couldn’t find a good list of TV shows, so here are a few suggestions:
I, Claudius
A.D. (miniseries)
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Xena
Rome
Spartacus
To claim your topic, please request your choice in the comments section below, or contact me on Twitter (@DebbieVee). Include the name and URL of your blog. Then grab one of the banners below, display it on your blog and link it back to this post.
Thank you so much for joining in!
THE ROSTER SO FAR:
Serendipitous Anachronisms: Jason and the Argonauts (1963)
A Shroud of Thoughts: The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958)
Silver Screenings: The Robe (1953)
Moon In Gemini: Demetrius and the Gladiators (1954)
Defiant Success: The Vikings (1958)
GirlsDoFilm: The Trojan Women (1971)
Bible Films Blog: The Prodigal (1955)
Critica Retro: Helen of Troy (1956)
Bewitched with Classic TV: Three Stooges TV episodes set in ancient times
In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood: Hercules (1958); Agnes Moorehead’s religious beliefs
portraitsbyjenni: Samson and Delilah (1949)
The Cinematic Frontier: The Ten Commandments (1956)
Radiator Heaven: Conan the Barbarian (1982)
The Midnight Drive-In: The Golden Voyage of Sinbad (1973) & Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger (1977)
Old Hollywood Films: The 1937 and unfinished version of I, Claudius
Thoughts All Sorts: 300 (2006)
Cary Grant Won’t Eat You: Great fight scenes in Sword & Sandal movies
Voyages Extraordinaires: The Ten Commandments (1923)
Film Music Central: Quo Vadis (1951)
Superfluous Film Commentary: Beastmaster (1982)
Pop Culture Reverie: Clash of the Titans (1981)
Movierob: Spartacus (1960), Alexander (2004), Cleopatra (1963)
A Scunner Darkly: Caligula (1979)
Once Upon a Screen: History of the World, Part 1 (1981)
Destroy All Fanboys!: Hundra (1983)
MovieMovieBlogBlog: Troy (2004)
BANNERS:
MOON IN GEMINI 
Hi Debbie, hosting is a ton of fun I am sure your event will be a success!
I am teaching this summer, but this is super tempting… Fortunately, I am teaching a film appreciation class and Jason and the Argonauts is on my schedule!
So count me in!
Summer
Serendipitous Anachronisms
serendipitousanachronisms.wordpress.com
Jason and the Argonauts
Great choice! Thanks so much for joining!
Well, I wanted to do Jason & the Argonauts (1st movie I ever saw all the way through), but since that’s taken I’ll go with The 7th Voyage of Sinbad!
A Shroud of Thoughts
http://mercurie.blogspot.com
At first I wasn’t quite sure it fits the topic, but Sinbad is listed under Peplum Movies so it qualifies–it’s yours!
So happy to see so much love for Harryhausen movies! 🙂
May I write about The Vikings (1958) please? I’m Anna of Defiant Success (http://movienut14.blogspot.com).
Hi, Anna! One of my favorites! Welcome aboard!
Nothing better than a sword-and-sandal epic on a Sunday afternoon!
Please could I take The Trojan Women? I’ve been meaning to write about it for ages
It’s Vicki, and the blog is GirlsDoFilm
https://girlsdofilm.wordpress.com/
YES, I was hoping someone would take that! Thanks for participating!
This sounds right up my street. Can I have a think and get back to you?
Also, if anyone wants anymore ideas for titles they might be interested in this list of a Bible a Movie films/ characters:
http://biblefilms.blogspot.com/2005/12/all-labels.html
Matt Page.
Absolutely! Thanks so much for that link. Do you mind if I put it in the body of the post?
Please do! That would be great.
Sorry for the slow reply, I kinda lost track of things.
Matt
Hi, Debra! This is gonna be such a fun event! Sign me up for Helen of Troy (1956), please!
I’m Le from the blog Critica Retro
Cheers!
Sounds terrific! Thanks for joining!
Congratulations on your first blogathon! I’m having my second one on my movie blog in a couple weeks (The Star-Studded Couple).
There’s a couple episodes of the Three Stooges set in ancient times. I would like to write about them if that’s ok. My TV blog is http://bewitchedwithclassictv.blogspot.com/.
