Sandokan, La Tigre Di Mompracem (aka Sandokan The Great) (1963)

When British forces murder his family in British ruled Malaya, a surviving son (Steve Reeves) turns revolutionary in an attempt to overthrow the cruel British oppressors. Directed by Umberto Lenzi (CANNIBAL FEROX), this is a change of pace for Steve Reeves. It's not a peplum movie and Reeves trades in his loin cloth and sandals for silk and brocade. It's a decent piece of Italian made hokum but it lacks the kitsch factor of his more entertaining sword and sandal epics. It's just not as fun. Filmed in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in Techniscope, it looks nice and features an underscore by Giovanni Fusco (L'AVVENTURA). It probably plays best to young boys (and big boys) for whom the film's earnestness overcomes any lack of intelligence in the narrative. With Genevieve Grad as the movie's romantic interest, Andrea Bosic, Rik Battaglia and Leo Anchoriz.