Os Reis do Sol

"Kings of the Sun" is a highly fictionalized story about the Mayan civilization of central America. The story has one of the last remaining Mayan groups fleeing to save their civilization. The Mayans were spread across much of modern day southern Mexico into other Central American countries. Others of their groups had been attacked and wiped out or conquered by an invading warring nation. We see clearly the distinction between the advanced civilization of the Mayans and the barbaric nature of their attackers. The movie doesn't give us a date or time frame, so it might have been any time in the latter Mayan period (100 to 700 A.D.). This was all well in advance of European discovery.

Many viewers today may not find this movie very interesting or entertaining. It is slow, for sure. There was considerable interest in ancient civilizations around the mid-20th century. And, a host of movies like this were made back then. Today we know more about the ancients, and Western interests for the most part seem to have shifted to the stars, space and the distant future. The fiction of the story here is only slightly interesting. The script isn't that good. Yul Bryner is probably the only good acting job, as Black Eagle. The rest of the cast are just so-so.

This movie has a number of conflicts with history. One has the invaders with iron weapons against the Mayans' wooden swords. In fact, there is little evidence of metal discoveries and development in the Americas. Only toward the middle of the second millennium is there some scant appearance of bronze objects. But, iron and steel appear only with the Europeans in the 16th century. That struck me as a strange thing that would belie history as well. If the Mayans were so advanced, and an agricultural society, why had they not discovered bronze or iron with which to make plows and other farming implements and tools? They hadn't yet in this movie, but the barbaric invaders had iron swords.

I note some of the reviews and correction comments that take issue with the Indian dress and tepees of Yul Bryner's tribe. But, I don't see or recall anything in the film that says the Mayans landed near the Mississippi Delta. The only evidence of any stream is a very small one. And, the vegetation that we see – trees and underbrush don't resemble anything like the moss-covered forests of Louisiana and the Bayou country. That area is very moist with considerable rainfall. But, this film has the Mayans reaching land in a dry area. So, I suggest that they would have landed in southeast Texas. They might have landed anywhere from present-day Corpus Christi to north of Galveston. That would have put them close to the lower range of the Comanche Indians. The Comanche where a fierce warring and hunting tribe that ranged across the Plains from southern Nebraska to central Texas. And, they built and slept in tepees. If one looks at a map of Gulf of Mexico, it's clear to see that the Mayans could have left the Yucatan Peninsula and sailed "across the sea," landing in southeast Texas.

At one point in the film, Black Eagle says that his people can learn much from the Mayans, and that the Mayans can learn from them. The Mayans are not hunters but farmers. We see them build a dam on a creek to divert the water to irrigate their crops. Archaeologists decades ago found irrigation ditches that had been used by the Hopi Indians of Arizona nearly 2,000 years ago. Then, in 2009 near Tucson, scientists discovered more ancient irrigation canals. Those had been used by ancestors of the Hopi in 1,200 B.C.

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.......

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.

The Mayas, one of the most mysterious and interesting civilizations that the world has ever seen, have not been popular movie heroes in cinema history. Except for Mel Gibson who recently directed APOCALYPTO, a stunning picture showing the twilight of the Mayan kingdom, not many people know that there was also J. Lee Thompson before who made KINGS OF THE SUN. He directed it in the early 1960s and, as a result, the film is filled with its era, with the style of the 1960s film-making. The reason why this movie is short of popularity is its highly limited access, not many TVs broadcast it, in most stores it is entirely skipped. Yet, recently, I had a chance to see KINGS OF THE SUN on Polish TV. And how did I feel about it? At first, I said to my friend who gave it a viewing with me: „Nice little movie" but after the second viewing, I noticed something captivating in it, I began to like it.

