The Royal Hunt of the Sun (1969)

In 1532, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro leads an expedition into the heart of the Inca Empire and captures the Incan Emperor Atahualpa and claims Peru for Spain.

Director:

Irving Lerner

Writers:

Peter Shaffer (play), Philip Yordan

Stars:

Robert Shaw, Christopher Plummer, Nigel Davenport

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Shaw	...	Francisco Pizarro
Christopher Plummer	...	Atahuallpa
Nigel Davenport	...	Hernando 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

Storyline

The Spanish explorer Pizarro captures the Inca god-chief Atahualpa and promises to free him upon the delivery of a hoard of gold. But Pizarro finds himself torn between his desire for conquest and his sense of honor after friendship and respect develops between captive and captor.

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Plot Keywords:

bare chested male | homosexual subtext | 1530s | year 1532 | year 1533 | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

October 1969 (UK)

Also Known As:

Az aranybirodalom bukása

Filming Locations:

Sevilla, Andalucía, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Benmar Productions, Cinema Center Films, Security Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actor Alexander Davion had his head shaved in a tonsure for the movie and, while filming in Spain, was repeatedly mistaken for a defrocked monk.

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Quotes

Atahualpa: They cannot kill me.
Francisco Pizarro: Cannot?
Atahualpa: Only my Father can take me from here. And he not accept me killed by men like you. Men with no word. You may be King in this land. But never God. And if you kill me tonight, I will rise at dawn, when my Father first touch my body with light.
Francisco Pizarro: That's not possible.
Atahualpa: All my people know it. Is why they let me stay with you.
Francisco Pizarro: Your people let you stay with me because they knew I could not kill you?
Atahualpa: So.

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Connections

Referenced in The Deep (1977)

User Reviews

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.