Bad dubbing on this peplum film has the name of Valeria often sounding like Maleria, a name no noble ancient woman wouldn't want to have as her legacy. It's just one of many comical elements (all unintentional) that focuses on a treaty of the new Republic to take ten hostages from the most noble of the previous regime (a line of kings) in which all those selected are young women. Gordon Scott plays a supposedly real life hero of the early republic (5th century BC), Gaius Mucius Scaevola, while Massimo Serato plays Lucius Tarquinius Superbus, the last in a line of kings.
I give this credit for presenting a subject of ancient history otherwise not covered many times on film, and it's best to just take what is covered liberally and not necessarily as fact. As a film as a whole, it has a few truly exciting moments, but at other times comes off as nothing more than a toga party during the day in the countryside. Prints of this film vary in quality so that will impact the impression if the weaker one is viewed.
I give this credit for presenting a subject of ancient history otherwise not covered many times on film, and it's best to just take what is covered liberally and not necessarily as fact. As a film as a whole, it has a few truly exciting moments, but at other times comes off as nothing more than a toga party during the day in the countryside. Prints of this film vary in quality so that will impact the impression if the weaker one is viewed.