Il magnifico gladiatore is a 1964 film about a hero named "Attalus" (or anachronistically "Hercules" in the English version), who is captured by Roman

Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....

 soldiers on the frontier during the reign of Gallienus

Gallienus

Gallienus was Roman Emperor with his father Valerian from 253 to 260, and alone from 260 to 268. He took control of the Empire at a time when it was undergoing great crisis...

 (AD 253-268). Attalus is brought back to Rome and forced to fight in the arena as a gladiator

Gladiator

A gladiator was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their legal and social standing and their lives by appearing in the...

, but once there, he becomes embroiled in a plot to over-throw the emperor.

This film was written and directed by Alfonso Brescia

Alfonso Brescia

Alfonso Brescia was an Italian film director of low budget films, sometimes credited as Al Bradley or Al Bradly. Film buffs mainly know him for the 4 low budget sci-fi films he hurriedly directed in 1977-78 to capitalize on the success of "Star Wars"...

.

Cast

• Mark Forest as "Attalus"
• Marilù Tolo
  Marilù Tolo
  Marilù Tolo is an Italian film actress. She appeared in 64 films between 1960 and 1985. She was also a fashion model and a close friend of Italian stylist Valentino...
  
   as "Velida"
• Paolo Gozlino as "Zullo"
• Jolanda Modio as "Clea"
• Franco Cobianchi as "Gallienus
  Gallienus
  Gallienus was Roman Emperor with his father Valerian from 253 to 260, and alone from 260 to 268. He took control of the Empire at a time when it was undergoing great crisis...
  
  "
• Oreste Lionello
  Oreste Lionello
  Oreste Lionello was an Italian actor and voice dubbing artist. He was well known as Italy's film 'voice' for Woody Allen.-Biography:...
  
   as "Drusius"
• Nazzareno Zamperla as "Horatius"
• Fedele Gentile as "Arminius"
• Giulio Tomei
• Renato Montalbano