Hercules (1997) - full transcript
Another tale of ancient myths and mysteries which puts the demigod Hercules in the spotlights.
(peaceful music)
(owl hoots)
(wood clacks)
(hunter blows)
(footsteps approach)
- It's a wonderful evening
and the night is long.
I want to tell you the story
of my ancestor, Hercules.
- Go ahead, we're all
listening. I'm very curious.
I've never heard the story of Hercules.
- Long ago in ancient times,
the gods were the masters of the universe.
Sometimes they were kind
and sometimes they were not
and they were always unpredictable.
The gods had their homes
in magnificent palaces
on Mount Olympus.
The top of this mountain was
always hidden from the eyes
of people on Earth by dense clouds.
Often when the gods were
angry, the clouds turned black
and were pierced by bolts of lightning
and racked by bolts of thunder.
Behind the clouds were
the homes of the gods,
their magnificent palaces
surrounded by splendid gardens
in which the wind never dared to blow.
The air was eternally filled
with a scent of spring flowers,
the sound of music, of children playing,
and the sky was always blue.
Surrounded by the
palaces of the other gods
was the sumptuous golden residence
of Zeus and his wife Hera.
Every day, the gods who
lived on Mount Olympus
lift their own magnificent palaces
and gathered in Zeus's
splendid throne room.
The council of the celestial gods
governed the world from up there,
sitting in state in all their splendor.
But we'll have plenty of
time to get to know them
in the course of our story.
Right now, the only ones
that's important to meet
are the all-powerful couple,
Zeus and his beautiful
and beloved queen, Hera.
Zeus was the most
powerful of all the gods,
and even though he gave
his brother Neptune
control of the seas,
and his brother Pluto
control of the netherworld,
he always had the last word,
unless the supremely mysterious
power of fate intervened.
But Zeus tried never to take advantage
of his enormous power.
And that is why his aunt
Themis, Goddess of Justice,
always sat on the steps of the throne.
(animal growls)
(fire crackles)
Zeus had only one weakness.
He loved beautiful women
and never resisted the temptation
to consummate his love.
His wife, Hera, Goddess
of Fertility and Marriage,
was understandably jealous.
She banished the poor girls
who succumb to Zeus's advances
and then vented her rage on her husband.
Their arguments were the order of the day
but Zeus never let it worry him too much.
Meanwhile, in the world
of ordinary mortals...
(bombastic marching music)
- Tomorrow morning, when we
enter the city of thieves,
the people will greet us as conquerors.
- Yes, there will be wine, women and song
and days and days of celebration.
- After months of fighting,
I will finally be reunited
with my gentle bride, the sweet Alcmene.
(dramatic music)
- [Merchant] Purchase my silks, fair lady.
I guarantee there are none
finer in all the world!
- When I give the signal, I
want you to set immediately.
And you not to rise again for three days.
Go now.
(horses whinny)
(zapping tones)
- Oh, Amphitryon, you've
come back to me at last.
- I have kept my promise. I
have defeated the Taphians.
At last I have avenged the
death of your brothers.
- Oh...
My hero.
- At last I can dedicate my
time to my beautiful bride.
- Welcome back. May the gods be praised.
(zapping tones)
(chiming tones)
- What's going on?
Why is there nobody here to greet me?
It's impossible they didn't
know I'd be back today.
I'm back, my beautiful bride.
- I know, my love. I think
all the gods for that.
- Huh?
I kept my promise.
My soldiers sacked the
Island of Taphos, I defeated
the Pterelaos and I have gained
possession of all their...
- I know, my love.
I know all the details of your
exploits already, my hero.
You must be as tired as I am.
Now lie down here at my side and rest.
(ominous music)
- Go find Tiresias, the soothsayer,
and bring him here at once.
- Welcome back, Amphitryon.
I've been told that
victory smiles upon you.
- But my return has been
greeted with indifference
by everybody, including my wife.
Alcmene tells me that she is
already aware of my exploits,
even though I have told
her nothing about them.
- You have been struck
by inglorious misfortune,
Oh noble and courageous
Amphitryon, descendant of Perseus.
While you were away, Zeus,
struck by your wife's beauty,
disguised himself as you and
returned home in your place.
- You interfered with Alcmene's destiny.
Why couldn't you leave
her to her own fate?
- (chuckles) Why are you getting so upset?
She's only a mortal, after all.
Or are you jealous because
she's so beautiful?
- Of course not!
I mean, look at me.
I'm much more beautiful than any mortal.
- Besides, fate has already
decided that the next descendant
of Perseus will rule over Argos.
- That's what you think.
Now I know exactly what I have to do
to change the child's destiny.
- [Narrator] Her anger aroused,
Hera asked her daughter,
Eileithyia, the Birth Goddess,
to bring into the world first Eurystheus,
son of another descendant
of Perseus, and then,
a little later, the son of Alcmene.
Eurystheus became King of Argos
and Alcmene gave birth to twins.
Hercules, son of Zeus, and
Iphicles, son of Amphitryon.
- (chuckles) My wife,
by delaying his birth
made sure Hercules would
not be King of Argos.
And so now I will make him a demagogue.
Mercury!
Mercury!
- [Narrator] Mercury
was a man worth knowing.
Son of Zeus and one of the Pleiades,
he was a clever ambassador of the gods
with considerable freedom
to handle things his way.
He was the God of travel and trade.
Intelligent and good natured.
He was also, thanks to a
certain lack of scruples,
the protector of thieves and tricksters.
(brooding music)
- [Hera] No!
(Zeus laughs)
- [Narrator] As Hera,
enraged, snatched Hercules
away from her breast, the
goddess's milk spilled
across the sky to form the Milky Way.
But Zeus's trickery worked.
Hercules had received a few
drops of milk from Hera.
Enough to turn him into a demigod.
Mercury took him back to his mother
and for several months, Hera
seemed to swallow her rancor.
But one night...
(snakes hiss)
(children cry)
(dramatic music)
And that was how Amphitryon
found out for sure
that Hercules was Zeus's son.
Several years pass.
Hercules and Iphicles become young men,
both raised as princes by Amphitryon.
To begin with, he was
afraid of Zeus's anger,
but as time passed, he
became sincerely attached
to his strong, clever foster son.
- You fight with him, Autolycus.
Since you're both sons of gods,
you can test your strength
against each other.
As for me, I've had enough for one day.
(groans)
When I fight with my
brother, I always get hurt!
- Iphicles is strong
and brave, Amphitryon,
but he has no chance against Hercules.
There's only one solution.
We must find worthy
adversaries for both boys.
Let's see if the boy's a
match for Mercury's son.
(grunting)
Look!
- What?
(yelps)
(body thuds)
(chuckles)
- [Narrator] Ah, yes.
Amphitryon had the boys
taught by the best teachers.
Autolycus, the wrestling master,
really was the son of Mercury.
His best quality was not his
excellent fighting ability
but his craftiness
inherited from his father.
Rhadamanthus, the law teacher,
was another son of Zeus.
He was so wise and so
fair that when he died
he was sent to Hades to judge the dead.
The sword master was Castor,
yet another of Zeus's sons.
This time by Leda, the
wife of King Tyndareus.
She gave birth to four children.
Twins by Tyndareus
and Castor and Pollux, the heavenly twins.
who were responsible for
many heroic exploits.
Eumolpus, the singing teacher,
was the son of Neptune,
the God of the Sea.
(Eumolpus hums melodically)
(Hercules hums melodically)
(wind whistles)
(arrow thuds)
Eurotas, the archery teacher,
was the son of the greatest
archer in all Greece
and inherited his father's skill.
Or perhaps he got it directly
from his grandfather, Apollo.
His bow was so special that years later,
his son gave it to Ulysses.
Chiron, the son of Saturn, was immortal
and the most famous centaur
in the ancient world.
Because of his great wisdom and knowledge,
he was much sought after as a teacher
and he instructed Hercules and Iphicles
in the arts of medicine and astronomy.
Linus, the music teacher
is said to be the first
to use guts strings for the lire.
Linus was very proud of Iphicles
who had a great talent for music.
And he was very irritated by Hercules
who showed no ability at all.
(Linus groans)
- Stop that!
The sounds you make with
that would offend a deaf man!
- Leave me alone, you stupid musician!
I have no wish to play the lire!
I'm 1,000 times more interested
in fighting 100 bulls!
(grunts)
(Linus groans)
- Hercules!
Oh!
(moans)
- [Narrator] Creon, King
of Thebes, exiled Hercules
for a while to punish
him for attacking Linus
and to teach him to control
his temper and his strength.
(driver grunts)
(horse whinnies)
Hercules was sent to
watch over oxen and sheep
on Mount Sitirones.
Life in the open air made him stronger
and more agile than ever,
but it certainly didn't teach
him to live with people.
(dog barks)
(dog snarls)
(dog barks)
(cow moos)
(arrow thuds)
Apart from the occasional visitor,
the only people Hercules
saw were of the family
of a cow herder called Tartarus,
with whom he practiced
archery and wrestling.
(dog barks)
- Hercules!
Hercules, a ferocious lion,
that no one has the courage
to hunt down and kill.
He's decimating our herds
and those of King Thespius!
- Do not fear. I will
leave tomorrow at dawn.
I will go to the court of King Thespius
and hunt down the lion.
(brooding music)
I am Hercules, sire, and I
have come to kill the lion
that is destroying your herds.
- I am delighted to welcome
you to my domain, Hercules.
Your presence honors us.
May the gods look favorably
upon your endeavor.
- Hercules spent almost 50 days
at the court of King Thespius.
Every day, when he returned from the hunt,
he was greeted by the king's 50 daughters.
But there was no trace of
the lion, until one day...
(tree creaks)
(dirt crashes)
(lion growls)
(ominous music)
(lion roars)
(horse whinnies)
(lion growls)
(lion roars)
(thud)
(dramatic music)
(lion growls)
Hercules killed the fearsome
lion with his bare hands
and news of his exploit
passed by word of mouth
to even the most remote regions.
And so the reputation of
Hercules, the demigod, was born.
It was time for my ancestor to return
to his family and Thebes.
On the way, he ran into envoys
of the King of Orchomenus
traveling to Thebes to
exact a large sum in taxes
from King Creon.
Hercules sent them packing.
He assumed command of the Theban army
and defeated the King of
Orchomenus once and for all.
To show his gratitude,
King Creon gave Hercules
the hand of his daughter,
Megara, in marriage.
