The Arena (1974 film)

The Arena
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Steve Carver
Produced by Roger Corman
Mark Damon
Franco Gaudenzi
Written by John William Corrington
Joyce Hooper Corrington
Starring Margaret Markov
Pam Grier
Music by Francesco De Masi
Cinematography Joe D'Amato (as Aristide Massaccesi)
Edited by Jann Carver
Joe Dante
Distributed by Filmes Lusomundo
New World Pictures
Release date
  • January 15, 1974 (1974-01-15)
Running time
 83 minutes
Country United States
Italy
Language English

The Arena (also known as the Naked Warriors) is a 1974 gladiator exploitation film, starring Margaret Markov and Pam Grier, and directed by Steve Carver. Grier and 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.

Joe D'Amato, the film's cinematographer, has stated that he took over direction of the fight scenes in the film.

Plot

The Arena, set in the ancient Roman town of Brundusium, is about a group of slave girls who are sold to a man named Timarchus (Daniele Vargas), 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 (Pam Grier) and Bodicia (Margaret Markov) realize they must stick together if they are to survive.

Cast

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

  1. ↑ Scorsese on Scorsese Ed Ian Christie, David Thomson, 2003 p 39
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Lupi, Gordiano (2004). Erotismo, orrore e pornografia secondo Joe D'Amato. Mondo Ignoto. p. 39. ISBN 88-89084-49-9.
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