A strange mash-up of a film that is part WIP shocker and part peplum epic; part traditional American exploitation and part Italian sleaze show. The story by John and Joyce Corrington opens with Roman legionaries stealing women from across the empire and hauling them off into servitude. Included amongst the kidnapped is the statuesque Nubian Mamawi (Pam Grier) and blonde druid princess Bodicia (Margaret Markov). They are set to work as slaves undertaking menial tasks around the arena and servicing the gladiators. It isn’t long, however, before Mamawi and Bodicia find themselves fighting for survival in the arena. This American / Italian collaboration is great stupid fun. It is full of executive producer Roger Corman’s WIP trademarks (feminist overtones but with added shower scenes and catfights) while director of photography (and reputed director of the peplum sequences) Joe D’Amato (Aristide Massaccesi) brings plenty of Italian nudity, sleaze and a breezy approach to logic. The behind the camera crew is impressive: director Steve Carver; producer Mark Damon; editor Joe Dante; DP as mentioned Joe D’Amato and a score by Francesco De Masi. In front of the camera it’s even more impressive – Pam Grier is in great feisty, buxom form and her “Black Mama White Mama” partner Margaret Markov is equally tough and sexy. Helping them out are great turns from Lucretia Love, Rosalba Neri and Paul Muller. “The Arena” is utterly ridiculous with a ludicrous plot and any number of unbelievable sequences, but none of that particularly distracts from the over-the-top violence, the gratuitous nudity and the feisty, kick-ass turns from the leading ladies. ( )