The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1969)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Irving Lerner

Writers:

Peter Shaffer (play)
Philip Yordan (writer)

Release Date:

15 July 1970 (West Germany)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

The birth of a hero. The death of an empire. The adventure of a lifetime.

Plot:

The Spanish explorer Pizarro captures the Inca god-chief Atahualpa and promises to free him upon the delivery of a hoard of gold...

Plot Keywords:

Inca | Conquistador | Independent Film | Based On Play

Cast

Robert Shaw	...	Francisco Pizarro
Christopher Plummer	...	Atahualpa
Nigel Davenport	...	De Soto
Leonard Whiting	...	Young Martin
Michael Craig	...	Estete
Andrew Keir	...	Valverde
William Marlowe	...	Candia
James Donald	...	King Carlos
Alexander Davion	...	De Nizza
Sam Krauss	...	Felipillo
Percy Herbert	...	Diego
David Bauer	...	Villac Umu
Danny Yordan	...	Vasca
Alfredo Porras	...	Manco
Joaquín Parra	...	Mendoza

Runtime:

USA:118 min | UK:121 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:U | USA:G

Filming Locations:

Peru

Company:

Cinema Center Films

Pizarro vs Atahualpa

This is a sort of strange epic spectacular film of a time when the genre was not in high demand. The story deals with the conquest of the Inca empire (now Perù) by the Spaniards leaded by Franncisco Pizarro back in the sixteenth century. This is not a movie for everyone to see it and appreciate it -it could seem a bit slow at times- but it stands as a fine and very decent product for those of us who are interested in historical events om Latin America.

"The Royal Hunt of the Sun" can be considered as the delayed complement to Henry King's "Captain from Castile" (1947) referred to the similar conquest of today's Mexico by Hernán Cortés (played accurately by Cèsar Romero). The more than 20 years elapsed between both films shows clearly the different cinematographic techniques of one time and the other; but both products have many similarities in their conception such as the crash between two completely different civilizations each one with their own religious, social and political standards and also the search of gold and riches by both "conquistadores" and their total lack of scruples for the achievement of their target (clearly leaving aside the pretended conversion to Catholicism of the natives that was the excuse of their kings to support the expeditions in a time when the church ruled in Spain).

If not totally accurate with real facts, the Pizarro saga and his confrontation with the god-king Atahualpa in "Royal Hunt" is acceptable scripted and suits enough history and mainly legend.

The atmosphere that not very prolific director Irving Lerner obtains in his film is excellent transiting a sort of a mystical sensation at times and when required; the final sequence when the Incas are waiting for Atahualpa's Sun-father to raise and bring him back to life is outstanding. The location places, settings and a weird music are very good too.

Robert Shaw plays a convincing Pizarro -daring, ambitious and greedy- who after a while shows some kind of respect and even admiration towards a man he can't quite understand. It is true that Cristopher Plummer's performance as Atahualpa is most eccentric as some reviewers state here, but who knows how a God -he and his people were convinced he was one- would behave? I think that Plummer did a very good job with his role here and his truly original acting is one of the highlights of the film.

For those who enjoy historical films with an epic frame this is one to see.