USA, Italy, 1987
87m
35mm film, Telecolor, 1.85:1
Dolby Stereo, English
An American/Italian fantasy film directed by Ruggero Deodato.
Plot Summary
The Ragnicks, a race of entertainers, are being pursued by scarred warriors led by Kadar who want to get their hands on a sacred ruby that contains the secrets of music, laughter, and human kindness. Their queen, Canary, gives the ruby to one of her men, telling him to hide it and keep it safe. Two young twin Ragnick boys, Gore and Kutchek bite off two of Kadar’s fingers and are thrown into “the Pit,” a brutal prison. They grow up separated and soon forget that the other exists, reaching manhood as powerful gladiators. Reunited, the brothers track down the Ragnicks and join forces with warrior woman Ismene to try to rescue Canary.
Credits
Crew
Directed by: Ruggero Deodato
© MCMLXXXVII [1987] Cannon Films, Inc. and Cannon International
The Cannon Group Inc. presents. A Golan-Globus production. A Cannon film
Executive Producer: John Thompson
Produced by: Menahem Golan, Yoram Globus
Screenplay by: James R. Silke
Director of Photography: Lorenzo Battaglia
Film Editor: Eugenio Alabiso
Music: Pino Donaggio
Sound Mixer: Massimo Loffredi
Costumes by: Francesca Panicali
Costumes for the Barbarian Brothers by: Michela Gisotti
Chief Make-up Artist: Rosario Prestopino
Chief Hairdresser: Vitaliana Patacca
Make-up & Visual Effects: Francesco and Gaetano Paolocci
Production Design by: Giuseppe Mangano
Studios: Incir de Paolis
Cast
The Barbarian Brothers
* Peter Paul (Kutcheck)
* David Paul (Gore)
Richard Lynch (Kadar)
Eva La Rue [real name Eva LaRue] (Ismene)
Virginia Bryant (Canary)
Sheeba Alahani (China)
Michael Berryman (the “Dirtmaster”)
Franco Pistoni (Ibar)
Raffaella Baracchi (Allura)
Pasquale Bellazecca (Kutchek young boy)
Luigi Bellazecca (Gore young boy)
Wilma Marzilli (fat woman)
Paolo Risi (clown)
Giovanni Gianfriglia (strongman)
Angelo Ragusa, Nanni Bernini, Lucio Rosato (Kadar’s men)
George Eastman [real name: Luigi Montefiori] (Jacko)
Franco Dadi (Bluto)
Alternative Titles
Barbaarit – Finland
Barbár fivérek – Hungary
Die Barbaren – West Germany
I barbari – Italy
The Barbarian Brothers – alternative title
Les Barbarians – France
The Barbarians and Co. – Italy
Los bárbaros – Argentina, Mexico (video), Spain
Os Bárbaros – Brazil, Portugal
Barbarzyńcy – Poland
La furia de los bárbaros – Mexico
Oi varvaroi – Greece
Slavens hämnd – Sweden
Οι βάρβαροι – Greece
Братья-варвары – Soviet Union
Варвары – Soviet Union
グレート・バーバリアン – Japan
References
Periodicals
- Delirium no.26 (2021) pp.6-11 – illustrated interview with Pino Donaggio (Melodies of madness and monsters by Michael Gingold)
- The Hollywood Reporter vol.292 no.15 (3 June 1986) p.16 – credits
- The Hollywood Reporter vol.293 no.19 (19 August 1986) p.21 – credits
- The Hollywood Reporter vol.297 no.16 (20 May 1987) pp.3, 16
- Variety 20 May 1987) pp.103, 104
Books
- 80s Action Movies on the Cheap by Daniel R. Budnik pp.137 – illustrated credits, review
- Darkening the Italian Screen: Interviews with Genre and Exploitation Directors Who Debuted in the 1950s and 1960s by Eugenio Ercolani pp.199, 228
- The Films of the Eighties by Robert A. Nowlan and Gwendolyn Wright Nowlan p.32-33 – credits, synopsis
- Horror and Science Fiction Films IV by Donald C. Willis p.32
