MOVIE: HANNIBAL (1959)

Hannibal is one of the most charismatic and fascinating figures from history, but it has proved difficult to translate his appeal to the silver screen. In 1959 an Italian production attempted it, with the Hollywood star Victor Mature in the leading role. Rather than showing him as a relentless foe of Rome, however, the movie attempts to present the Carthaginian conqueror in a more sympathetic light, as a would-be peacemaker. The film is also notable for smaller parts for the two Italian actors later known as Terence Hill and Bud Spencer, who achieved fame through the spaghetti Western genre.