The wedding was celebrated
with great pomp and ceremony.
The people applauded and
the gods and goddesses
were pleased with the union.
They showered the couple with
gifts, all except for Hera.
Some years later, Hercules
and Megara were enjoying
their marriage and their
children, when finally,
Hera sent her gift.
Alecto, one of the three Furies,
who had such a devastating
effect on Hercules' mind
that he murdered his wife and family.
To have him make amends for his foul deed,
the gods banished Hercules from Thebes,
ordering him to serve his cousin,
Eurystheus, King of Argos.
Eurystheus was not at all
generous with Hercules.
In fact, he was afraid of
him and tried in every way
possible to get rid of him
by having him carry out
the famous 12 labors.
(dog whines)
I'll bet you're all tired,
huh? You want me to stop?
- No, please go on. It's very interesting.
- To begin with, Eurystheus
sent Hercules out
to slay the Nemean Lion.
A terrifying beast of divine
origins with a coat so thick,
it made it invincible.
The lion he killed years before
was just a kitten by comparison.
Hercules confronted the
beast, armed with only a club,
and tore it apart with his bare hands.
Unaware of its value,
Eurystheus gave the lion skin to Hercules,
who wore it and so became
almost invulnerable himself.
Then Eurystheus ordered
Hercules to enter the swamps
of Lerna and kill the Hydra.
A monster even more
terrifying than the lion.
(water splashes)
(dramatic music)
(Hydra hisses)
The Hydra was a fearsome
dragon with nine heads,
nine starving mouths, and 18 fiery eyes.
Hercules arrived at the swamp
on a cart driven by his nephew
Iphicles' son Iolaus.
He fired hundreds of arrows
to force the Hydra out of its den.
(water splashes)
(Hydra hisses)
Once the monster was in the open,
Hercules confronted it with his sword
and using all his strength,
he succeeded in cutting off
two or three of the heads.
Unfortunately for Hercules,
the blood from the fallen head
spawned two more and the
fight became more and more
difficult and dangerous.
(Hydra hisses)
(sword thuds)
- Start a fire, and as the new heads grow,
help me to burn them
with red hot firebrands!
(Hydra hisses)
(sword thuds)
(Hydra hisses)
(Hydra screeches)
- And so, thanks to his nephew's help,
Hercules was able to defeat the Hydra
and the victory made him
even more invincible.
Before he left the swamp, he
dipped the tip of his sword
in the monster's poisonous blood.
Hercules returned in triumph
to his cousin's domain
but Eurystheus told him his
achievement didn't count
because he'd been helped by
Iolaus and he ordered Hercules
to leave immediately on
another impossible assignment.
(yawns) But I'll tell you about that
and the other 10 labors tomorrow.
Now it's time for all of us to go to bed.
(peaceful music)
(wood clacks)
When Hercules returned
to his cousin's domain,
the king sent him off on
another impossible mission,
but I'll tell you all about that tomorrow.
Now it's time for all of us to go to bed.
And so...
- Tell us about this other
adventure, Hercules. Come on.
You can't be that tired.
Don't stop now, Hercules. Come on!
- Oh, no. I don't feel like going to bed.
Come on, Hercules. Don't stop now.
- He's right.
There's nothing more enjoyable
than staying up late,
telling stories around the fire.
(cat growls lightly)
- All right, all right. I give up.
It's not time to go to bed after all.
And so, Eurystheus ordered
Hercules to leave immediately
on another impossible assignment.
This time Hercules' was sent to capture
an enormous wild beast that terrorized
the entire region of Arcadia,
killing men and animals
and laying waste, field after field.
Eurystheus was sure Hercules
would not come back alive.
(Eurystheus claps)
(Eurystheus laughs)
(men laugh)
It took Hercules a long
time to reach Arcadia
and he had to face all kinds
of hardships along the way.
(wind howls)
Finally, he got to the region
where the giant boar lived,
traveling it far and wide, in vain.
The monster was nowhere to be found.
(wind howls)
(boar roars)
- These are wild boar tracks!
I've found my pray at last!
(boar roars)
(boar snorts)
(boar roars)
(ominous music)
(wind howls)
Luck must be on my side.
The snow is so deep, it's
slowing the boar down.
(wind whistles)
(arrow thuds)
(boar roars)
(body thuds)
(boar roars)
(whooshing)
(body thuds)
(boar roars)
(boar roars)
(thud)
(body thuds)
(wind howls)
(townsfolk cheer and applaud)
(bright music)
- Well? What's the big hurry?
- Your Highness, Hercules
has just entered the city,
and he's carrying an enormous
wild boar on his shoulders.
- Hercules has returned again, alive?
You say he's just entered the city
and he's coming here with
Erymanthus, the wild boar?
- [Messenger] Yes, your Highness.
- (gasps) Help!
Help! Somebody help me!
(whines)
Tell Hercules I'm not here!
Call out the royal guards to stop him!
They mustn't let him or the
wild boar in the royal palace.
Tell Hercules he's to wait
for new orders from me!
- Convinced that Hercules
would not be able
to bring any more monstrous
beasts to the royal palace,
Eurystheus gave his cousin
another impossible task,
sending him out to capture
the Ceryneian hind.
(peaceful music)
The legendary hind had
golden horns and bronze feet
and four sisters that, like her,
were consecrated to Diana,
the Goddess of the Hunt.
Obeying a strict order
by the Goddess Hera,
Diana freed the fifth hind
so that it could be used
for one of Hercules' labors.
Killing it or even touching it
was considered an act of sacrilege.
Capturing the hind was
considered an impossible task
because there was no god, man
or animal that could match
its astonishing speed and endurance.
(water splashes)
- I'm exhausted. I've been
chasing the hind for a year.
I wonder if I will ever catch it.
I accept that I must
serve my foolish cousin
by carrying out 10 labors for him,
but I begin to think my
punishment is far more severe
than the monstrous crime
that I was made to commit
by the Fury sent to me by Hera.
(bird squawks)
(bird squawks)
(hind grunts)
(hind grunts)
(water splashes)
- [Hercules] It's been struggling
and kicking for hours now.
Let's hope it tires
itself out before I do.
(hind grunts)
(water splashes)
(peaceful music)
(peaceful music)
- [Narrator] Suddenly, Zeus's
twins, Apollo and Diana,
appear in front of Hercules.
They stand there, blocking his way.
Hercules is especially in dread of Diana
because of her cruel,
vindictive reputation.
- Hercules!
How dare you capture the
golden hind of Ceryneia.
You know perfectly well that it's sacred
and that nobody's even
allowed to touch it.
- And you actually tried
to kill it, Hercules.
- That's not true. You must believe me.
I never tried to kill it. I
haven't even scratched it.
What's more, you both
know as well as I do,
I had no choice in the matter.
I was forced to capture it!
And you, Apollo and Diana,
you more than anybody else
should understand my
position and forgive me.
It was the Oracle of Delphi,
who is devoted to you,
who told me that to expiate my guilt,
I was to place myself
at Eurystheus' disposal.
To carry out his orders for 10 years.
Eurystheus was the one who ordered me
to capture your hind, Diana.
So if I have enraged you,
if I have committed sacrilege
by capturing the hind,
it is not me, but
Eurystheus who is to blame.
I can only repeat that it was he
who ordered me to capture
the hind and it was
the all-powerful gods of Olympus
who ordered me to obey him.
- We cannot deny that Hercules
is acting in good faith.
What do you propose we do, Diana?
- Very well.
You may bring the hind with
you to Eurystheus's palace.
But then you will immediately set it free,
as soon as he sees you've
carried out his order.
- Report every word we have told you
to King Eurystheus, Hercules,
and make him understand our
anger will know no bounds,
if he goes against our celestial will.
- Once again, Eurystheus avoided Hercules
when he returned to the city,
refusing him entrance to the palace.
And so, he was unable to
tell the king personally
about his encounter with Apollo and Diana.
Even so, the hind was set free.
And Eurystheus gave
Hercules another assignment,
ordering him to leave immediately,
without even a day's rest.
(brooding music)
This time, Eurystheus sent Hercules
to the Stymphalian marshes
to kill some birds that lived there.
That may not sound very
difficult, but believe me,
it was another impossible task.
(dramatic music)
(birds squawk)
(birds squawk)
(villager gasps)
(villagers scream)
(birds squawk)
(villagers scream)
(birds squawk)
(whooshes and grunts)
(birds squawk)
(birds squawk)
(whooshes and grunts)
(birds squawk)
(villager screams)
(birds squawk)
(villagers gasp)
Hercules waited three days in vain
for the Stymphalian birds to reappear
so that he could fire his
poisoned arrows at them.
(suspenseful music)
Then, the Goddess Minerva saw his plight
and decided to give him a hand.
(brooding)
(zapping tones)
(Hercules gasps)
- I have come to help you
defeat the man-eating birds, Hercules.
Blow this horn. The noise
will alarm the birds.
And make them appear.
(zapping tones)
- [Hercules] Thank you,
Minerva, Goddess of Wisdom.
(horn blows)
(horn blows)
(horn blows)
(dramatic music)
(birds squawk)
(horn blows)
(birds squawk)
(birds squawk)
(wind whistles)
(birds screams)
(water splashes)
- Yes! Yeah!
(wind whistles)
(bird screams)
(water splashes)
(villagers cheer)
(bird squawks)
(wind whistles)
(bird screams)
(water splashes)
(villagers cheer)
(horn blows)
(brooding music)
(dramatic music)
(birds squawk)
(birds squawk)
(wind whistles)
(birds screams)
(water splashes)
(villagers cheer)
(wind whistles)
(bird screams)
(water splashes)
(villagers cheer)
(horn blows)
(horn blows)
(suspenseful music)
(horn blows)
(dramatic music)
(birds squawk)
(birds squawk)
(whooshing)
(thuds)
(birds scream)
(thuds)
(whooshing)
(thud)
(explosion cracks)
(wind whistles)
(thud)
(bird screams)
(water splashes)
(villagers cheer)
(villagers cheer)
(woman sobs)
- And so, Hercules successfully completed
another impossible task.
- But Eurystheus had many
more tasks waiting for him.
I'll tell you about another
one tomorrow evening.
Now it's time to go to
bed, my friends. (yawns)
(owl hoots)
(peaceful music)
(peaceful music)
- You sent for me, Eurystheus?
- Hm? Yes, I did!
I have to tell you about your next task.
Let me see.
I order you, I order
you to go and clean out
the stables of King Augeas of Elis.
