It could be argued that Italian cinema history, like Italian history in general, is longer and more colourful than history of some other countries. Italian cinema industry was known for its diversity and various styles, trends and movements through 20th Century. From first historic epics during silent era, to escapist comedies of White Telephones propagated by Fascist regime in 1930s, post-WW2 reaction to it in the form Italian neorealism, than populist comedies of 1950s, peplum (sword & sandals) film of 1960s, followed by spaghetti western, 1970s polizioteschi crime films, giallo thriller/horror films, as well as late 1970s/early 1980s exploitation classics about zombies, cannibals, mercenaries, nuns and barbarians.