~ Phyl
I’m so glad someone wants to do a piece on comedy/parody of the genre! YES!
It so happens I don’t have anything scheduled yet for the weekend of April 22. Let me think about it and I’ll get back to you about which couple I’ll write about.
Sounds good! There are still several good couples that haven been taken yet 🙂 Looking forward to this blogathon!
Hi Debbie. I have a topic in mind, though I’m not sure it will fit the perimeters of the blogathon. Agnes Moorehead was very religious and solely relied on the bible to get her through daily life. Her father was a pastorate, and he and Agnes’s mother instilled religion into their children from a young age. So I’m wondering if I could do a post on Agnes and her sheer dedication to the bible and religion and an analysis of “The Conqueror” (1956 ). There’s a video on Youtube of Agnes at Easter doing a bible reading that inspires it. Let me know if that will work??.
Well, that’s an interesting angle! I’m curious to see how you’re going to connect that to The Conqueror, so sure, I’ll put you down for this. Thanks for joining in!
What a great idea for a blogathon. I want to participate, so please put me down for Samson and Delilah, the one that starred Victor Mature and Hedy Lamarr.
Great choice! Thanks so much for joining!
Hi Debbie,
My name is Louis and my blog is the Cinematic Frontier (https://cinematicfrontier.wordpress.com/). I would like to tackle DeMille’s 1956 version of The Ten Commandments.
I was wondering when someone was going to claim that!
Welcome aboard!
Thanks!
Hello, my contribution will be the 1982 version of CONAN THE BARBARIAN for my blog Radiator Heaven: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/
That’s great! Thanks so much for joining in!
Have to come back to this. My first thought was to grab “The Conqueror” since I am a big John Wayne fan and have yet to get around to watching this. I’m in, but I’ll have to get back to you on the movie.
Great! Can’t wait to hear what you pick!
OK, since I see you allowed “The 7th Voyage of Sinbad” I’d like to do two other Ray Harryhausen/Sinbad movies, both of which I did see with my parents and sister at the drive-in when I was younger, so it fits in with my drive-in motif of my blog. The two Ray Harryhausen/Sinbad movies are “The Golden Voyage of Sinbad” and “Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger” (I ask for two because I am desperately trying to get back to the original motif of my blog, a true drive-in double feature.) And maybe with the long lead-time window I can actually find both on DVD…
Great! So happy to see Harryhausen films so well represented!
Hello, I would like to write a post about the 1937 film version of I, Claudius that was never finished if that is ok.
My blog is Old Hollywood Films.
That is an awesome choice! I love the “what might have been” aspect. Thanks for joining in!
Hi Debbie. Can I join in please? I’d love to write a bit on Centurion (2010). Or 300 (2006). Can’t make up my mind…decisions decisions. I’ll sleep on it tonight. (I hope I understood correctly that it can be from any year.)
Yes, any film or TV show from any year that fits the topic is eligible. I’ll put you down with a TBD (to be determined). Let me know when you’ve decided. Welcome aboard!
Thanks. Let me tackle 300 please. Can’t wait!
I have a friend who could do a great guest post for me on this. He just asked me whether a post on the best swashbuckling scenes (as in actual quality of the swordplay) would work for my blog, and when I sent him here, said he’d love to write on great fight scenes in Sword and Sandal films. Would that work?
Absolutely! It doesn’t have to be about a specific film–general topics are welcome.
Please let me know if you want me to list this under your blog or your friend’s. Thanks so much!
Thanks, Debbie! Just mine. He doesn’t currently have a classic movie blog, but maybe trying it out now & then will lure him into our fold:)
I would love to do the 1923 version of The Ten Commandments, if that’s okay!
Excellent choice! Thanks so much for participating!
My entry is up this morning! Thanks for letting me participate!
Thanks for joining in!
Hi Debbie. I can’t find a better way to contact you, but I’m wanting to let you know that I’ve just announced my Second Annual Barrymore Trilogy Blogathon. I’ve announced it early this time. I would love for you to join in. Here’s the link below.
https://crystalkalyana.wordpress.com/2016/05/02/announcing-the-second-annual-barrymore-trilogy-blogathon/
Hi, Debbie! I’d like to write about the 1907 version of Ben-Hur. My blog’s address is: bit.ly/meredydotcom
Terrific! Thanks so much for joining in.
wow, I’d love to do a post on Quo Vadis (1951) if nobody has taken it yet
It is still available. Thanks for participating!