- But his stables are huge.
There'll be full of dung.
They haven't been cleaned out for years.
Besides, cousin Eurystheus,
I'm used to capturing
wild animals, killing
monsters, feats of strength.
I don't consider this a task for a hero.
- Hm! Well, I see!
Hm!
Well!
On the contrary, I think
it's the ideal task for you
and my opinion is the one
that counts around here.
I know the stables are dirty,
even though the cattles'
divine origins protect
them from infection.
You have only one day to clean them.
(flies buzz)
(cattle moo)
- [Narrator] My famous ancestor
went to King Augeas's palace
and made him a proposition.
He offered to clean out
the stables in only one day
if the King would agree to give him
a 10th part of the cattle in them.
- In only one day?
- Yes, sire.
- Very well, if, when the
sun sets this evening,
my stables are clean, I'll
give you one 10th of my cattle.
(men murmur)
(laughs)
It cost me nothing to agree to his deal.
He might be able to clean
out my stables in one year,
but never by sunset this evening!
(group laughs)
(cattle moo)
(door creaks)
(flies buzz)
(cattle moo)
(flies buzz)
(tree creaks and cracks)
(roots snap)
(heavy thud)
(heavy thud)
(wall rumbles)
(heavy thud)
(wall crumbles)
(flies buzz)
(cattle moos)
(peaceful music)
(cattle moo)
(Hercules grunts loudly)
(Hercules grunts loudly)
(cattle moo)
(water splashes)
(trees creak and thud)
(trees creak and thud)
(tree thumps)
(water splashes)
(water splashes)
(whooshing)
(water splashes)
(whooshing)
(water splashes)
(bright music)
(tree creaks and thuds)
(tree creaks)
(tree thumps)
(whooshing)
(water splashes)
(whooshing)
(water splashes)
(whooshing)
(water splashes)
(water crashes)
(trees crack)
(Hercules chuckles)
Your reward?
Just what makes you think I should
give you a part of my cattle?
Everybody knows the real
cleaning work was done
by the river Alpheios and
everyone knows the river's mine,
because it runs through my kingdom.
- Of course, it's yours, your Highness.
(Augeas laughs)
- You hear that, Hercules?
What's more, you were
obliged to carry out the task
because Eurystheus ordered you to do it.
- This last labor doesn't count!
- What do you mean it doesn't count?
- Because you tried to
take advantage of the task,
for your own ends! (laughs)
- But you know as well as I do
I didn't get anything out of it.
- I know, but it wasn't for
the lack of trying, was it?
- That was the second
time Eurystheus refused
to give Hercules credit for
carrying out one of his tasks.
At this point, the labors he
had to undertake to make amends
for his crime were 12
instead of the original 10.
Ignoring Hercules' anger,
Eurystheus gave him another assignment.
- Let's see.
Let's see.
Let me see.
Ah, yes.
When Neptune sent Minos, King of Crete,
a magnificent black bull
to sacrifice to him,
Minos sacrificed a
scrawny bull in its place.
To punish Minos for this insult,
Neptune infused the black
bull with a crazy streak
that has transformed it
into a serious menace
for all the inhabitants of the island.
Now, what I want you to do is this!
Go bring that bull back to me.
(gulls cry)
(bull bellows)
(villagers gasp and yell)
(bull bellows)
(thud)
(villager yelps)
(bull bellows)
- [Villager] Help!
(bull bellows)
(bull bellows)
(bull bellows)
(Hercules grunts)
(bull lows)
(Hercules grunts)
(bull lows)
(bull lows)
(villagers cheer)
- Get that bull out of here!
Get it out of here!
I'll give it to you as
a present, if you like.
(peaceful music)
- Now, off you go and try
and stay out of trouble.
What's my next task?
- You will go to Thrace, capture
the Mares of King Diomedes
bring them back to me.
(gulls squawk)
- I'll bet you're thinking
that catching a few horses
was a pretty easy task for
a hero like my ancestor
but King Diomedes' mares
were very special animals,
as cruel as their master.
The king kept them penned
up and was said to feed them
on the bodies of shipwrecked sailors
who managed to swim ashore
after their ships were sunk
in terrible dumps off the coast of Thrace.
(wood clunks)
(brooding music)
(grunting)
(soldier groans)
- Who goes there?
- Sound the alarm!
- Don't move!
(thud)
(soldiers groan)
(Hercules grunts)
(Hercules grunts)
(swords clang)
- Don't let that man get away!
Capture him and feed him to the mare!
(grunts)
(swords clang)
(grunts)
(swords clang)
(laughs)
Excellent, excellent! My
men have tamed Hercules!
(swords clang)
How can you still be alive?
Guards!
(grunts)
(swords clang)
(horse whinnies)
(horse whinnies)
(horses snort)
- Here are your mares, Eurystheus.
I capture them for you and
brought them back as you ordered.
- That's not what I was
expecting at all, Hercules.
They're so ordinary-looking.
I was expecting you to bring
me back to the most beautiful
animals in the world!
The giant Geryon has
the most wonderful oxen
with scarlet coats.
I order you to steal them
and bring them to me.
- And so Hercules set out
again, this time his destination
was the most western corner of the world.
On the banks of the great ocean river,
he arrived at the straits
that divide Europe from Africa
where the extremities of the
two continents face each other.
Beyond the straights lay a
boundless expanse of water
with strong winds, whipping
the crests the waves.
(waves crash)
(brooding music)
(Hercules grunts)
(rock rumbles)
(dogs bark)
(hammering thuds)
(water splashes)
On the other side, Hercules
built a second column.
And ever since then,
that place has been known
as the pillars of Hercules.
And for centuries, it
represented the border between
the known and the unknown.
- [Hercules] Put out that
light, it's dazzling me!
(whooshing)
- Hey, stop shooting at me.
- You're Hercules, aren't you?
I've always admired your audacity.
And now since you stopped
shooting your arrows
when I asked you to, I
would like to repay you
for your courtesy, so I'm going
to lend you my golden boat
to take you on the next leg
of your travels, Hercules.
(whirring electronic tones)
- Thank you, Helios, God of the Sun.
I am truly obliged to you.
(water splashes)
(dogs bark)
(dramatic music)
(thud)
- What's the matter, Orthrus?
(groans)
(groans)
- You killed the guardian
of my oxen and my dog!
I'll make you pay!
You won't get away with this!
Just wait till I get my hands on you!
Your fate is sealed! I'm going...
(groans)
(groans)
(groans)
(groans)
(cattle moo)
(cattle moo)
(wind blows)
(cattle moo)
(peaceful music)
(cattle moo)
- Thank you again, Helios, God of the Sun.
With your magnificent boat,
I could sail across the tumultuous
waters of the great ocean
and put an end to my labors.
(high-pitched whirring tones)
- [Narrator] Hercules traveled
through Spain, through Gall,
until you arrived in Illyria and Thrace.
Marching on and on, ignoring the elements,
his fatigue and the passage of time,
nothing could stop him.
He had to deliver the famous
oxen to Eurystheus at all costs
and complete his labors
as quickly as possible.
(thunder rumbles)
(rain splashes)
(cattle moo)
(birds tweet)
(bright music)
- Correct me if I'm wrong,
but he has only one labor left
at this points, doesn't he?
- No, you are wrong, I'm afraid.
Eurystheus didn't count two of his tasks:
cleaning out King Augeas's
stables and killing the Hydra.
- So he has another
three tasks left to do?
- Exactly. The most thrilling
and adventurous ones.
- Well, get on with
it. Tell us about them!
(narrator yawns)
- No, they're too long.
That would take all night.
Now it's time for all of us to go to bed.
I'll tell you tomorrow.
Goodnight!
(sighs)
(peaceful music)
My ancestor's cousin, King
Eurystheus, had a problem.
His spoiled daughter Admete.
She had heard about a
girdle worn by Hippolyte,
Queen of the Amazons, and she
longed to have it for herself.
Eurystheus had no intention
of satisfying his daughter's
crazy desire, but he went
along with her anyway,
thinking it might give him the opportunity
to get rid of Hercules, once and for all.
- (laughs) Of course, I'm
sorry my daughter won't have
the girdle she wants so much.
But that's only an excuse, anyway.
As long as the Amazons
reduce Hercules to a pulp,
I shall be delighted.
I'll just have to find some
other trinket to comfort
Admete's capricious whim.
(townsfolk cheer)
- [Narrator] And so Hercules set off,
accompanied by Perseus, Peleus and Telamon
to win possession of the
Amazon Queen's girdle.
(waves crash)
(thunder claps)
After a long, hard voyage
fraught with danger,
Hercules sighted the shores
of the Amazon territory.
The Amazons were a tribe of warrior women
living on the shores of the Black Sea.
They killed, without pity,
all the men who dared
to enter their domain
and queen Hippolyte was
protected by women bodyguards
armed to teeth.
- The rumors that have
been reaching us are true.
That's Hercules' ship down there.
We must report back to
Queen Hippolyte immediately!
(horse whinnies)
- Hey, Antiope, wait for us!
- We have terrible news, Queen Hippolyte.
We've sighted the ship carrying Hercules,
Theseus, Peleus and Telamon!
What shall we do?
- Welcome them with honor
and bring them to me.
They are great heroes
and deserve our respect.
They will be our guests.
- If those are your orders,
Your Majesty, we shall obey you.
(peaceful music)
- That's strange. I don't see anyone.
What do you think, Theseus?
Is it possible our arrival
has been unobserved?
- No, that's very
unlikely, but you're right.
Why are there no warrior
women waiting on the shore?
(men gasp)
- Welcome! We come in the
name of Queen Hippolyte!
To escort you to the royal palace.
- We're off to a good start.
(men chuckle)
- Drat, that foolish Hippolyte
isn't going to kill Hercules,
she's going to entertain him.
Well, I'd better do
something without delay,
or Hercules will successfully
complete this task, too.
(zapping tones)
(zapping tones)
- That is interesting.
You've undertaken this
long and arduous voyage
to gain possession of my girdle.
Don't worry.
Since it's obviously so
important to you, Hercules,
it'll be my pleasure to
give it to you as a present.
- (laughs) The Queen's
beautiful, isn't she?
Looks like Hercules will be
able to have anything he wants.
If you ask me, she's doomed.
She's only had eyes for him,
since the moment they met.
- I knew it. My plan is going astray.
I must put it an end to this at once.
Hippolyte is completely
infatuated with Hercules
and will make everything easy
for him if I don't act now.
