HERCULES (1958)

PLOT

Hercules of Thebes saves Iole when she loses control of her chariot's horses. He is on his way to Iolcus, where she is princess, daughter of king Pelias. She tells of the day where she, as young niece of the king Aeson and his son Jason, saw the procession of a murderer, Eurysteus, being brought by a military escort party to a place of trial.

Chirone, the captain of the escort and Hercules' teacher and friend, is known to have recently quarreled with king Aeson, and later that day when Aeson is found having been murdered, suspicion falls upon Chirone. Hercules observes that some, however, doubt Chirone's role in the murder; Iole becomes defensive at the very mention of this alternative theory, lamenting that her own father is known as the next logical suspect.

Eurysteus remains hidden, known only to king Pelias.

Ephesus, Iole's brother, follows Hercules in his hunt for a lion which has been ravaging village folk. The lion kills Ephesus and upon return to Iolcus, king Pelias unjustly blames Hercules, demanding he redeem himself by killing the Cretan Bull.

After doing so, he encounters Jason and Chirone who have long been in hiding. Gored by the Cretan Bull, Chirone's last wish is that Jason assume the throne, but refuses to tell Hercules who killed Jason's father.

Jason and Hercules make their way back to the city. Jason, however, is wearing only one sandal, having lost it on the way, and this unfortunately coincides with the prophecy to the king that he needs to fear someone wearing one sandal. This leaves the king trusting Hercules and Jason less than ever and thus he sends them on another quest to either retrieve the golden fleece or die trying. Many in the town, however, offer them their full support and so a large party embarks. This party includes Eurysteus.

On their three month voyage they are accosted first by the Amazon women (and would have stayed with them if not for Hercules drugging and kidnapping them), and then by the men of the Colchides. Jason breaks away from this latter battle and gains the fleece, by vanquishing a dragon. He discovers that on the back of the fleece, written in blood, by his father, is a condemnation of King Pelias.

On the voyage home the fleece, and Eurysteus, are missed. Therefore, upon their return to Iolcus, the crew are unable to produce it, which would have been the only way to challenge Pelias for the kingdom. A fight ensues between the crew and the palace guards, during which Hercules is enchained and imprisoned. Iole finds her father having taken poison, and actually catches him in the act of burning the fleece whose words would condemn him. Hercules breaks free, vanquishing the guards using the chains attached to his arms. The testimony of the fleece is taken seriously, Jason is made king, and Hercules and Iole sail out on their honeymoon, to the joy of the crew.