Born in Puglia in 1935, Wandisa Guida entered the Miss Italia beauty pageant when she was 19 years old, winning the title of Miss Cinema. That victory led her to enroll in Rome’s film school, Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, and a short but successful acting career followed.
Guida was a leading lady in several sword-and-sandal epics, a subgenre of Italian adventure films from the early 1960s that were predominately set in Greco-Roman antiquity. Guida’s ability to imbue her characters with grace, sophistication, and courage greatly contributed to the subgenre’s popularity.
Her breakout role came in Mario Costa’s 1962 “The Gladiator of Rome.” Boasting sumptuous sets and lavish costumes, the film is set during the tumultuous final days of Roman Emperor Caracalla’s chaotic rule. The international cast includes Guida as Princess Nisa and Gordon Scott as Marcus, who is charged by Nisa’s lover with keeping her alive to carry on her family’s bloodline.
When Nisa is abducted and sold into slavery, Marcus stays by her side. On the way to their destination, they witness an accident that sends a carriage into a lake. Marcus escapes his chains and dives into the water to save the occupants from drowning. One of them is the future emperor, Macrinus, who swears to never forget the slave who saved his life.
Marcus’ heroism and ox-like strength earn him a coveted position as a Roman gladiator, and both he and Nisa are spared a lifetime in shackles. Trouble always manages to catch up with the pair, however, and before long they’re on the run again.
When Nisa is taken prisoner by forces allied with the emperor, Marcus enlists the help of his fellow gladiators and other countrymen to rescue her. He and some of his comrades are captured during the ensuing battle. Sentenced to death, they hang on crosses, awaiting their fate, as the fight rages on.
Enter Macrinus to save the day. Having become emperor following the murder of Caracalla, he appears on the scene, putting an end to the armed conflict and snatching Marcus from the brink of death, just as Marcus had once rescued him from drowning.
Guida teamed up two years later with director Antonio Margheriti for “Giants of Rome.” Set during the Gallic Wars of 58-50 B.C., the film recounts a battle waged on behalf of Roman Emperor Julius Caesar that led to the defeat of the Druids.
Starring Richard Harrison and Ettore Manni as well as Guida, the film follows celebrated military leader Marcus Claudius Marcellus, who is ordered by Caesar to unravel a mystery, the solution to which would lead to the demise of the enemy.
Along the way, Claudius meets several characters who help him get the job done, including Lydia (Guida), who was taken prisoner by the Druids. She is rescued by Claudius, and the two fall in love. Due to the danger of the mission, Claudius sends Lydia away before engaging in a dramatic confrontation with the Druids. In the end, he completes his mission and is reunited with his love.
“Giants of Rome” has all the elements of a typical sword-and-sandal film, including epic battlefield scenes, muscular heroes, and a beautiful heroine. As with most of the entries in this subgenre, liberties were taken with the actual course of human events. The most obvious is the presence of celebrated military leader Marcus Claudius Marcellus. Though he did in fact exist, the real Marcellus died in battle while fighting the Carthaginians 150 years earlier, rendering him unable to participate in the movie’s fictionalized storyline.
The sword-and-sandal films were made during the heyday of icons like Fellini, Visconti, Pasolini, Antonioni, Rosi, and Wertmüller. They competed for screen time with legendary commedia all’italiana characters portrayed by Sordi, Tognazzi, Gassman, and Manfredi. Although they are not considered golden-age classics like the films of the aforementioned artists, they were very popular during their time.
Several sword-and-sandal films are available to stream on Amazon, including “The Gladiator of Rome” and “Giants of Rome.” Click on the titles to stream them.
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