Kings of The Sun [DVD]

Kings of the Sun is directed by J. Lee Thompson and co-written by Elliott Arnold and James R. Webb. It stars Yul Brynner, George Chakiris and Shirley Anne Field. A Panavision production with colour by DeLuxe, it is filmed on location in Mexico at Mazatlan and Chichen Itza. Photography is by Joseph Macdonald and the music scored by Elmer Bernstein.

When the Mayan tribe are attacked by Hunac Ceel's (Leo Gordon) army, the King is killed and his son Balam (Chakiris) succeeds the throne. Balam leads his people to new land in the American Gulf Coast region, where they set up a new home from which to flourish again. However, the region is already occupied by an Indian tribe led by Black Eagle (Brynner), can it be possible for two different cultures to co-exist? They need to work it out one way or another because Hunac Ceel and his army are on their way to finish the Mayan's off for good.

As with many other historical epics, Kings of the Sun is no history lesson. But for those who don't mind a dialogue driven narrative that's dressed up splendidly in colour and scenery? Then this should more than cater for your needs. The problems with the film are evident quite early in the piece, non native actors playing different race characters is always a bit iffy, but when they are the centre piece of the story it's never going to go away during the film watching experience. Thankfully Brynner is an exception, he manfully carries the film on his considerable frame and offsets considerably the badly cast Chakiris and the pasty faced (and blue eyed!) Field. The latter of which isn't acting badly, she just looks hopelessly out of place. Brynner is panther like in movements, and able to exude the raw emotion required for the role of Black Eagle.

Other strong points in the film are Bernstein's score, which lands in the ears and rattles the brain with historical thunder, Macdonald's "Panavision" photography around the exotic Mexico locations, and the battle sequence for the big finale. J. Lee Thompson was a fine director of action, and so he proves here with a near 8 minute construction of gutsy sword and arrow play that features reams of extras and high quality stunt work. If it's a battle sequence to win around those who have been bored by the long stretches of chatter and love triangle dalliances? That can't be guaranteed, but it is a blood and thunder battle fit to be mentioned with the best the historical epic genre has to offer.

Thompson (Ice-Cold In Alex/The Guns of Navarone/Cape Fear) copped some flak from the critics for this film, but really the fault lies with the casting director and the writers. You would think that since they were re-jigging history anyway, they may as well have written in some exciting machismo fuelled passages of play long before that final battle, they did after all have the right director for such moments. Still, I liked it quite a bit, yes it's very talky, but there is good interest value in the two different races trying to co-exist, with the big cloud of human sacrifice proving to be the hot topic central to the human interest story that drives the picture on. 7/10

I remember watching this a child (many years ago) and many of the scenes stuck in my memory. I was glad to see it out on DVD at last. Not one of the great movie epics of all time but covers an unusual period and story line. Not as brutal or gory as Mel Gibson's 'Apocolypco' but some good set pieces.
Yul Brynner looks the part of a native American chief but George Chakiris with his bushy air doesn't strike me as a typical Mayan. But it's good fun and I enjoyed it.

A classic movie from an unknown part of South/North American History, Yul Brunner is perfect as usual. A gret pleasure! ;o) (Sorry for my poor english I'm French).