The Arena (1974 film)
The Arena (Italian: La rivolta delle gladiatrici, lit. "The revolt of the gladiatrices"), also known as Naked Warriors, is a 1974 gladiator exploitation film directed by Steve Carver and starring Margaret Markov and Pam Grier. Joe D'Amato, the film's cinematographer, has stated that he took over direction of the fight scenes in the film.
| The Arena | |
|---|---|
 Film poster by John Solie | |
| Directed by | Steve Carver Italian version: Michael Wotruba |
| Written by | John William Corrington Joyce Hooper Corrington |
| Produced by | Mark Damon |
| Starring | Pam Grier Margaret Markov |
| Cinematography | Aristide Massaccesi |
| Edited by | English version: Joe Dante Italian version: Piera Bruni Gianfranco Simoncelli |
| Music by | Francesco De Masi |
Production company | Rover Film |
| Distributed by | Variety Distribution |
Release date |
|
Running time | 83 minutes |
| Countries | United States Italy |
| Language | English |
Pam Grier and Margaret Markov portray female gladiators in ancient Rome, who have been enslaved and must fight for their freedom. This marks the second teaming of Grier and Markov; in 1972 they had starred together in the women in prison film Black Mama, White Mama.
Plot
In the ancient Roman town of Brundisium, a group of slave girls are sold to a man named Timarchus, the organizer of the events that take place in the town’s colosseum. After a fight breaks out amongst the girls, Timarchus gets the idea of putting the women in the ring to fight to the death. The recently captured Mamawi and Bodicia realize they must stick together if they are to survive.
Cast
- Margaret Markov — Bodicia
- Pam Grier — Mamawi
- Lucretia Love — Deirdre
- Paul Muller — Lucilius
- Daniele Vargas — Timarchus
- Marie Louise — Livia
- Mary Count — Lucinia
- Rosalba Neri — Cornelia
- Vassili Karis — Marcus
- Sid Lawrence — Priscium
- Mimmo Palmara — Rufinius
- Antonio Casale — Lucan
- Franco Garofalo — Aemilius
- Pietro Ceccarelli — Septimus
- Jho Jhenkins — Quintus
Production
Martin Scorsese said that Roger Corman offered him the film to direct following Boxcar Bertha. However he elected to make Mean Streets instead.[1]
Whereas Steve Carver is credited as the director in the American version of the film, the Italian version omits Carver and names "Michael Wotruba" as director instead.[2] Michael Wotruba was a pseudonym then used by Joe D'Amato.[2] D'Amato is credited in both versions as cinematographer under his birth name Aristide Massaccesi.[2] In an interview, D'Amato said the Italian producer Franco Gaudenzi did not trust Carver, who was sent by Roger Corman, and sent D'Amato to take care of the cinematography and help Carver if needed.[2] According to D'Amato, Carver ended up directing the scenes with dialogues whereas he himself took care of the fight sequences in the arena.[2]
Remakes
A remake of this film was released directly to video in 2001. It was filmed in Russia by Russian director Timur Bekmambetov with a Russian crew, and it featured Playboy Playmates Karen McDougal and Lisa Dergan in their feature film debut.
See also
References
- Scorsese on Scorsese Ed Ian Christie, David Thomson, 2003 p 39
- Lupi, Gordiano (2004). Erotismo, orrore e pornografia secondo Joe D'Amato. Mondo Ignoto. p. 39. ISBN 88-89084-49-9.