Sandokan

When I was growing up in Spain, this was a must see for kids. I went to an all girl school, and we would recreate the episodes during our recess. I have never seen the mini series again, as I think it would tarnish the wonderful memories it holds. I always remember the TV promos: "Kabir Bedi, Sandokan" which served to permanently bond the names together. To this day to think of one is to think of the other. The "Tigre de Bengala" must have been our first collective crush, as we always commented on how handsome and valiant he was. Even the nuns would watch the series and comment on the adventures. It brings back fond childhood memories.

After sailing the seas with Sandokan, you might wonder what life on earth still has to offer us. Sandokan's charismatic and heroic behavior is brought to us with colorful exotic images and the most beautiful soundtrack, combining sitars with steady seventies grooves. I watched this series with a four year old kid, who can't read and doesn't understand a word Italian, but he was screaming along with me Sandokan!, whenever the title song started again. The fighting and the many exotic animals are also enjoyable for the very young, though I can imagine not for the most sensitive of them. Some people get killed pretty nasty. To nowadays standards the speed is slow, but that's OK, so you have more time to enjoy the eastern environments. This series must be inspired by Serge Leones spaghetti western moods and I know that the writer of the Sandokan story was a favorite of Ché Guevara. Sandokan is against the western imperialism, a fighter for freedom... and nice to watch with the kids on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

To begin with, I recall catching a re-run of this on Italian TV as a kid (apart from an earlier cinematic adventure featuring the titular character as incarnated by popular muscle-man Steve Reeves). Incidentally, I had recently rewatched the big-screen follow-up to the serial under review called THE BLACK PIRATE (1976) – which I enjoyed quite a bit, and was actually reminded of this one even back then. Besides, a reduction of SANDOKAN – which was released to theaters under the lengthy title LA TIGRE E' ANCORA VIVA: SANDOKAN ALLA RISCOSSA! – has just been shown on Italian TV: I taped it but, knowing the serial was readily available for rental on DVD, I opted to watch the entire thing (I had intended to check out the film as a companion piece but, being currently swarmed by titles on various formats, I thought better of leaving this for another day!).

While somewhat leisurely-paced, SANDOKAN is never boring; its classical serial structure makes for sheer old-fashioned fun, with good action sequences (director Sollima had cut his teeth on Spaghetti Westerns and Gangster flicks) and a rousing score by the De Angelis brothers (several variations on the main theme are heard throughout). It also maintains a nice balance between literariness, local color, and the thrilling/romantic requirements of the genre – and is very well cast besides: Kabir Bedi (at once dashing and commanding in his signature role), Carol Andre' (one of Euro-Cult's loveliest starlets), Adolfo Celi (making for a formidable villain) and, especially, Philippe Leroy (as Sandokan's witty but resourceful sidekick).

With respect to the quality of the Yamato DVD edition I watched, it's not as bad as comments by disgruntled fans on the 'Net had led me to believe (for the record, the serial is also available as a 3-Disc Set from a different label); I do have one qualm, though, about the decision to use the reduced English credits (but, then, the originals are available as part of the bonus features). The latter includes a biography of the character's creator, Emilio Salgari: I was surprised to learn that he led a short and tragic life, but also that a later exotic serial I had watched – and in which Bedi was featured – called THE MYSTERIES OF THE DARK JUNGLE (1991) was based on his work.

Emilio Salgari is a famous non-English language adventure novelist of the Dumas/Anthony Hope/Rafael Sabatini school. The Sandokan books is one of his great series. This Italian mini-series, which I watched twice dubbed in Spanish, captures the entire scope and flavour of the first and best books of the Sandokan saga. It has pirates, tiger hunts, intrigue, escapes, loyalty, treachery, and, of course, a great romance. Sandokan and Yáñez and the lady Marianne and all other characters are featured. It is sad that the Salgari books have never been translated to English and that, indirectly because of this, this great mini-series has probably not been shown in American television nor transferred to video. I still hope some day to see it collected.

Its is over 4.5 hours long and spell-binding.

Excellent mini-series, filmed on location in Asia with lots of indigenous people as extras, lending the series a feel of authenticity and enhancing credibility.

Leading man Kabir Bedi looks like he was born to play the role, radiating charisma and possessing major screen presence.

Also notable is the great soundtrack, with the catchy theme by Oliver Onions.