Gli schiavi più forti del mondo

SOUNDTRACK

Francesco De Masi composed and conducted a symphonic OST with heroic tones ("Marcia degli schiavi"- “March of the Slaves”) alternating with robust action music ("La battaglia notturna "- “Night Battle”) and a sweet love theme ("Il sogno di Claudia"- “Claudia’s Dream”) along with cheerful and comical passages ("Nanetto al mercato"- “The Dwarf at the Market”). 

C.A.M. originally released an LP with 26 tracks selected by the songwriter (CAMCDR 33-9) lasting about 43 minutes. In 1987, the same material was later rereleased on vinyl in a limited edition series Phoenix (PHCAM 09). The first appearance on CD was in 1992 in the C.A.M. Soundtrack Encyclopedia series (CSE 026) paired with selections from the OST of the movie "Revenge of Spartacus”. For our CD (60:33 minutes total time) we used the master tape that half a century ago was assembled for the release of the LP and we have added new previously unreleased material, including a rare stereo mix which has been properly restored and remastered. A dutiful homage to artistic music by the unforgettable Maestro Francesco De Masi.

DIRECTOR AND CAST:

Directed in 1965 by Michele Lupo. Starring Roger Browne, Scilla Gabel, Gordon Mitchell, Calisto Calisti, Alfio Caltabiano, Pietro Ceccarelli, Mario Novelli, Aldo Pedinotti, Nello Pazzafini, Aldo Pini, Alfredo Rizzo, Giacomo Rossi Stuart, Gianni Solaro, Luciana Vincenzi, Carlo Tamberlani, Adriano Vitale, Arnaldo Fabrizio, Germano Longo, Pietro Marescalchi.

PLOT:

Under the reign of Nero, the tribune Marco is sent to a distant African province as punishment. There he has some disputes with the cruel and corrupt centurion Gaius on how to treat the slaves used in the construction of an aqueduct. Gaius incites a revolt and blames Marco for the it in front of the prosecutor of Rome. Meanwhile an injured Marco is rescued by Balister, a slave who owes him his life. Along with five other strong runaway slaves, Marco reaches the city of Aristea. He presents himself to the prosecutor in order to clear his name, but is arrested because of Gaius' false testimony. He manages to escape from the prosecuter's soldiers and goes back to Balister thinking about how to get revenge. In order to obtain the money needed for a final escape, the runaway slaves perform as gladiators in the circus and achieve fame as being invincible. Marco manages to convince them not to take part in a conspiracy against the Romans concocted by the natives and which a greedy Gaius is part of. With his life at risk, the untrustworthy centurion Gaius confesses his sins in front of the prosecutor. Marco then kills him after a dramatic duel. After he is reinstated, Marco marries Claudia and frees Balister and his companions, who helped him to quell the rising rebellion.