Les rois du soleil

Anyone interested in seeing Hollywood's version of the Maya should view this noted 60's entry. The film is punctuated with panoramic locations, magnificent sceneries and considerable numerical extras for sustained blockbuster effect. Entittled, " The Kings of the Sun ", this film is a worthy offering to entertain young and old alike. Assembled for the cast are Yul Brynner as Chief Black Eagle, George Chakiris as a Mayan Chiefton, Richard Basehart as a Mayan Priest and Shirley Anne Field as Ixchel, a beautiful princess. Accompanying this artistic rendering is it's rousing, nearly overpowering musical score composed by legendary Elmer Bernstine. The film depicts the story of a Mayan people amid its cultural throes in which Chakiris, replaces their dying king, but is forced to flee by a deadly rival menacingly played by Leo Gordon. Commandering an entire peaceful Mayan tribe on the hinterland of the Yucatan and sailing to the shores of America, Chakiris not only establishes a new beginning for his following, but collides culturally with Brenner and his Native American tribe. Aside from Eviserating cultural traditions, pummeling ancient deities and perhaps trampling on the Historical record, the film events are nevertheless worthy of tongue in cheek possibility. In the end, one can smile happily at this wonderful attempt and praise it for its dramatic sincerity. **** .

Pretty-boy George Chakiris wisely keeps his shirt on opposite a buffed up Yul Brynner on whose form Joseph MacDonald's camera dwells with unadorned admiration. Had he paid similar attention to the insipid love interest Shirley Anne Field, people would complain about the sexual objectification of women, but Brynner seems to enjoy all the attention. J. Lee Thompson keeps the action moving along and the story entertaining, even though it is all highly predictable, and Richard Basehart looks suitably embarassed to be seen in an assortment of silly headgear and hairdos.

Writing in "Wild West Movies" Kim Newman draws attention to the lack of mainstream Hollywood product about America prior to Columbus .Indeed he identifies only two such movies -The Norseman (Lee Majors) and this one .Newman is dismissive of its merits but while no masterpiece ,and indeed it has no pretensions to being ,the movie is fun in its own cheesy way . It describes the flight of the Mayans after military defeat at the hands of their Toltec enemies,and their settlement in what is now the Southwestern USA .They form an alliance with the Apaches ,headed by Yul Byrnner and together they unite to resist the pursuing Toltecs.This is despite the conflict between Brynner and the head of the Mayans ,played by George Chakiris ,over the favours of the Apache princess played by Shirley Ann Field . Brynner lends his considerable presence to the role of the Apache chieftain and easily overshadows Chakiris in the acting stakes ,while Field is ridiculously miscast .Some attempt is made to give the characters modern resonance by having Chakiris make a stand against human sacrifice but neither characterisation nor script is really the issue here This is movie dominated by action and spectacle .The battle scenes are well staged and the sets are magnificent with some striking location photography ,shot in Chicen Itza ,Mazatlan and Yucatan ,being a definite bonus Low marks for intellect but its fun movie making and while cheesy its also enjoyable

This movie is terrific!. I liked its clever premise of the Mayan culture contacting the Plains Indian culture. The Kon Tiki and Ra voyages of Thor Heyerdahl proved that "primitive" peoples sailed amazingly far distances, so the Mayans reaching North America and meeting a North American tribe is quite feasible. The two cultures' contact was fascinating and involving. I saw this movie years ago, and then once or twice on broadcast television channels. I wish I could see it again! With all the wide variety of cable and satellite channels now available, I wish one of them would show The Kings Of The Sun....... Or that it would become available on video or DVD.......

Talk about originality. This film broke new ground in its telling of culture clash in the New World many years before the arrival of the White Man. Made in 1963, the slowly changing face of race and minority relationships was just beginnng so for the first time in major motion picture history we have a "historical epic" between just the good old indians around with nary a cowboy in sight. The beginnngs of political correctness not withstanding they couldn't quite cast the movie with just Indians, maybe Jay Silverheels was under contract with some other studio, and besides they needed some Really Big Stars. Enter Yul Brenner who could outking anybody that side of Sean Connery and the rest is history. Sure the storyline is laughable by todays standards but that only makes it more fun. My main point is as follows- 1. WHERE IS THIS MOVIE? Has it decayed into dust? I have not seen this movie on television for 25 years. I cannot find it on VHS. 2. REMAKE THIS MOVIE This movie should be remade with the wandering tribe being the Egyptians who brought pyrimads and that cool game that predated basketball. The final battle would be with the Egyptians a classic East vs West battle. Bloodheart/Gladiator production values would give us the never before view of these great cultures as never before.