I am Queen of the Gods.
Nothing can stop me defeating my enemies.
I'll make myself invisible
and sew discord about them.
(crickets chirp)
(suspenseful music)
- Come on! Yes, you can do it!
(women cheer and laugh)
Go, go!
Come on!
- Yeah, come on!
(fighters grunt)
- She seems to be an intelligent girl.
And it looks like the others
have a lot of respect for her.
I will enter her body and see
what I can do to make trouble.
(Antiope laughs)
(zapping tones)
- I can see trouble brewing.
Theseus Hasn't taken his
eyes off Queen Hippolyte,
but she won't even look at him.
She only has eyes for Hercules.
- I beg you, please
consider my girdle yours,
my guest and hero.
Now that's settled, I hope
you will enjoy our hospitality
for a few more days.
- Perhaps I'm being overly
suspicious, but the arrival
of Hercules and his men
could be a threat to us.
Do you really think these
famous invincible heroes
have undertaken such a
long and arduous voyage
just to get a girdle?
Our valiant Queen Hippolyte
has always prevented men
setting foot in our territory,
but now she welcomes
this group with great
benevolence and full honors.
I am convinced these men have come here
to take possession of our lands
and that Hippolyte's blind
infatuation for Hercules
will make their task easier.
It's up to us!
Do we want to find ourselves
at the mercy of a man
who will take our freedom away?
We use men!
We will never be ruled by them!
We have chosen to live without them!
We must rebel to protect that choice!
There's no time to lose! We must act now!
We must drive these men into the sea
and bring our queen back to her senses!
(Amazons cheer)
- Antiope's right.
Death to all foreigners.
Death to all men!
Yes! We must drive the
men away from our lands!
- What's happening out there?
What's all that shouting?
(dramatic music)
(Amazons yell)
A curse on you! You set a trap for us!
- No! That's not true, Hercules.
You're wrong. I'm as surprised as you are.
What is this madness?
Put down your weapons and leave the hold!
That's an order from your queen!
- You're a traitor! You deserve to die!
(dramatic music)
(swords clang)
(Amazons cheer)
(clattering)
(swords clang)
- Hercules!
May the gods curse you, Hercules!
This time, I'll destroy you!
(grunting)
(swords clang)
- [Narrator] Hera's presence
in Antiope's body increased
the girl's fighting ability and
made her as strong as a man.
Astonished, Hercules found
himself on the defensive
and perhaps he would've been defeated,
if fate had not intervened on his side.
(Amazon screams)
(Antiope gasps)
(zapping tones)
- Once again I've been foiled,
but sooner or later,
I'll get rid of Hercules.
- What are we doing?
Why are we fighting?
- What happened?
- What happened?
- What on earth made us all
fight the queen's guests?
- You lost, Hippolyte.
I want that girdle, now.
- You are very strong, Hercules.
I want to see how good
you are with the bow.
Compete against me, and if you win,
I will give you the girdle.
- Very well. I accept.
(horse whinnies)
(brooding music)
- That line of trees over there
will be the site of our competition.
Our arrows must pass through the rings
my warriors will throw in the air.
After every turn, smaller
rings will be used,
and we'll continue until
one of us makes a mistake.
(hooves clop)
(whooshing)
(whooshing)
(hooves clop)
(hooves clop)
(whooshing)
(whooshing)
(zapping tones)
(Minerva blows)
(whooshing)
(Hercules laughs)
- Hippolyte took off her
girdle and gave it to Hercules
as the heroes prepared
to set sail for home.
Theseus was happy at last
because the queen finally
showed some interest in him
and he promised to come
back on another visit.
The boat put out to sea,
taking advantage of the favorable wind.
As soon as Hercules returned to Argos,
he was given another
mission by Eurystheus.
This time, it was a task
that seemed too difficult.
Even for him.
- Minerva, Mercury! Come here, quickly!
- What's the matter?
Why did we have to get
here in such a hurry?
You must go down to
Earth and help Hercules.
Eurystheus has ordered him to go to Hades
and steal Cerberus, the three-headed dog,
who guards the gates of
my brother Pluto's domain.
- No mortal can enter the
kingdom of dead and return alive.
- That is exactly why he will
need your help and guidance.
(zapping tones)
- Welcome.
Have you brought me a message
from my divine father?
- Yes, Hercules.
Your father, Supreme Zeus, has
sent us to Earth with orders
to help you complete
your task successfully.
- No mortal has ever returned
from the kingdom of the dead, Hercules.
- [Narrator] And so,
Minerva, Mercury and Hercules
set out on the road to Hades.
When they reached the entrance
to the kingdom of the dead,
Mercury took the lead because
it was usually his task
to accompany dead mortals
to the underworld.
And it was Mercury who
persuaded the mournful ferryman
on the river Styx to carry
Hercules to the other side.
(water splashes)
They met nobody along the way.
Because the dead knew Hercules
was visiting their kingdom,
they were afraid of him
and stayed out of sight.
- How dare you lead a
mortal into my kingdom.
Who authorized you to
offend me in this way?
- Your brother, Supreme Zeus,
ordered us to escort his
son into your presence.
Hercules has a question
that only you can answer.
- I don't think it's
necessary for me to remind you
that Zeus has no power down here in Hades.
When we shared out our father's
kingdom, I received Hades.
I am the only one who
has any power down here.
Why should I care if a
mortal has a request to make?
- In that case, perhaps this
challenge will interest you.
Why don't you fight me
without your divine powers?
If I win, you will allow me to explain
the nature of my request.
- Are you sure you want to fight me?
All right, I can't remember
when I last had any fun.
We will fight and if you win,
I will listen to what you have to say.
- Mercury and I will prevent
him using his divine powers,
but be careful, don't expect
to beat him hands down.
- I'm ready when you are.
(thuds)
(grunts)
(thuds)
(grunts)
Not as easy as you expected, eh?
(groans)
(grunts)
- I believe Hercules has won, Pluto.
Now you must keep your word
and listen to his request.
- I always keep my word!
All right, then. What is this
request of yours, Hercules?
- My cousin Eurystheus, in
league with the Oracle of Delphi,
has condemned me to
serve him for 10 years.
He has ordered me to bring him Cerberus,
the dog that stands
guard over your kingdom.
(Pluto laughs)
- You expect me to give
you the faithful Cerberus?
- Well, it's important that I return
to Eurystheus with the dog.
After that, I can send him back to you.
- Very well, you may have
Cerberus, but only if you
fight him too and beat
them with your bare hands.
- Pluto's condition caught
my poor ancestor by surprise.
Cerberus was summoned and
there, in the big cave,
the fearsome three-headed dog and Hercules
joined in mortal combat.
(Cerberus snarls)
(thuds)
(Cerberus growls)
- Satisfied now?
- That's enough, Hercules.
Very well. I will allow you to
take Cerberus away with you.
- Thank you, Pluto.
I hope that I will soon be
able to send him back to you.
- And so, Hercules returned
to Eurystheus's palace
with the ferocious three-headed Cerberus,
but his cousin refused to see him.
At last, one of the King's
servants came to my ancestor
and informed him that his
last task was to bring back
three golden apples from the
garden of the Hesperides.
The problem with this
task was that nobody knew
exactly where the Hesperides
garden was located.
The Hesperides were the daughters of Atlas
and their job was to guard the garden.
- The only person who might
know the way is Nereus,
the old King of the Sea.
(water splashes)
(gulls squawk)
- [Narrator] Nereus had the
ability to change appearance,
when and how he pleased, and
Hercules found it difficult
to pin him down and make him talk.
(owl hoots)
(dog snarls)
(snakes hisses)
Marius told Hercules to go
to the borders of the world,
where Atlas, the giant,
held up the heavens,
and ask him to pick the golden apples.
(suspenseful music)
- Hey, you down there! Who
are you and what do you want?
- I am Hercules!
And I'm trying to find the
garden of the Hesperides!
- What do you want in the garden?
- I have been sent here
on a mission by my cousin,
King Eurystheus.
By order of the gods, I have
been in his service 10 years
and I have one more task to do for him.
I must bring him three golden apples.
- (laughs) Don't delude yourself.
You will never succeed
in such an enterprise.
A dragon with 100 heads guards
the garden with my daughters.
I am the only one who can pick the apples,
but as you can see, I
am doing something else.
- What if I were to stay
here and hold up the heavens
in your place while you
went into the garden for me
and you pick them?
- You really think you could do that?
After thousands of years,
my limbs could do with a good stretch.
- [Narrator] Hercules didn't
wait to be asked twice.
He climbed up the mountain
to take Atlas's place.
The task he had given himself
would never be equaled by anyone.
Neither a mortal, nor a God.
He was actually holding up the heavens!
Atlas walked happily away,
covering many leagues with each step,
before sinking, slowly into the sea.
As time passed, Hercules feared
that he had overestimated
his own strength and that the
giant would never come back.
(thunder claps)
(rain splashes)
(water splashes)
You can imagine his relief
when he saw Atlas appear
out of the sea, holding
three precious golden apples.
- Hey, you seem to be doing
a pretty good job there.
I bet you could keep it
up for thousands of years!
- It only looks that way!
Oh, great. I see you
managed to get the apples.
Now, if you put them down on the ground,
I'll hand over the heavens
and be on my way again!
- Oh, sorry to disappoint you.
I've been holding up that
enormous weight for so long.
It's only fair somebody
else takes over for a while.
- For a while? No, no,
that's out of the question.
I have a task to complete!
- Oh, don't worry about
delivering the apples.
I'll take them to your cousin.
Does that make you feel better?
- No, it doesn't make
me feel at all better
but I can see I have no choice.
- [Narrator] Hercules realized
Atlas meant him no harm.
He was just trying to take
advantage of the situation.
- Very well. You go off
and do what you have to do.
I'll stay here, thinking of
the fame and glory I'll enjoy
when people find out I'm
supporting the heavens.
Uh...
Sorry to bother you, but I was wondering
if you could do me one last
favor, before you leave?
- Of course. What do you want?
- Could you take the heavens again?
Just for one moment while I
arrange my lion's skin better
and get more comfortable?
There are two or three
stars sticking in my back.
- I'll put the apples down first.
- When Atlas settled the
heavens on his shoulders again,
Hercules dashed away.
He picked up the golden apples
and took to the road again.
Now he had completed his
last labor, he would finally
be able to get away from
his treacherous cousin.
Now you know how Hercules
carried out his 12 labors.