It is so because of entire different reasons than in case of APOCALYPTO. I don't like the idea to compare these two movies because they are totally different. What KINGS OF THE SUN lacks APOCALYPTO has and vice versa, including authenticity of language, cinematography, performances and music. The major reason why I was stunned by KINGS OF THE SUN is the presence of Yul Brynner. He is terrific as Black Eagle, a heroic chief of the Indian tribe who, at first, is hostile towards the new invaders; consequently, he is to be sacrificed to the God of Waters, and finally, finds himself in the absolutely unexpected circumstances. Brynner had many roles that were great but whoever claims that it is one of his very best ones is right. The way he says to Balam „Your woman is beautiful" enthralled me. The moment he observes a peculiar new city from a high tree remained in my memory as exceptionally outstanding. The final sequence is supplied with emotions also thanks to him. I admit that other cast do fine jobs, including George Chakiris as king Balam and Richard Basehart as priest Ah Min, but Brynner absolutely rocks. While he was the king in THE KING AND I, he is "the king of KINGS OF THE SUN."

The pure film factors like cinematography, direction, editing are quite fine here, yet, they are not top notch. Perhaps, that is the reason why the movie has not become one of the top movies of the genre like other films of the time. But one thing is important to mention: it is a pure adventure, not an epic but the fictitious nice little story of love, courage, fight for independence, coping with social problems, building up a new life in a new place. The character of Balam is well developed he is the King for his people, the one who says „NO" to the fanatical religion and the insane idea of human sacrifice. His final speech is pretty thought provoking „What do gods really want of us? What sort of sacrifice?" Yet, nothing draws your attention to profoundity or history - all is there around adventure goal, like in other films of the time, including THE VIKINGS (1958) by Richard Fleischer or THE LONG SHIPS (1964) by Jack Cardiff. Pity that these two cultures, the Vikings and the Mayas, have not been put on screen more often in purely historical films while there are much more educational films about Rome, Egypt or Greece. But that is a different story. KINGS OF THE SUN, for entertainment's sake, is really a rousing adventure.

The last interesting aspect of the movie I'd like to mention is its musical score which is really memorable, not very easy to tune but fits well to the scenes and the entire spirit of the movie. Music is affected by adventure, fighting, emotion... all that leaves an impact in the viewer. Consider, for instance, the rapid tunes interrupted by gentle ones when Ixchel (Shirley Anne Field) is trying to „tame" the Black Eagle. Another wonderful musical moment is when they sail on the sea, the whole picture is stunning. It is so thanks to cinematography, authentic locations, including popular pyramid of Chichen Itza, but music adds much as well.

I have a fresh memory of this movie since I have seen it recently. The case with you may be different, perhaps it has faded in your memory due to many years that have passed since you last saw it. Maybe, it is the first time you have heard of this movie. But I give you my honest advice, look for it because it is really worth seeing. Whether KINGS OF THE SUN is going to be released on DVD or not, it is absolutely worth seeking out. Doesn't have the power of APOCALYPTO, doesn't offer the authentic use of languages as well as native cast, yet, Brynner will leave you breathless and some other aspects will unexpectedly satisfy you. 7/10

In 1963 there was a number of Hollywood fantasies based on historical and cultural themes that made the conoscenti cringe. I mean, Mayans migrating to the Gulf Coast, other Mayans using iron artifacts, arriving in the new world and speaking the same language as the locals? Well, back in those Hollywood days in the middle sixties, audiences were not quite so demanding as now. So, George Chakiris, fresh from his West Side Story triumph and Yul Brynner, known now from a number of hits, are pitched against each other in a sixty's version of a martial arts film. Veteran character actors like Barry Morse (Gerard of The Fugitive), Brad Dexter, Richard Basehart and Ford Rainey are seen sprinkled among the good guys and classic Villain, Leo Gordon heads the bad guys. The beautiful Shirley Anne Field offers the feminine interest in a departure from her roles in grade B movies and adds to the pageantry of the film. And, the usual cast of hundreds provides some nice texture and action to off-balance Brynner's hamming it up in the close-ups. This is a fine old film that doesn't have legs that was entertaining in its time. It is available but be warned: this film would be definitely grade B fare today.