König der Seeräuber

I saw this in 1962 when I was 7 years old at a kids matinee in our local crummy cinema THE EMPIRE in the suburb of BOTANY in SYDNEY AUSTRALIA.

It made me the man I am today, with a completely mesmerising afficianado for old cinemas and the use of colour in old films.

Years later it was re run with hilarous voice overs at late shows but the film still was such good fun and quite well made that even making fun of it didn't detract. It is actually quite good.

This pirate vehicle for muscleman Reeves is an effective change of pace from his sword-and-sandal adventures, and similar to his heroic, action-oriented version of THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD. The extraordinary participation of Chelo Alonso gives this minor epic a big boost, as she, once again, provides a lively, exotic dance number amidst Steve's pec flexing. Enjoyable.

This is a good pirate film for kids.I don't think anybody,including Reeves,thought that he was a great artist,but it's a fun picture.Vaguely inspired by "Captain Blood",this has very little to do with the real Henry Morgan.It also has aspects of "The Adventures of Robin Hood "as well.Chelo Alonso,straight from her adventures in the Follies Bergere is simply exquisite.A funny sequence has Reeves strip to the waist for a duel with the paunchy Armand Mestral,who,when viewing his rivals superb physique,shrugs in chagrin.Ripping good fun.

During my school years this was the movie I viewed more times(4 1/2) at the theaters than any other.Although a steve reeves fan I was all set to make fun of this movie with my brother before viewing it,maybe I was too use to seeing him run around in sandals(Steve Reeves not my brother)and thought his playing the part of a pirate was kind of hokey.Fifteen minutes into the movie I accepted his playing a mortal and really started to enjoy this movie,actually the movie got real interesting earlier than that with the first appearance of Valerie Lagrange.Wow!The rest could have the blondes, this dark haired beauty was my type.First there was Annette,Gina ,Sophia and now Valerie,finally there would be Lucianna(that's my wife and leading lady).The romantic pairing of Reeves and Lagrange is fairytale like and probably had much to do with my repeat viewings that were an escape from the blah events of reality.Still though this is top adventure/action entertainment with a nice musical score.Like many Italian movies a few laughs are mixed in with all the action.The biggest one probably being when one pirate changes his mind about baring from the waist up before dueling reeves,seem as though his built wouldn't compare well with the champion body builder.There are nice scenes of impressive ships at sea to go along with the battles,pillaging and plundering.An epic without the long duration that causes squirming in the seats.In this film is also another big star of european adventure films-Chelo Alonso,she no doubt is appealing to many of the viewers also.The way I see it,if a person doesn't like this movie it's because they don't like pirate movies period.

Henry Morgan (Steve Reeves) is an English slave who's bought by the Panama governor (Ivo Garrani)'s daughter named Ines (Valerie Legrange). They fall in love and then he's condemned . When he finds himself in a galleon , there bursts a rebellion and he becomes pirate . Meanwhile , Ines is kidnapped in island of Turtle , but she's freed . Then , Morgan decides to take the city of Panama , the location strongest fortified from Spanish empire . As the notorious pirate raids up and down the Caribbean, battling the Spanish, the English and other pirates .

The film is a nice pirate-adventure movie , being lavishly produced . This classic story of romantic adventure come to life enriched by Technicolor cinematography in charge of Tonino Delli Colli (usual cameraman of Sergio Leone and Pier Paolo Pasolini) and adapted magnificently to screen . Overwhelming battle ships and sword-play and full of villainy , romance , swashbuckler and heroism . Usual dancing scenes in charge of a gorgeous and erotic Chelo Alonso . Steve Reeves is cool as the pirate hero who encounters dangerous situations while trying to retrieve his lover . Reeves acted as a corpulent hero in several movies , starring historic and legendary characters , such as ¨Romulus¨ in Romulus and Remo ; ¨Phillipides¨ in Giant of Marathon ; ¨Eneas¨ in The war of the Trojan and The horse of Trojan ; ¨Glaucus¨ in The last days of Pompei and ¨Hercules¨ in Hercules the Queen of Lydia . The motion picture was well directed by Andre De Toth and Primo Zeglio . Andre De Toth is a classic director , Western habitual (Indian fighter, Man in the saddle , Ramrod , Last of Comanches , The stranger wore a gun) , but also made Péplum (Gold for the Caesar , The Mongols).

The film is partially based on historical events , as Henry John Morgan (born Welsh 1635, dead Port Royal, Jamaica 1688) was a known corsair , at death of pirate Edward Mansfield was appointed chief by the buccaneers . He conquered Providence island or Saint Catalina . Later on , he sacked the city of Panama , violating the truce between Spain and England . For that reason was imprisoned , but king Charles II freed him and named him governor of Jamaica .