That's enough for now. It's
time we were all in bed.
Good night, friends.
(dramatic music)
(owl hoots)
(wood clacks)
(hunter blows)
(footsteps approach)
- It's a wonderful evening
and the night is long.
I want to tell you the story
of my ancestor, Hercules.
- Go ahead, we're all
listening. I'm very curious.
I've never heard the story of Hercules.
- Long ago in ancient times,
the gods were the masters of the universe.
Sometimes they were kind
and sometimes they were not
and they were always unpredictable.
The gods had their homes
in magnificent palaces
on Mount Olympus.
The top of this mountain was
always hidden from the eyes
of people on Earth by dense clouds.
Often when the gods were
angry, the clouds turned black
and were pierced by bolts of lightning
and racked by bolts of thunder.
Behind the clouds were
the homes of the gods,
their magnificent palaces
surrounded by splendid gardens
in which the wind never dared to blow.
The air was eternally filled
with a scent of spring flowers,
the sound of music, of children playing,
and the sky was always blue.
Surrounded by the
palaces of the other gods
was the sumptuous golden residence
of Zeus and his wife Hera.
Every day, the gods who
lived on Mount Olympus
lift their own magnificent palaces
and gathered in Zeus's
splendid throne room.
The council of the celestial gods
governed the world from up there,
sitting in state in all their splendor.
But we'll have plenty of
time to get to know them
in the course of our story.
Right now, the only ones
that's important to meet
are the all-powerful couple,
Zeus and his beautiful
and beloved queen, Hera.
Zeus was the most
powerful of all the gods,
and even though he gave
his brother Neptune
control of the seas,
and his brother Pluto
control of the netherworld,
he always had the last word,
unless the supremely mysterious
power of fate intervened.
But Zeus tried never to take advantage
of his enormous power.
And that is why his aunt
Themis, Goddess of Justice,
always sat on the steps of the throne.
(animal growls)
(fire crackles)
Zeus had only one weakness.
He loved beautiful women
and never resisted the temptation
to consummate his love.
His wife, Hera, Goddess
of Fertility and Marriage,
was understandably jealous.
She banished the poor girls
who succumb to Zeus's advances
and then vented her rage on her husband.
Their arguments were the order of the day
but Zeus never let it worry him too much.
Meanwhile, in the world
of ordinary mortals...
(bombastic marching music)
- Tomorrow morning, when we
enter the city of thieves,
the people will greet us as conquerors.
- Yes, there will be wine, women and song
and days and days of celebration.
- After months of fighting,
I will finally be reunited
with my gentle bride, the sweet Alcmene.
(dramatic music)
- [Merchant] Purchase my silks, fair lady.
I guarantee there are none
finer in all the world!
- When I give the signal, I
want you to set immediately.
And you not to rise again for three days.
Go now.
(horses whinny)
(zapping tones)
- Oh, Amphitryon, you've
come back to me at last.
- I have kept my promise. I
have defeated the Taphians.
At last I have avenged the
death of your brothers.
- Oh...
My hero.
- At last I can dedicate my
time to my beautiful bride.
- Welcome back. May the gods be praised.
(zapping tones)
(chiming tones)
- What's going on?
Why is there nobody here to greet me?
It's impossible they didn't
know I'd be back today.
I'm back, my beautiful bride.
- I know, my love. I think
all the gods for that.
- Huh?
I kept my promise.
My soldiers sacked the
Island of Taphos, I defeated
the Pterelaos and I have gained
possession of all their...
- I know, my love.
I know all the details of your
exploits already, my hero.
You must be as tired as I am.
Now lie down here at my side and rest.
(ominous music)
- Go find Tiresias, the soothsayer,
and bring him here at once.
- Welcome back, Amphitryon.
I've been told that
victory smiles upon you.
- But my return has been
greeted with indifference
by everybody, including my wife.
Alcmene tells me that she is
already aware of my exploits,
even though I have told
her nothing about them.
- You have been struck
by inglorious misfortune,
Oh noble and courageous
Amphitryon, descendant of Perseus.
While you were away, Zeus,
struck by your wife's beauty,
disguised himself as you and
returned home in your place.
- You interfered with Alcmene's destiny.
Why couldn't you leave
her to her own fate?
- (chuckles) Why are you getting so upset?
She's only a mortal, after all.
Or are you jealous because
she's so beautiful?
- Of course not!
I mean, look at me.
I'm much more beautiful than any mortal.
- Besides, fate has already
decided that the next descendant
of Perseus will rule over Argos.
- That's what you think.
Now I know exactly what I have to do
to change the child's destiny.
- [Narrator] Her anger aroused,
Hera asked her daughter,
Eileithyia, the Birth Goddess,
to bring into the world first Eurystheus,
son of another descendant
of Perseus, and then,
a little later, the son of Alcmene.
Eurystheus became King of Argos
and Alcmene gave birth to twins.
Hercules, son of Zeus, and
Iphicles, son of Amphitryon.
- (chuckles) My wife,
by delaying his birth
made sure Hercules would
not be King of Argos.
And so now I will make him a demagogue.
Mercury!
Mercury!
- [Narrator] Mercury
was a man worth knowing.
Son of Zeus and one of the Pleiades,
he was a clever ambassador of the gods
with considerable freedom
to handle things his way.
He was the God of travel and trade.
Intelligent and good natured.
He was also, thanks to a
certain lack of scruples,
the protector of thieves and tricksters.
(brooding music)
- [Hera] No!
(Zeus laughs)
- [Narrator] As Hera,
enraged, snatched Hercules
away from her breast, the
goddess's milk spilled
across the sky to form the Milky Way.
But Zeus's trickery worked.
Hercules had received a few
drops of milk from Hera.
Enough to turn him into a demigod.
Mercury took him back to his mother
and for several months, Hera
seemed to swallow her rancor.
But one night...
(snakes hiss)
(children cry)
(dramatic music)
And that was how Amphitryon
found out for sure
that Hercules was Zeus's son.
Several years pass.
Hercules and Iphicles become young men,
both raised as princes by Amphitryon.
To begin with, he was
afraid of Zeus's anger,
but as time passed, he
became sincerely attached
to his strong, clever foster son.
- You fight with him, Autolycus.
Since you're both sons of gods,
you can test your strength
against each other.
As for me, I've had enough for one day.
(groans)
When I fight with my
brother, I always get hurt!
- Iphicles is strong
and brave, Amphitryon,
but he has no chance against Hercules.
There's only one solution.
We must find worthy
adversaries for both boys.
Let's see if the boy's a
match for Mercury's son.
(grunting)
Look!
- What?
(yelps)
(body thuds)
(chuckles)
- [Narrator] Ah, yes.
Amphitryon had the boys
taught by the best teachers.
Autolycus, the wrestling master,
really was the son of Mercury.
His best quality was not his
excellent fighting ability
but his craftiness
inherited from his father.
Rhadamanthus, the law teacher,
was another son of Zeus.
He was so wise and so
fair that when he died
he was sent to Hades to judge the dead.
The sword master was Castor,
yet another of Zeus's sons.
This time by Leda, the
wife of King Tyndareus.
She gave birth to four children.
Twins by Tyndareus
and Castor and Pollux, the heavenly twins.
who were responsible for
many heroic exploits.
Eumolpus, the singing teacher,
was the son of Neptune,
the God of the Sea.
(Eumolpus hums melodically)
(Hercules hums melodically)
(wind whistles)
(arrow thuds)
Eurotas, the archery teacher,
was the son of the greatest
archer in all Greece
and inherited his father's skill.
Or perhaps he got it directly
from his grandfather, Apollo.
His bow was so special that years later,
his son gave it to Ulysses.
Chiron, the son of Saturn, was immortal
and the most famous centaur
in the ancient world.
Because of his great wisdom and knowledge,
he was much sought after as a teacher
and he instructed Hercules and Iphicles
in the arts of medicine and astronomy.
Linus, the music teacher
is said to be the first
to use guts strings for the lire.
Linus was very proud of Iphicles
who had a great talent for music.
And he was very irritated by Hercules
who showed no ability at all.
(Linus groans)
- Stop that!
The sounds you make with
that would offend a deaf man!
- Leave me alone, you stupid musician!
I have no wish to play the lire!
I'm 1,000 times more interested
in fighting 100 bulls!
(grunts)
(Linus groans)
- Hercules!
Oh!
(moans)
- [Narrator] Creon, King
of Thebes, exiled Hercules
for a while to punish
him for attacking Linus
and to teach him to control
his temper and his strength.
(driver grunts)
(horse whinnies)
Hercules was sent to
watch over oxen and sheep
on Mount Sitirones.
Life in the open air made him stronger
and more agile than ever,
but it certainly didn't teach
him to live with people.
(dog barks)
(dog snarls)
(dog barks)
(cow moos)
(arrow thuds)
Apart from the occasional visitor,
the only people Hercules
saw were of the family
of a cow herder called Tartarus,
with whom he practiced
archery and wrestling.
(dog barks)
- Hercules!
Hercules, a ferocious lion,
that no one has the courage
to hunt down and kill.
He's decimating our herds
and those of King Thespius!
- Do not fear. I will
leave tomorrow at dawn.
I will go to the court of King Thespius
and hunt down the lion.
(brooding music)
I am Hercules, sire, and I
have come to kill the lion
that is destroying your herds.
- I am delighted to welcome
you to my domain, Hercules.
Your presence honors us.
May the gods look favorably
upon your endeavor.
- Hercules spent almost 50 days
at the court of King Thespius.
Every day, when he returned from the hunt,
he was greeted by the king's 50 daughters.
But there was no trace of
the lion, until one day...
(tree creaks)
(dirt crashes)
(lion growls)
(ominous music)
(lion roars)
(horse whinnies)
(lion growls)
(lion roars)
(thud)
(dramatic music)
(lion growls)
Hercules killed the fearsome
lion with his bare hands
and news of his exploit
passed by word of mouth
to even the most remote regions.
And so the reputation of
Hercules, the demigod, was born.
It was time for my ancestor to return
to his family and Thebes.
On the way, he ran into envoys
of the King of Orchomenus
traveling to Thebes to
exact a large sum in taxes
from King Creon.
Hercules sent them packing.
He assumed command of the Theban army
and defeated the King of
Orchomenus once and for all.
To show his gratitude,
King Creon gave Hercules
the hand of his daughter,
Megara, in marriage.
The wedding was celebrated
with great pomp and ceremony.
The people applauded and
the gods and goddesses
were pleased with the union.