Reblogged this on Film Music Central and commented:
I’ll be writing about Quo Vadis, I can’t wait for this one!
Found this from reblogs, good to meet you, excited for the bloagthon 😀
Just want to say Congratulations on hosting your first blogathon. Good luck Debbie.
Thanks so much, Theresa!
What a fantastic idea for a Blogathon! Look forward to reading the many entries.
I’d like to do Beastmaster. Thanks.
That’s great! Can I get your blog’s name and the blog’s URL? Thanks!
Oh, yes. Sorry. Should have included that:
Superfluous Film Commentary
https://manpointingblog.wordpress.com/
Thanks!
Yay! No one seems to have chosen Clash of the Titans (1981) yet. Can I do it?
My blog is Pop Culture Reverie.
popculturereverie.wordpress.com
Absolutely! I’ll be updating the list soon. Thanks for joining in!
I’ll do Spartacus (1960), Alexander (2004) and maybe Cleopatra (1963)
Hope I’ll have time to watch all 3 (Very long) movies
So glad someone finally claimed Spartacus, I was thisclose to taking it on myself. 🙂 Thanks so much for participating. I will be updating the roster soon.
Really two others of us should now also claim it to. “I’ll do Spartacus”
Hope I find time for the hours upon hours that ive committed to 😉 of the three Sparticus is actually the only one ive seen and it was a long time ago. Really looking forward to all of them!
*too.
Hi there, can I write about the debacle that is ‘Caligula’? Link to my blog here. https://ascunnerdarkly.com
Best,
Kevin Sturton
Absolutely! Thanks for joining.
I’m hoping to contribute to this, Debbie. Narrowing down my topic choices — it’s between Gladiator and the Franco Zeffirelli mini-series Jesus of Nazareth.
That would be great! Let me know when you decide and I’ll add you to the roster.
Hi Debbie – Just ran into this. 🙂 Can I do Mel Brooks’ The Roman Empire as seen in History of the world part 1?
Aurora
Once Upon a Screen
@CitizenScreen
So glad to have you aboard! Yes, comedies are totally welcome. I’ll add you to the roster.
Dang it ,Deb! You got me to knock a hole in my stupid schedule of crazy just for YOU. Okay, I’m in. Matt Cimber’s HUNDRA (1983) is my choice. Such a fun film almost no one knows about!
I’d never heard of it, but it sounds totally cool! Thanks so much for making room in your schedule! 🙂
How do you say “Done” in Blogathonese? Oh, “Done?” Okay, DONE.
😀
Yay, the first post of my first blogathon! Thanks so much!
Sorry it’s taken me so long to decide what film to do, but please could I do “The Prodigal” (1955) starring Lana Turner?
Thanks
Matt
Of course! I will update the roster tonight.
Sorry it’s taken me so long to decide. Please can I do “The Prodigal” (1955) starring Lana Turner.
Thanks
Matt
Hi Debbie. I’m wondering if I could change my entry? I tried to watch “The Conqueror” for the first time, and it was awfully bad, and the screen size of the movie was only tiny with the wide screen version that the DVD of it is in. Would I be able to do the 1958 version of “Hercules” instead?
No problem! I’ll update the roster tonight.
Thanks Debbie. Change it for the 1958 version of ‘Hercules’
“GLADIATOR”
City of Kik
http://nickleshi.blogspot.com
Nick Leshi
My blogathon entry about Ben Hur (1907) is live! 🙂 http://mrsskeffington.blogspot.com/2016/07/the-sword-sandal-blogathon-ben-hur-1907.html
I don’t know how this blogathon escaped my attention, but if it’s not too late to enter, I’d like to cover TROY (2004). Please let me know!
Happy to have you! Look forward to reading your post.
Here’s my entry for “The Prodigal” (1955) – http://biblefilms.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/the-prodigal-1955.html
Hi Debbie. Just letting you know that my entry will be a little late, and probably won’t be posted until tomorrow.
Not a problem!