El rey de los piratas

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.

Although Panamanian filmmakers have finally been able to tell stories about their country, its people, and their lives, most productions dealing with anything remotely Panamanian have been foreign. A few like "Riffraff" (1946) and "The Tailor of Panama" (2001) only used the country as decor, while others as "Charlie Chan in Panama" (1940) and "Across the Pacific" (1942) were not even shot there. Only the documentary "The Panama Deception" (1992) or Paul Leduc's bizarre "Dollar Mambo" (1993) were more concerned, dealing with something as dramatic as the US invasion of Panama in 1989. In recent years things have changed a bit and a few Panamanian features have been made, as "The Fists of a Nation" (2006), "Chance" (2009), or "The Dry Season" (2012), with more in production or already released. I just finished watching "Morgan, the Pirate", an Italian-French co-production that ends with the taking of the city of Panama in 1671, under the direction of André de Toth (whose claim to fame is the 1953 original version of "House of Wax", made in 3-D) and starring Steve Reeves in the lead as Sir Henry Morgan. Of course, beautiful Chelo Alonso is on hand, as an exotic prostitute who lives in the island of Tortuga and stages magnificent Afro-Cuban choreographies on the beach (of the Italian island of Procida, where exteriors were shot), but the romantic interest was centered on vapid Valérie Lagrange (I guess for co-production reason with the French), as the daughter of the Governor of Panama, "the richest city of the Americas", as it is often identified in a couple of scenes. To be honest, wholesome Steve Reeves was often betrayed by weak scripts and rushed editing that summarized complex stories in less than 90 minutes. Although he had the physique to play a mere great action hero, in this film (as a extremely handsome Morgan, if one compares him to illustrations of the famous corsair) he could have developed a more complex character than the demigods he often played in péplum sagas, with the strong traits of Morgan's personality, according to annals of history. But this is all absent in the script. It is true that Reeves was no Laurence Olivier, but he functioned well in these epics, and besides showing flair as a swordsman in galleons and taverns, and against beautiful beaches and blue sea, he seemed eager to try more dramatic roles. Unfortunately this was neither a rich production: although it is well stated that the capture of the city of Panama was made after Spain and England had signed a peace treaty, the violent campaign (that included hundreds of men crossing the isthmus in a month, through the jungle) is trivialized and reduced to a romantic stroll through fields and hills, and in spite of the great fires that destroyed the city and forced its people to change its location, the city ends without scratches (these are reserved to Mademoiselle Lagrange, for a dramatic but false demise). With fine cinematography and music, watch it as simple entertainment and if possible in Italian and its original wide-screen format.

You have to give Steve Reeves agent (s) a lot of credit for morphing him into a great action film such as this one. After two hugely successful Hercules films, Reeves spun off his superman, supermusclebulger personna in a number of sword and sandal type films and other historical characters. One such was the role of Henry Morgan in the great pirate film, "Morgan the Pirate". Most of the Italian made "epics" of the late 50s and early 60s such as the never ending Hercules type films were that they were made on skimpy budgets with shapely, lovely starlets who would never make any Hollywood films. Some of Reeves love interests in those films were Mylene Demengeot, Valerie LaGrange, Chelo Alonso, Georgia Moll and Ombretta Colli....didn't think any of those names rang a bell with you. As Captain Morgan Reeves is a slave to be sold off at an auction in a Panama market, but the daughter of the governor (Valerie LaGrange) is smitten with him after witnessing a flogging and makes him her personal valet. Reeves mistakenly embraces her in a barn and is sent packing to a Spanish war galleon by the governor as a result - presumably never to be heard from again. After leading a slave revolt on a ship, Reeves takes over and forms his own pirate band with him becoming the captain. On a raid Reeves discovers the governor's daughter has been captured on another pirate raid and he is smitten with her and "wins" her in a battle with another pirate captain. As the story goes Reeves and his band sink Spanish ships, have endless fights with other pirates and Reeves becomes more and more powerful as the "scourge of the seven seas"...all along Reeves desires the love of his captive lady Lagrange, but she fends him off wanting to go back to Panama and her freedom. After being set free by Reeves (Capt Morgan) she realizes she truly loves him and longs to see him again. After a failed attempt to capture the city of Panama in a raid, it appears Morgan has drowned.....alas..Morgan is alive and then in another back entrance raid he and his pirate band capture the city and reunites with Lagrange. Reeves showed some true acting ability in this film, and it is considered by his fans as his very best movie. There is a great musical score in this film also. Gets you in the mood for action. I'd rate this film in a pirate league with "Captain Blood" and "The Black Swan".....two very formnable pirate tales. Reeves fans will love this movie.

Before you write it off as just another el cheapo Italian made "peplum epic", take the time to watch it.Reeves is in fine form in title role and he does manage to create a believable character. The film is also fairly factual in how he began his career and the raid on Spanish controlled Panama at the end of the film actually happened in 1671. Film features fine color photography, good atmosphere, and realistic looking 17th. century costumes. There is a very exciting and well staged sword duel on the beach, beautiful women {including the voluptious Chelo Alonso} a great musical score and, for once the ships are authentic looking life size replicas and not the usual bathtub toy boats that too pirate movies feature. There's also a funny sequence where Morgan's men-dressed as woman capture a Spanish treasure galleon. I remember watching it on the Channel 9 "Million Dollar Movie" {in the New York area} in the early 60s when it would be shown at 7.30 and 11.30 every weekday night for a week. I must have watched it 5 times! It was a fun movie then. I recently got to see it on VHS and it is still how I remembered it. Of course it does not have a "Pirates of the Caribbean" budget, but it is not as overblown as those films. No supernatural events or fantasy elements, just a well made and exciting pirate film that delivers on all levels. Steve Reeves best role-even when compared to "Hercules". His films are long overdue for a comeback. I hope it happens soon! This guy really deserves it.

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 .