They showered the couple with
gifts, all except for Hera.
Some years later, Hercules
and Megara were enjoying
their marriage and their
children, when finally,
Hera sent her gift.
Alecto, one of the three Furies,
who had such a devastating
effect on Hercules' mind
that he murdered his wife and family.
To have him make amends for his foul deed,
the gods banished Hercules from Thebes,
ordering him to serve his cousin,
Eurystheus, King of Argos.
Eurystheus was not at all
generous with Hercules.
In fact, he was afraid of
him and tried in every way
possible to get rid of him
by having him carry out
the famous 12 labors.
(dog whines)
I'll bet you're all tired,
huh? You want me to stop?
- No, please go on. It's very interesting.
- To begin with, Eurystheus
sent Hercules out
to slay the Nemean Lion.
A terrifying beast of divine
origins with a coat so thick,
it made it invincible.
The lion he killed years before
was just a kitten by comparison.
Hercules confronted the
beast, armed with only a club,
and tore it apart with his bare hands.
Unaware of its value,
Eurystheus gave the lion skin to Hercules,
who wore it and so became
almost invulnerable himself.
Then Eurystheus ordered
Hercules to enter the swamps
of Lerna and kill the Hydra.
A monster even more
terrifying than the lion.
(water splashes)
(dramatic music)
(Hydra hisses)
The Hydra was a fearsome
dragon with nine heads,
nine starving mouths, and 18 fiery eyes.
Hercules arrived at the swamp
on a cart driven by his nephew
Iphicles' son Iolaus.
He fired hundreds of arrows
to force the Hydra out of its den.
(water splashes)
(Hydra hisses)
Once the monster was in the open,
Hercules confronted it with his sword
and using all his strength,
he succeeded in cutting off
two or three of the heads.
Unfortunately for Hercules,
the blood from the fallen head
spawned two more and the
fight became more and more
difficult and dangerous.
(Hydra hisses)
(sword thuds)
- Start a fire, and as the new heads grow,
help me to burn them
with red hot firebrands!
(Hydra hisses)
(sword thuds)
(Hydra hisses)
(Hydra screeches)
- And so, thanks to his nephew's help,
Hercules was able to defeat the Hydra
and the victory made him
even more invincible.
Before he left the swamp, he
dipped the tip of his sword
in the monster's poisonous blood.
Hercules returned in triumph
to his cousin's domain
but Eurystheus told him his
achievement didn't count
because he'd been helped by
Iolaus and he ordered Hercules
to leave immediately on
another impossible assignment.
(yawns) But I'll tell you about that
and the other 10 labors tomorrow.
Now it's time for all of us to go to bed.
(peaceful music)
(wood clacks)
When Hercules returned
to his cousin's domain,
the king sent him off on
another impossible mission,
but I'll tell you all about that tomorrow.
Now it's time for all of us to go to bed.
And so...
- Tell us about this other
adventure, Hercules. Come on.
You can't be that tired.
Don't stop now, Hercules. Come on!
- Oh, no. I don't feel like going to bed.
Come on, Hercules. Don't stop now.
- He's right.
There's nothing more enjoyable
than staying up late,
telling stories around the fire.
(cat growls lightly)
- All right, all right. I give up.
It's not time to go to bed after all.
And so, Eurystheus ordered
Hercules to leave immediately
on another impossible assignment.
This time Hercules' was sent to capture
an enormous wild beast that terrorized
the entire region of Arcadia,
killing men and animals
and laying waste, field after field.
Eurystheus was sure Hercules
would not come back alive.
(Eurystheus claps)
(Eurystheus laughs)
(men laugh)
It took Hercules a long
time to reach Arcadia
and he had to face all kinds
of hardships along the way.
(wind howls)
Finally, he got to the region
where the giant boar lived,
traveling it far and wide, in vain.
The monster was nowhere to be found.
(wind howls)
(boar roars)
- These are wild boar tracks!
I've found my pray at last!
(boar roars)
(boar snorts)
(boar roars)
(ominous music)
(wind howls)
Luck must be on my side.
The snow is so deep, it's
slowing the boar down.
(wind whistles)
(arrow thuds)
(boar roars)
(body thuds)
(boar roars)
(whooshing)
(body thuds)
(boar roars)
(boar roars)
(thud)
(body thuds)
(wind howls)
(townsfolk cheer and applaud)
(bright music)
- Well? What's the big hurry?
- Your Highness, Hercules
has just entered the city,
and he's carrying an enormous
wild boar on his shoulders.
- Hercules has returned again, alive?
You say he's just entered the city
and he's coming here with
Erymanthus, the wild boar?
- [Messenger] Yes, your Highness.
- (gasps) Help!
Help! Somebody help me!
(whines)
Tell Hercules I'm not here!
Call out the royal guards to stop him!
They mustn't let him or the
wild boar in the royal palace.
Tell Hercules he's to wait
for new orders from me!
- Convinced that Hercules
would not be able
to bring any more monstrous
beasts to the royal palace,
Eurystheus gave his cousin
another impossible task,
sending him out to capture
the Ceryneian hind.
(peaceful music)
The legendary hind had
golden horns and bronze feet
and four sisters that, like her,
were consecrated to Diana,
the Goddess of the Hunt.
Obeying a strict order
by the Goddess Hera,
Diana freed the fifth hind
so that it could be used
for one of Hercules' labors.
Killing it or even touching it
was considered an act of sacrilege.
Capturing the hind was
considered an impossible task
because there was no god, man
or animal that could match
its astonishing speed and endurance.
(water splashes)
- I'm exhausted. I've been
chasing the hind for a year.
I wonder if I will ever catch it.
I accept that I must
serve my foolish cousin
by carrying out 10 labors for him,
but I begin to think my
punishment is far more severe
than the monstrous crime
that I was made to commit
by the Fury sent to me by Hera.
(bird squawks)
(bird squawks)
(hind grunts)
(hind grunts)
(water splashes)
- [Hercules] It's been struggling
and kicking for hours now.
Let's hope it tires
itself out before I do.
(hind grunts)
(water splashes)
(peaceful music)
(peaceful music)
- [Narrator] Suddenly, Zeus's
twins, Apollo and Diana,
appear in front of Hercules.
They stand there, blocking his way.
Hercules is especially in dread of Diana
because of her cruel,
vindictive reputation.
- Hercules!
How dare you capture the
golden hind of Ceryneia.
You know perfectly well that it's sacred
and that nobody's even
allowed to touch it.
- And you actually tried
to kill it, Hercules.
- That's not true. You must believe me.
I never tried to kill it. I
haven't even scratched it.
What's more, you both
know as well as I do,
I had no choice in the matter.
I was forced to capture it!
And you, Apollo and Diana,
you more than anybody else
should understand my
position and forgive me.
It was the Oracle of Delphi,
who is devoted to you,
who told me that to expiate my guilt,
I was to place myself
at Eurystheus' disposal.
To carry out his orders for 10 years.
Eurystheus was the one who ordered me
to capture your hind, Diana.
So if I have enraged you,
if I have committed sacrilege
by capturing the hind,
it is not me, but
Eurystheus who is to blame.
I can only repeat that it was he
who ordered me to capture
the hind and it was
the all-powerful gods of Olympus
who ordered me to obey him.
- We cannot deny that Hercules
is acting in good faith.
What do you propose we do, Diana?
- Very well.
You may bring the hind with
you to Eurystheus's palace.
But then you will immediately set it free,
as soon as he sees you've
carried out his order.
- Report every word we have told you
to King Eurystheus, Hercules,
and make him understand our
anger will know no bounds,
if he goes against our celestial will.
- Once again, Eurystheus avoided Hercules
when he returned to the city,
refusing him entrance to the palace.
And so, he was unable to
tell the king personally
about his encounter with Apollo and Diana.
Even so, the hind was set free.
And Eurystheus gave
Hercules another assignment,
ordering him to leave immediately,
without even a day's rest.
(brooding music)
This time, Eurystheus sent Hercules
to the Stymphalian marshes
to kill some birds that lived there.
That may not sound very
difficult, but believe me,
it was another impossible task.
(dramatic music)
(birds squawk)
(birds squawk)
(villager gasps)
(villagers scream)
(birds squawk)
(villagers scream)
(birds squawk)
(whooshes and grunts)
(birds squawk)
(birds squawk)
(whooshes and grunts)
(birds squawk)
(villager screams)
(birds squawk)
(villagers gasp)
Hercules waited three days in vain
for the Stymphalian birds to reappear
so that he could fire his
poisoned arrows at them.
(suspenseful music)
Then, the Goddess Minerva saw his plight
and decided to give him a hand.
(brooding)
(zapping tones)
(Hercules gasps)
- I have come to help you
defeat the man-eating birds, Hercules.
Blow this horn. The noise
will alarm the birds.
And make them appear.
(zapping tones)
- [Hercules] Thank you,
Minerva, Goddess of Wisdom.
(horn blows)
(horn blows)
(horn blows)
(dramatic music)
(birds squawk)
(horn blows)
(birds squawk)
(birds squawk)
(wind whistles)
(birds screams)
(water splashes)
- Yes! Yeah!
(wind whistles)
(bird screams)
(water splashes)
(villagers cheer)
(bird squawks)
(wind whistles)
(bird screams)
(water splashes)
(villagers cheer)
(horn blows)
(brooding music)
(dramatic music)
(birds squawk)
(birds squawk)
(wind whistles)
(birds screams)
(water splashes)
(villagers cheer)
(wind whistles)
(bird screams)
(water splashes)
(villagers cheer)
(horn blows)
(horn blows)
(suspenseful music)
(horn blows)
(dramatic music)
(birds squawk)
(birds squawk)
(whooshing)
(thuds)
(birds scream)
(thuds)
(whooshing)
(thud)
(explosion cracks)
(wind whistles)
(thud)
(bird screams)
(water splashes)
(villagers cheer)
(villagers cheer)
(woman sobs)
- And so, Hercules successfully completed
another impossible task.
- But Eurystheus had many
more tasks waiting for him.
I'll tell you about another
one tomorrow evening.
Now it's time to go to
bed, my friends. (yawns)
(owl hoots)
(peaceful music)
(peaceful music)
- You sent for me, Eurystheus?
- Hm? Yes, I did!
I have to tell you about your next task.
Let me see.
I order you, I order
you to go and clean out
the stables of King Augeas of Elis.
- But his stables are huge.
There'll be full of dung.
