Hardly anyone knows the historical epic: Bud Spencer & Terence Hill’s first film is now available as a streaming subscription

Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker or Mel Gibson and Danny Glover? Buddy action cinema spawned many strong cult duos, but there is hardly a duo as revered, especially in German-speaking countries, as Bud Spencer and Terence Hill.

The countless films of the two cult hitters are legendary, but their first film, for which they both stood in front of the camera, is hardly known. Although this is likely to change now, at least to some extent. Because with “Hannibal” recently celebrated the first film starring Spencer and Hill finally his comeback in the home cinema – and with it his premiere Blu ray*. Those who have not yet struck and still want to take a look, are now also served in streaming: You can currently stream “Hannibal” with your WOW subscription at no additional cost:

This is “Hannibal” with Bud Spencer and Terence Hill

We don’t want to give you false hope on this point: director Ulmer, who was involved as a set designer in formative cinema milestones such as “M – Eine Stadt sucht ein Mörder” and “Metropolis”, has put on his feet an impressive historical spectacle here, which today the day still offers plenty of show value. But be warned: Hannibal is anything but typical Spencer Hill fun.

On the one hand, because the cult Italians, born Carlo Pedersoli and Mario Girotti, both stood in front of the camera for Edgar G. Ulmer – but never together. They don’t share a single scene, which of course means there aren’t any fun side-by-side brawls where the two throw their fists. And don’t expect quick jokes and cheeky jokes either. After all, “Hannibal” also takes place in the year 216 BC. – and, of course, between intrigue, murder and manslaughter, there wasn’t much time for petty jokes.

At the center of “Hannibal” is the eponymous legendary commander (Victor Mature), who is on his way to Rome with his army. When one day Sylvia (Rita Gam), the daughter of a high-ranking senator, falls into his hands, he decides not to capture her. Instead, he lets her go. Because she has to tell the Romans about his almost unstoppable army that is moving towards them. But Hannibal and Sylvia fall in love – and that soon leads to big problems…

At that time, Pedersoli and Girotti still used their real names. Their paths never crossed during filming, so their first meeting didn’t come until a few years later. Her success was all the greater:

In the 1970s and 1980s, the two achieved enormous cult status, especially in German-speaking countries, with films such as “Two for Bad Pech and Sulfur”, “Two Out of Control” and “Four Fists Against Rio” – which eventually even had doppelgängers like Antonio Cantafora and Paul L. Smith, who boldly copied the tried-and-true concept with films like “Carambola – Four Fists Strike Again” to cut off a piece of the success pie.