''Hercules in the Maze of the Minotaur'' is the fifth and final

television movie A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...

in the syndicated fantasy series '' Hercules: The Legendary Journeys''. In the film,

Hercules Hercules (, ) is the Roman equivalent of the Greek divine hero Heracles, son of Jupiter and the mortal Alcmena. In classical mythology, Hercules is famous for his strength and for his numerous far-ranging adventures. The Romans adapted the Gr ...

has given up his days of traveling and has settled down to spend some time with his family. When a distant village is threatened by an unseen monster, Hercules is called upon to help save the village from the monster.

Plot

Two men search for

buried treasure Buried treasure is a literary trope commonly associated with depictions of pirates, alongside Vikings, criminals, and outlaws in the Old West. According to popular conception, these people often buried their stolen fortunes in remote places ...

in a forest. Pacing out the step given with a map, they discover a cave overgrown with bushes. They break through the plants and enter the cave. There, they find a wooden door. When they try to get through it, a

Minotaur In Greek mythology, the Minotaur (, ''Mīnṓtauros''), also known as Asterion, is a mythical creature portrayed during classical antiquity with the head and tail of a bull and the body of a man or, as described by Roman poet Ovid, a being "par ...

breaks through the door and chases after them. One man is captured and the other flees as the monster tells him to bring Hercules. It has been some time since Hercules has been going on adventures, but he is content that he has now settled down with

Deianeira Deianira, Deïanira, or Deianeira ( ; , or , ), also known as Dejanira, is a Calydonian princess in Greek mythology whose name translates as "man-destroyer" or "destroyer of her husband". She was the wife of Heracles and, in late Classical acc ...

to raise his children. While working on his farm, Hercules sees his sons fighting and convinces them to stop. Hercules is later working in the

stable A stable is a building in which working animals are kept, especially horses or oxen. The building is usually divided into stalls, and may include storage for equipment and feed. Styles There are many different types of stables in use tod ...

, when

Zeus Zeus (, ) is the chief deity of the List of Greek deities, Greek pantheon. He is a sky father, sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, mythology, who rules as king of the gods on Mount Olympus. Zeus is the child ...

appears. Zeus gives him a scale from a

sea serpent A sea serpent is a type of sea monster described in various mythologies, most notably in Mesopotamian cosmology (Tiamat), Ugaritic cosmology ( Yam, Tannin), biblical cosmology (Leviathan, Rahab), Greek cosmology (Cetus, Echidna, Hydra, Scy ...

. At night, the children ask Hercules to tell them a story. Ilea asks for the story about when he and Deianeira first met. Hercules complies. After the children fall asleep, Hercules and Deianeira retire to bed. The following day, Hercules is working in the stables and Iolaus jumps down upon him. The two eventually go inside to get a drink, Iolaus tells Hercules that he met a man who taught him new moves that allow smaller men to overpower a bigger one. Hercules at first refuses to fight Iolaus, but is eventually persuaded. While attacking Iolaus, Hercules is initially overpowered. However, Hercules soon defeats Iolaus. Deianeira later tells Iolaus that Hercules has been distracted and stir-crazy. The man who survived the Minotaur arrives at the stable looking for Hercules and tells him what happened. Hercules is reluctant to help, saying that his place is with his family. That evening, Deianeria says that he should not stop being Hercules, not for her or the children, and that he needs to go. The next day, he and Iolaus set off for the village of Alturia. En route, they talk about different adventures. Zeus temporarily appears to mention when they fought on mount Ethion. Hercules and Iolaus reach Alturia, which does not seem to be distressed. They enter a

tavern A tavern is a type of business where people gather to drink alcoholic beverages and be served food such as different types of roast meats and cheese, and (mostly historically) where travelers would receive lodging. An inn is a tavern that ...

, talk to a woman, and end up fighting men who do not believe that Hercules is really Hercules. Later, the Minotaur kills three of the men from the tavern. Thinking that Hercules killed the men, the villagers chase him and Iolaus. Iolaus and a villager are eventually sucked into the ground. The man who had asked for Hercules's help arrives and takes Hercules to the Minotaur's cave. Zeus appears and reveals that he created the Minotaur, a mortal man transformed into a monster for turning people against the gods. The Minotaur wants to kill Hercules in vengeance against Zeus. Zeus says that he cannot kill the Minotaur and asks Hercules to do it on his behalf. In the cave's maze, Hercules finds the Minotaur. In the ensuing fight, Hercules subdues the monster. Before Hercules can deliver the killing blow, the Minotaur reveals that he is his brother Gryphus. Hercules then feels unable to kill him. The Minotaur attacks Hercules, who continues to refuse to kill him. The Minotaur then threatens Iolaus, and Hercules ends up killing him by kicking him onto a stalagmite as Zeus arrives. As Gryphus lies dying, Hercules says that he is sorry that Zeus had to lose a son. Zeus says that Gryphus was lost long before. When Gryphus begs them not to let him die that way, Zeus changes him back to human form. Hercules helps Iolaus and the villager being held in the maze.

Cast

* Kevin Sorbo as

Anthony Quinn Manuel Antonio Rodolfo Quinn Oaxaca (April 21, 1915 – June 3, 2001), known as Anthony Quinn, was an American actor. He was known for his portrayal of earthy, passionate characters "marked by a brutal and elemental virility" in over 100 ...

Michael Hurst Michael Eric Hurst New Zealand Order of Merit, ONZM (born 20 September 1957) is a New Zealand actor, director and writer. He acted in the television programs ''Hercules: The Legendary Journeys'' and companion series ''Xena: Warrior Princess'' ...

Iolaus In Greek mythology, Iolaus (; Ancient Greek: Ἰόλαος ''Iólāos'') was a Theban divine hero. He was famed for being Heracles' charioteer and squire, and for helping with some of his Labors, as well as for being one of the Argonauts. Fa ...

* Tawny Kitaen as

Deianira Deianira, Deïanira, or Deianeira ( ; , or , ), also known as Dejanira, is a Calydonian princess in Greek mythology whose name translates as "man-destroyer" or "destroyer of her husband". She was the wife of Heracles and, in late Classical acc ...

Anthony Ray Parker Anthony Ray Parker (born May 13, 1958) is an American actor. Early life Parker was born in Saginaw, Michigan, United States. Career For years during the late 1990s and early 2000s, Parker settled in Auckland, New Zealand, and had a prominent c ...

as Gryphus (

) * Al Chalk as Gryphus (voice) * Rose McIver as Ilea * Paul McIver as Aeson * Simon Lewthwaite as Klonus * Marise Wipani as Maiden

External links

* {{Josh Becker 1994 television films 1994 films Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Films set in ancient Greece Films about Heracles Films directed by Josh Becker (filmmaker) New Zealand television films Minotaur in popular culture Buried treasure

Plot

Cast

See also

External links