They haven't been cleaned out for years.
Besides, cousin Eurystheus,
I'm used to capturing
wild animals, killing
monsters, feats of strength.
I don't consider this a task for a hero.
- Hm! Well, I see!
Hm!
Well!
On the contrary, I think
it's the ideal task for you
and my opinion is the one
that counts around here.
I know the stables are dirty,
even though the cattles'
divine origins protect
them from infection.
You have only one day to clean them.
(flies buzz)
(cattle moo)
- [Narrator] My famous ancestor
went to King Augeas's palace
and made him a proposition.
He offered to clean out
the stables in only one day
if the King would agree to give him
a 10th part of the cattle in them.
- In only one day?
- Yes, sire.
- Very well, if, when the
sun sets this evening,
my stables are clean, I'll
give you one 10th of my cattle.
(men murmur)
(laughs)
It cost me nothing to agree to his deal.
He might be able to clean
out my stables in one year,
but never by sunset this evening!
(group laughs)
(cattle moo)
(door creaks)
(flies buzz)
(cattle moo)
(flies buzz)
(tree creaks and cracks)
(roots snap)
(heavy thud)
(heavy thud)
(wall rumbles)
(heavy thud)
(wall crumbles)
(flies buzz)
(cattle moos)
(peaceful music)
(cattle moo)
(Hercules grunts loudly)
(Hercules grunts loudly)
(cattle moo)
(water splashes)
(trees creak and thud)
(trees creak and thud)
(tree thumps)
(water splashes)
(water splashes)
(whooshing)
(water splashes)
(whooshing)
(water splashes)
(bright music)
(tree creaks and thuds)
(tree creaks)
(tree thumps)
(whooshing)
(water splashes)
(whooshing)
(water splashes)
(whooshing)
(water splashes)
(water crashes)
(trees crack)
(Hercules chuckles)
Your reward?
Just what makes you think I should
give you a part of my cattle?
Everybody knows the real
cleaning work was done
by the river Alpheios and
everyone knows the river's mine,
because it runs through my kingdom.
- Of course, it's yours, your Highness.
(Augeas laughs)
- You hear that, Hercules?
What's more, you were
obliged to carry out the task
because Eurystheus ordered you to do it.
- This last labor doesn't count!
- What do you mean it doesn't count?
- Because you tried to
take advantage of the task,
for your own ends! (laughs)
- But you know as well as I do
I didn't get anything out of it.
- I know, but it wasn't for
the lack of trying, was it?
- That was the second
time Eurystheus refused
to give Hercules credit for
carrying out one of his tasks.
At this point, the labors he
had to undertake to make amends
for his crime were 12
instead of the original 10.
Ignoring Hercules' anger,
Eurystheus gave him another assignment.
- Let's see.
Let's see.
Let me see.
Ah, yes.
When Neptune sent Minos, King of Crete,
a magnificent black bull
to sacrifice to him,
Minos sacrificed a
scrawny bull in its place.
To punish Minos for this insult,
Neptune infused the black
bull with a crazy streak
that has transformed it
into a serious menace
for all the inhabitants of the island.
Now, what I want you to do is this!
Go bring that bull back to me.
(gulls cry)
(bull bellows)
(villagers gasp and yell)
(bull bellows)
(thud)
(villager yelps)
(bull bellows)
- [Villager] Help!
(bull bellows)
(bull bellows)
(bull bellows)
(Hercules grunts)
(bull lows)
(Hercules grunts)
(bull lows)
(bull lows)
(villagers cheer)
- Get that bull out of here!
Get it out of here!
I'll give it to you as
a present, if you like.
(peaceful music)
- Now, off you go and try
and stay out of trouble.
What's my next task?
- You will go to Thrace, capture
the Mares of King Diomedes
bring them back to me.
(gulls squawk)
- I'll bet you're thinking
that catching a few horses
was a pretty easy task for
a hero like my ancestor
but King Diomedes' mares
were very special animals,
as cruel as their master.
The king kept them penned
up and was said to feed them
on the bodies of shipwrecked sailors
who managed to swim ashore
after their ships were sunk
in terrible dumps off the coast of Thrace.
(wood clunks)
(brooding music)
(grunting)
(soldier groans)
- Who goes there?
- Sound the alarm!
- Don't move!
(thud)
(soldiers groan)
(Hercules grunts)
(Hercules grunts)
(swords clang)
- Don't let that man get away!
Capture him and feed him to the mare!
(grunts)
(swords clang)
(grunts)
(swords clang)
(laughs)
Excellent, excellent! My
men have tamed Hercules!
(swords clang)
How can you still be alive?
Guards!
(grunts)
(swords clang)
(horse whinnies)
(horse whinnies)
(horses snort)
- Here are your mares, Eurystheus.
I capture them for you and
brought them back as you ordered.
- That's not what I was
expecting at all, Hercules.
They're so ordinary-looking.
I was expecting you to bring
me back to the most beautiful
animals in the world!
The giant Geryon has
the most wonderful oxen
with scarlet coats.
I order you to steal them
and bring them to me.
- And so Hercules set out
again, this time his destination
was the most western corner of the world.
On the banks of the great ocean river,
he arrived at the straits
that divide Europe from Africa
where the extremities of the
two continents face each other.
Beyond the straights lay a
boundless expanse of water
with strong winds, whipping
the crests the waves.
(waves crash)
(brooding music)
(Hercules grunts)
(rock rumbles)
(dogs bark)
(hammering thuds)
(water splashes)
On the other side, Hercules
built a second column.
And ever since then,
that place has been known
as the pillars of Hercules.
And for centuries, it
represented the border between
the known and the unknown.
- [Hercules] Put out that
light, it's dazzling me!
(whooshing)
- Hey, stop shooting at me.
- You're Hercules, aren't you?
I've always admired your audacity.
And now since you stopped
shooting your arrows
when I asked you to, I
would like to repay you
for your courtesy, so I'm going
to lend you my golden boat
to take you on the next leg
of your travels, Hercules.
(whirring electronic tones)
- Thank you, Helios, God of the Sun.
I am truly obliged to you.
(water splashes)
(dogs bark)
(dramatic music)
(thud)
- What's the matter, Orthrus?
(groans)
(groans)
- You killed the guardian
of my oxen and my dog!
I'll make you pay!
You won't get away with this!
Just wait till I get my hands on you!
Your fate is sealed! I'm going...
(groans)
(groans)
(groans)
(groans)
(cattle moo)
(cattle moo)
(wind blows)
(cattle moo)
(peaceful music)
(cattle moo)
- Thank you again, Helios, God of the Sun.
With your magnificent boat,
I could sail across the tumultuous
waters of the great ocean
and put an end to my labors.
(high-pitched whirring tones)
- [Narrator] Hercules traveled
through Spain, through Gall,
until you arrived in Illyria and Thrace.
Marching on and on, ignoring the elements,
his fatigue and the passage of time,
nothing could stop him.
He had to deliver the famous
oxen to Eurystheus at all costs
and complete his labors
as quickly as possible.
(thunder rumbles)
(rain splashes)
(cattle moo)
(birds tweet)
(bright music)
- Correct me if I'm wrong,
but he has only one labor left
at this points, doesn't he?
- No, you are wrong, I'm afraid.
Eurystheus didn't count two of his tasks:
cleaning out King Augeas's
stables and killing the Hydra.
- So he has another
three tasks left to do?
- Exactly. The most thrilling
and adventurous ones.
- Well, get on with
it. Tell us about them!
(narrator yawns)
- No, they're too long.
That would take all night.
Now it's time for all of us to go to bed.
I'll tell you tomorrow.
Goodnight!
(sighs)
(peaceful music)
My ancestor's cousin, King
Eurystheus, had a problem.
His spoiled daughter Admete.
She had heard about a
girdle worn by Hippolyte,
Queen of the Amazons, and she
longed to have it for herself.
Eurystheus had no intention
of satisfying his daughter's
crazy desire, but he went
along with her anyway,
thinking it might give him the opportunity
to get rid of Hercules, once and for all.
- (laughs) Of course, I'm
sorry my daughter won't have
the girdle she wants so much.
But that's only an excuse, anyway.
As long as the Amazons
reduce Hercules to a pulp,
I shall be delighted.
I'll just have to find some
other trinket to comfort
Admete's capricious whim.
(townsfolk cheer)
- [Narrator] And so Hercules set off,
accompanied by Perseus, Peleus and Telamon
to win possession of the
Amazon Queen's girdle.
(waves crash)
(thunder claps)
After a long, hard voyage
fraught with danger,
Hercules sighted the shores
of the Amazon territory.
The Amazons were a tribe of warrior women
living on the shores of the Black Sea.
They killed, without pity,
all the men who dared
to enter their domain
and queen Hippolyte was
protected by women bodyguards
armed to teeth.
- The rumors that have
been reaching us are true.
That's Hercules' ship down there.
We must report back to
Queen Hippolyte immediately!
(horse whinnies)
- Hey, Antiope, wait for us!
- We have terrible news, Queen Hippolyte.
We've sighted the ship carrying Hercules,
Theseus, Peleus and Telamon!
What shall we do?
- Welcome them with honor
and bring them to me.
They are great heroes
and deserve our respect.
They will be our guests.
- If those are your orders,
Your Majesty, we shall obey you.
(peaceful music)
- That's strange. I don't see anyone.
What do you think, Theseus?
Is it possible our arrival
has been unobserved?
- No, that's very
unlikely, but you're right.
Why are there no warrior
women waiting on the shore?
(men gasp)
- Welcome! We come in the
name of Queen Hippolyte!
To escort you to the royal palace.
- We're off to a good start.
(men chuckle)
- Drat, that foolish Hippolyte
isn't going to kill Hercules,
she's going to entertain him.
Well, I'd better do
something without delay,
or Hercules will successfully
complete this task, too.
(zapping tones)
(zapping tones)
- That is interesting.
You've undertaken this
long and arduous voyage
to gain possession of my girdle.
Don't worry.
Since it's obviously so
important to you, Hercules,
it'll be my pleasure to
give it to you as a present.
- (laughs) The Queen's
beautiful, isn't she?
Looks like Hercules will be
able to have anything he wants.
If you ask me, she's doomed.
She's only had eyes for him,
since the moment they met.
- I knew it. My plan is going astray.
I must put it an end to this at once.
Hippolyte is completely
infatuated with Hercules
and will make everything easy
for him if I don't act now.
I am Queen of the Gods.
Nothing can stop me defeating my enemies.
