The year is 216 BC. The Carthaginian commander Hannibal has crossed the Alps and reached Italy with his large army and his famous elephants. There he agrees peacefully with some tribal lords and can prepare the march to Rome. In the course of preparation, he uses another trick. He kidnapped the beautiful Silvia, the niece of the Roman senator Quintus Maximus. He demonstrates to her the strength and greatness of his army and sends it to Rome to stir up fear with this knowledge. But this plan does not work, because Silvia has fallen in love with the commander and does not want to return to Rome. However, after Silvia was betrayed by a slave, she is captured and brought to Rome. Hannibal, who was able to flee during the access, now makes his troops mobile and marches on Rome. Bud Spencer plays the not inconsiderable supporting role of the tribal leader Rutario. He offers to let Hannibal pass him without resisdance if he gets the supremacy over the valley. Hannibal agrees and thanks him. Terence Hill plays Quinitilius, the son of the powerful senator Fabius Maximus, who is terribly in love with Silvia. In addition to this unreturned love, Silvia falls in love with Hannibal despite her previous kidnapping. The role, which begins rather small and inconspicuously, is becoming increasingly important, but ends with Hill's death in a battle against Hannibal. Eight years before the duo Bud Spencer and Terence Hill were born, they both made an early film together with Hannibal. However, since both of them only appear in supporting roles and have no scenes in common, the film is not at all comparable to the later films. Runtimes: German DVD (Best): 95:30 minutes. Italian DVD (01 Distribution): 90:39 minutes (music until 90:47 minutes). Greek DVD (Modern Times A.E.E.): 100:02 minutes.

Release Dates:

21.12.1959 Italy Premiere 16.04.1960 Germany Premiere 1.250.000 Besucher 29.04.1960 France Premiere 1.665.440 Besucher 02.09.1960 Finland Premiere

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