O Rei dos Piratas

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.

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.

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 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.