I'll make myself invisible
and sew discord about them.
(crickets chirp)
(suspenseful music)
- Come on! Yes, you can do it!
(women cheer and laugh)
Go, go!
Come on!
- Yeah, come on!
(fighters grunt)
- She seems to be an intelligent girl.
And it looks like the others
have a lot of respect for her.
I will enter her body and see
what I can do to make trouble.
(Antiope laughs)
(zapping tones)
- I can see trouble brewing.
Theseus Hasn't taken his
eyes off Queen Hippolyte,
but she won't even look at him.
She only has eyes for Hercules.
- I beg you, please
consider my girdle yours,
my guest and hero.
Now that's settled, I hope
you will enjoy our hospitality
for a few more days.
- Perhaps I'm being overly
suspicious, but the arrival
of Hercules and his men
could be a threat to us.
Do you really think these
famous invincible heroes
have undertaken such a
long and arduous voyage
just to get a girdle?
Our valiant Queen Hippolyte
has always prevented men
setting foot in our territory,
but now she welcomes
this group with great
benevolence and full honors.
I am convinced these men have come here
to take possession of our lands
and that Hippolyte's blind
infatuation for Hercules
will make their task easier.
It's up to us!
Do we want to find ourselves
at the mercy of a man
who will take our freedom away?
We use men!
We will never be ruled by them!
We have chosen to live without them!
We must rebel to protect that choice!
There's no time to lose! We must act now!
We must drive these men into the sea
and bring our queen back to her senses!
(Amazons cheer)
- Antiope's right.
Death to all foreigners.
Death to all men!
Yes! We must drive the
men away from our lands!
- What's happening out there?
What's all that shouting?
(dramatic music)
(Amazons yell)
A curse on you! You set a trap for us!
- No! That's not true, Hercules.
You're wrong. I'm as surprised as you are.
What is this madness?
Put down your weapons and leave the hold!
That's an order from your queen!
- You're a traitor! You deserve to die!
(dramatic music)
(swords clang)
(Amazons cheer)
(clattering)
(swords clang)
- Hercules!
May the gods curse you, Hercules!
This time, I'll destroy you!
(grunting)
(swords clang)
- [Narrator] Hera's presence
in Antiope's body increased
the girl's fighting ability and
made her as strong as a man.
Astonished, Hercules found
himself on the defensive
and perhaps he would've been defeated,
if fate had not intervened on his side.
(Amazon screams)
(Antiope gasps)
(zapping tones)
- Once again I've been foiled,
but sooner or later,
I'll get rid of Hercules.
- What are we doing?
Why are we fighting?
- What happened?
- What happened?
- What on earth made us all
fight the queen's guests?
- You lost, Hippolyte.
I want that girdle, now.
- You are very strong, Hercules.
I want to see how good
you are with the bow.
Compete against me, and if you win,
I will give you the girdle.
- Very well. I accept.
(horse whinnies)
(brooding music)
- That line of trees over there
will be the site of our competition.
Our arrows must pass through the rings
my warriors will throw in the air.
After every turn, smaller
rings will be used,
and we'll continue until
one of us makes a mistake.
(hooves clop)
(whooshing)
(whooshing)
(hooves clop)
(hooves clop)
(whooshing)
(whooshing)
(zapping tones)
(Minerva blows)
(whooshing)
(Hercules laughs)
- Hippolyte took off her
girdle and gave it to Hercules
as the heroes prepared
to set sail for home.
Theseus was happy at last
because the queen finally
showed some interest in him
and he promised to come
back on another visit.
The boat put out to sea,
taking advantage of the favorable wind.
As soon as Hercules returned to Argos,
he was given another
mission by Eurystheus.
This time, it was a task
that seemed too difficult.
Even for him.
- Minerva, Mercury! Come here, quickly!
- What's the matter?
Why did we have to get
here in such a hurry?
You must go down to
Earth and help Hercules.
Eurystheus has ordered him to go to Hades
and steal Cerberus, the three-headed dog,
who guards the gates of
my brother Pluto's domain.
- No mortal can enter the
kingdom of dead and return alive.
- That is exactly why he will
need your help and guidance.
(zapping tones)
- Welcome.
Have you brought me a message
from my divine father?
- Yes, Hercules.
Your father, Supreme Zeus, has
sent us to Earth with orders
to help you complete
your task successfully.
- No mortal has ever returned
from the kingdom of the dead, Hercules.
- [Narrator] And so,
Minerva, Mercury and Hercules
set out on the road to Hades.
When they reached the entrance
to the kingdom of the dead,
Mercury took the lead because
it was usually his task
to accompany dead mortals
to the underworld.
And it was Mercury who
persuaded the mournful ferryman
on the river Styx to carry
Hercules to the other side.
(water splashes)
They met nobody along the way.
Because the dead knew Hercules
was visiting their kingdom,
they were afraid of him
and stayed out of sight.
- How dare you lead a
mortal into my kingdom.
Who authorized you to
offend me in this way?
- Your brother, Supreme Zeus,
ordered us to escort his
son into your presence.
Hercules has a question
that only you can answer.
- I don't think it's
necessary for me to remind you
that Zeus has no power down here in Hades.
When we shared out our father's
kingdom, I received Hades.
I am the only one who
has any power down here.
Why should I care if a
mortal has a request to make?
- In that case, perhaps this
challenge will interest you.
Why don't you fight me
without your divine powers?
If I win, you will allow me to explain
the nature of my request.
- Are you sure you want to fight me?
All right, I can't remember
when I last had any fun.
We will fight and if you win,
I will listen to what you have to say.
- Mercury and I will prevent
him using his divine powers,
but be careful, don't expect
to beat him hands down.
- I'm ready when you are.
(thuds)
(grunts)
(thuds)
(grunts)
Not as easy as you expected, eh?
(groans)
(grunts)
- I believe Hercules has won, Pluto.
Now you must keep your word
and listen to his request.
- I always keep my word!
All right, then. What is this
request of yours, Hercules?
- My cousin Eurystheus, in
league with the Oracle of Delphi,
has condemned me to
serve him for 10 years.
He has ordered me to bring him Cerberus,
the dog that stands
guard over your kingdom.
(Pluto laughs)
- You expect me to give
you the faithful Cerberus?
- Well, it's important that I return
to Eurystheus with the dog.
After that, I can send him back to you.
- Very well, you may have
Cerberus, but only if you
fight him too and beat
them with your bare hands.
- Pluto's condition caught
my poor ancestor by surprise.
Cerberus was summoned and
there, in the big cave,
the fearsome three-headed dog and Hercules
joined in mortal combat.
(Cerberus snarls)
(thuds)
(Cerberus growls)
- Satisfied now?
- That's enough, Hercules.
Very well. I will allow you to
take Cerberus away with you.
- Thank you, Pluto.
I hope that I will soon be
able to send him back to you.
- And so, Hercules returned
to Eurystheus's palace
with the ferocious three-headed Cerberus,
but his cousin refused to see him.
At last, one of the King's
servants came to my ancestor
and informed him that his
last task was to bring back
three golden apples from the
garden of the Hesperides.
The problem with this
task was that nobody knew
exactly where the Hesperides
garden was located.
The Hesperides were the daughters of Atlas
and their job was to guard the garden.
- The only person who might
know the way is Nereus,
the old King of the Sea.
(water splashes)
(gulls squawk)
- [Narrator] Nereus had the
ability to change appearance,
when and how he pleased, and
Hercules found it difficult
to pin him down and make him talk.
(owl hoots)
(dog snarls)
(snakes hisses)
Marius told Hercules to go
to the borders of the world,
where Atlas, the giant,
held up the heavens,
and ask him to pick the golden apples.
(suspenseful music)
- Hey, you down there! Who
are you and what do you want?
- I am Hercules!
And I'm trying to find the
garden of the Hesperides!
- What do you want in the garden?
- I have been sent here
on a mission by my cousin,
King Eurystheus.
By order of the gods, I have
been in his service 10 years
and I have one more task to do for him.
I must bring him three golden apples.
- (laughs) Don't delude yourself.
You will never succeed
in such an enterprise.
A dragon with 100 heads guards
the garden with my daughters.
I am the only one who can pick the apples,
but as you can see, I
am doing something else.
- What if I were to stay
here and hold up the heavens
in your place while you
went into the garden for me
and you pick them?
- You really think you could do that?
After thousands of years,
my limbs could do with a good stretch.
- [Narrator] Hercules didn't
wait to be asked twice.
He climbed up the mountain
to take Atlas's place.
The task he had given himself
would never be equaled by anyone.
Neither a mortal, nor a God.
He was actually holding up the heavens!
Atlas walked happily away,
covering many leagues with each step,
before sinking, slowly into the sea.
As time passed, Hercules feared
that he had overestimated
his own strength and that the
giant would never come back.
(thunder claps)
(rain splashes)
(water splashes)
You can imagine his relief
when he saw Atlas appear
out of the sea, holding
three precious golden apples.
- Hey, you seem to be doing
a pretty good job there.
I bet you could keep it
up for thousands of years!
- It only looks that way!
Oh, great. I see you
managed to get the apples.
Now, if you put them down on the ground,
I'll hand over the heavens
and be on my way again!
- Oh, sorry to disappoint you.
I've been holding up that
enormous weight for so long.
It's only fair somebody
else takes over for a while.
- For a while? No, no,
that's out of the question.
I have a task to complete!
- Oh, don't worry about
delivering the apples.
I'll take them to your cousin.
Does that make you feel better?
- No, it doesn't make
me feel at all better
but I can see I have no choice.
- [Narrator] Hercules realized
Atlas meant him no harm.
He was just trying to take
advantage of the situation.
- Very well. You go off
and do what you have to do.
I'll stay here, thinking of
the fame and glory I'll enjoy
when people find out I'm
supporting the heavens.
Uh...
Sorry to bother you, but I was wondering
if you could do me one last
favor, before you leave?
- Of course. What do you want?
- Could you take the heavens again?
Just for one moment while I
arrange my lion's skin better
and get more comfortable?
There are two or three
stars sticking in my back.
- I'll put the apples down first.
- When Atlas settled the
heavens on his shoulders again,
Hercules dashed away.
He picked up the golden apples
and took to the road again.
Now he had completed his
last labor, he would finally
be able to get away from
his treacherous cousin.
Now you know how Hercules
carried out his 12 labors.
That's enough for now. It's
time we were all in bed.
Good night, friends.
(dramatic music)