Sandokan the Great (film)
| Sandokan the Great | |
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| Directed by | Umberto Lenzi |
| Produced by | Solly V. Bianco |
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Sandokan the Great by Emilio Salgari |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Giovanni Fusco |
| Cinematography | |
| Edited by | Jolanda Benvenuti |
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Running time
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114 minutes |
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Sandokan the Great (Italian: Sandokan, la tigre di Mompracem) is a 1963 Italian adventure film, directed by Umberto Lenzi and starring Steve Reeves. It is the first film in a film series about Sandokan.
Malaysia, the second half of 1800. The English Queen Victoria owns the domain of the eastern lands of Borneo, commanded by Lord James Guillonk, fierce and ruthless conqueror, father of the beautiful Marianna Guillon, nicknamed "the Pearl of Labuan". The brave Sandokan is a young Indian prince, that as a child he lost his kingdom because of the invasion of English. Sandokan is now the captain of a den of pirates who are constantly attacking the British soldiers. One day Sandokan and his friend Yanez're moving from the island of Malaysia to the lands of Borneo. There Sandokan is injured in an attack, and is treated by the family of James Guillonk.
In fact, the governor does not know in person Sandokan, and exchanges the pirate for a noble Indian. Sandokan is going to the game, because even he falls in love with Marianna. Even the girl falls in love with the Indian. But the love of the two is going to last long, because James Guillonk discovers the deception. In fact Sandokan has just attended a tiger hunt, and is forced to flee into the jungle. The soldiers of Guillonk chase him, Sandokan takes refuge in his fortified island. Yanez suggests him a cunning plan: Yanez will be disguised by Indian Ambassador to arrange a marriage between Marianna Guillonk and a noble Indian. But Marianna is already promised to a British officer. James Guillonk so discovers the deception of Yanez, and declares open war against Sandokan.
For this film Giovanni Cianfriglia was the stuntman of Steve Reeves. The films exterior shots were filmed in Spain.
Sandokan the Great opened in Italy in Dec., 1963 under the title of Sandokan, la tigre di Mompracem, and in Madrid in March 1964 under the title of Sandokan, and later in Paris in December 1964 as Sandokan, le tigre de Bornéo with 115 minute and 94 minute running times respectively. It was released in the U.S. in 1965 as Sandokan, the Great.
In a contemporary review, the Monthly Film Bulletin reviewed a dubbed 89 minute version of the film. The review referred to the film as "sagily and fairly stodgily directed by Umberto Lenzi" with an "adequate but anonymous performance by Steve Reeves". The review concluded that the film was "fine for anyone particularly partial to children's adventure stories. The scenes in the swamp and jungle are pleasingly photographed in authentic story-book colours."
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