The Trojan Horse (1961) Steve Reeves

"The Trojan Horse" is one of the best Sword & Sandal films ever made. The story of Troy and Helen has been made several times and up to now, none of them have surpassed it, including the bloated Brad Pitt version. The Robert Wise version, HELEN OF TROY, is in many aspects, superior to this one but the actors weren't that impressive, the script was bad with making a love story out of Paris and Helen but the worst aspect of the Wise version was the ending. There was no ending! After the Trojan horse attack, the film ended then and there. Had the Robert Wise film had a better script and a better ending with more appealing actors, it would have surpassed this one but it doesn't because the script in "The Trojan Horse" is excellent: surprisingly smart, detailed and with some sharp dialogue. The score is excellent. The cast is strong. But best of all, this version has a great climax. It ties up the characters' fates, including Paris who's portrayed here as a villain (which is the complete opposite of Wise's HELEN OF TROY). Helen is also shown to being basically a vain woman who doesn't care much about anyone but herself.