‘Sword and sandal’ movies are probably one of my least favourite genres. But they do make for spectacular posters!

I will make exceptions for Gladiator and Spartacus, but in general these lengthy quasi-historical Roman/Biblical epics bore me to tears. They were however hugely popular in the 60s (and hugely expensive too – the excesses involved in the production of Cleopatra managed to virtually bankrupt the studio that made it). 

This of course was all in the pre-CGI days, so when Ben Hur demanded a Roman amphitheatre and an audience of thousands for the chariot race, they did it for real, building the arena, packing it with a crowd of extras and hiring the best stuntmen in the business to risk life and limb (and that of numerous horses) in pursuit of the spectacular. They certainly achieved it in a way that’s never been done since (and that includes the 2016 remake that sank without trace), and likely never will again.

The French poster above (which is from a re-release in the 70s/80s) certainly makes no bones about the spectacle, calling it ‘the biggest film in the history of cinema’!  The Spanish version is only slightly less hyperbolic.

The poster for King of Kings (a film which I have only vague memories of watching on TV years ago – its a dramatisation of the Christ story) is even more spectacular, at least in size. This is actually meant to be displayed as a pair of French ‘grande’ posters which, when stuck together, measures a massive 240x160cm. It’s not the sort of thing I would ever display, so if there are any Biblical epic fans out there with a huge wall, please drop me a line….