Iron Warrior
Ator returns to battle an evil sorceress and her unstoppable warrior, Orion.
Iron Warrior (Italian: *Ator 2 - L'invincibile Orion*) is a 1987 film directed by Alfonso Brescia. The movie is the third installment in the Ator series, following the character Ator The Fighting Eagle as he returns to the mythical land of Dragor. There, he confronts the evil sorceress Phoedra, whose primary weapon is an unstoppable fighter named Orion, also known as the Master of the Sword. This warrior repeatedly battles Ator to a stalemate, until eventually revealing a hidden connection to the Blademaster.
The cast includes Miles O'Keeffe as Ator, Savina Gersak as Princess Janna, Elisabeth Kaza as Phoedra, Tiziana Altieri in a different role, and Anna Cachia as an uncredited seductress. Iris Peynado plays Deeva, Tim Lane is the King, Franco Daddi portrays Trogar, and Josie Coppini appears as a King Impostor. The young Ator was played by a different actor, with Jon Rosser as Nekron.
Production notes reveal that *Iron Warrior* was the third Ator film. Executive producer Ovidio G. Assonitis had tried to purchase the rights to *Conan the Barbarian* from Dino De Laurentiis for a third Conan film, but the deal fell through. The movie was shot on location on the island of Gozo in Malta, using a set originally built for the 1980 Robert Altman film *Popeye*. Interior scenes were filmed at Mediterranean Film Studios in Malta. The shoot took place in 1985, during which director Alfonso Brescia was reportedly struck by a car on location in Malta and had to return to Italy for treatment, leading to Assonitis taking over direction.
The film was released in Italy in 1987 and in the United States on 9 January. In a contemporary review from March 21, 1987, a Variety critic credited as "Lor." described the film as borrowing equally from the *Star Wars* and *Indiana Jones* series, with a poor derivative score reminiscent of *Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan*. The reviewer also noted that O'Keeffe’s performance was embarrassing, consisting of posing rather than acting, and that the cast sported a peculiar punk-influenced hairstyle.
Quick Facts
- Director
- Alfonso Brescia
- Starring
- Miles O'Keeffe / Savina Gersak / Elisabeth Kaza
- Distributor
- <!-- or
- Released
- 1 January 1987 · Italy
- Country
- Italy
- Language
- English / Italian
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Iron Warrior was shot in 1985 on location on Gozo island in Malta, using a set previously constructed for the 1980 Robert Altman film Popeye. Interiors were shot at Mediterranean Film Studios in Malta. Director Alfonso Brescia was reportedly replaced by executive producer Ovidio G. Assonitis after an incident on location in Malta, though the details remain disputed. Executive producer Ovidio G. Assonitis had attempted to buy the rights of Conan the Barbarian from Dino De Laurentiis to produce a third film in that series, but was unable to.
Reader's Guide
Iron Warrior is notable as the third and final film in the Ator series, a low-budget fantasy franchise that capitalized on the popularity of the Conan the Barbarian films. The film's production was marked by the replacement of director Alfonso Brescia after a car accident. Contemporary reviews were negative, with a Variety reviewer crediting as 'Lor.' criticizing the film for lifting elements from Star Wars and Indiana Jones, having derivative music from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, and for Miles O'Keeffe's embarrassing posing and the cast's punk-influenced hairdos. The film's legacy is as a cult curiosity within Italian genre cinema.
Did You Know?
- Iron Warrior was shot on the island of Gozo in Malta using a set built for the 1980 film Popeye.
- A Variety reviewer credited as 'Lor.' stated the film's music was derivative of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
- Executive producer Ovidio G. Assonitis had tried but failed to buy the rights to Conan the Barbarian for a third film.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Iron Warrior?
Iron Warrior is the English title for the 1987 Italian sword-and-sorcery film Ator 2 – L'invincibile Orion, directed by Alfonso Brescia. It is the third entry in the Ator franchise, continuing the adventures of the warrior known as Ator The Fighting Eagle.
Who is Orion in Iron Warrior?
Orion, nicknamed the Master of the Sword, is the seemingly unbeatable fighter deployed by the sorceress Phoedra as her chief weapon against Ator. The two warriors clash repeatedly to a stalemate, making Orion the central physical antagonist of the film.
How does Iron Warrior end?
After a string of deadlocked duels, Orion reveals a hidden connection to the Blademaster, which breaks the stalemate and reshapes the final confrontation. This revelation ultimately allows Ator to turn the tide against Phoedra and her forces in the mythical land of Dragor.
Where does Iron Warrior fit in the Ator series?
Released in 1987, Iron Warrior is the third installment in the Ator saga, picking up after the earlier films. It follows Ator as he returns to Dragor to face a new threat led by the evil sorceress Phoedra.
Who directed Iron Warrior and where was it made?
Alfonso Brescia directed the film, which was produced in Italy and originally released in Italian. It received a U.S. theatrical release on January 9, 1987, under the English title Iron Warrior.
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