:The Royal Hunt of the Sun (film)

{{Short description|1969 British-American film by Irving Lerner}}

{{Infobox film

| name = The Royal Hunt of the Sun

| image = The Royal Hunt of the Sun.jpg

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| alt =

| director = Irving Lerner

| producer = Robert Sisk

| screenplay = Philip Yordan

| based_on = {{based on|The Royal Hunt of the Sun|Peter Shaffer}}

| narrator =

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = Marc Wilkinson

| cinematography =

| editing = Bill Lewthwaite

| studio = Cinema Center Films
Security Pictures

| distributor = Rank Organization (Great Britain)
National General Pictures (United States)

| released = {{Film date|1969|10|6|United States|df=yes}}

| runtime = 121 minutes

| country = United Kingdom
United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

The Royal Hunt of the Sun is a 1969 British-American epic historical drama film based on the play of the same name by Peter Shaffer. It stars Robert Shaw as Francisco Pizarro and Christopher Plummer as the Inca Emperor Atahualpa. Plummer appeared in stage versions of the play before appearing in the film, which was shot in South America and Spain. The film and play are based on the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire (now Peru) by Pizarro in 1530.

Plot

With a small rag-tag band of soldiers, Francisco Pizarro enters the Inca Empire and captures its Emperor, Atahualpa. Pizarro promises to free him in return for a golden ransom, but later finds himself conflicted between his desire to conquer and his friendship for his captive.

Cast

Robert Shaw as Francisco Pizarro
Christopher Plummer as Atahualpa
Nigel Davenport as Hernando de Soto
Leonard Whiting as Young Martin
Michael Craig as Estete
Andrew Keir as Valverde
William Marlowe as Candia
James Donald as King Carlos
Alexander Davion as De Nizza
Shmulik Kraus as Felipillo
Percy Herbert as Diego
David Bauer as Villac Umu

Robert Rietti dubbed three of Plummer’s most important scenes following complaints from American test audiences that the accent used by the actor was unintelligible.{{cite AV media|date=1994|title=Film…|type=television programme|people=Norman, Barry (presenter)}}

Reception

The film has a rating of 56% on Rotten Tomatoes.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/royal_hunt_of_the_sun|title=Royal Hunt of the Sun (1969)|via=www.rottentomatoes.com}}

Home media

The Royal Hunt of the Sun was released to DVD by Simitar Entertainment in 1997, and by CBS Home Entertainment on November 25, 2014, via its CBS MOD DVD-on-demand service.