The Royal Hunt of the Sun
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Irving Lerner
Robert Shaw
Christopher Plummer
Nigel Davenport
Michael Craig
Leonard Whiting
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
Spanish explorer Francisco Pizarro persuades King Carlos V to finance another Peruvian expedition in search of the Incas' gold. Provided only with two priests and Estete, the king's personal representative, Pizarro recruits 167 volunteers and appoints Hernando De Soto second in command. Upon arriving in Peru, Pizarro arranges a meeting with Atahualpa, the divine king of the Incas who has been warned by his followers that the Spanish invasion will lead to disaster. After Pizarro announces to the Inca priests that he, too, is a god, the Peruvian ruler arrives at Spanish headquarters, where Dominican priest Valverde tries to convert him to Christianity. The conversion proves unsuccessful, however, and the Spanish priests demand that Atahualpa be taken prisoner, whereupon the Inca ruler is seized and his escort murdered. Pizarro asks for a ransom in gold large enough to fill Atahualpa's cell, and as the Incas work to fulfill the demand, Pizarro becomes acquainted with the noble leader and is partially convinced of his divinity. As the ransom is delivered, officers in Pizarro's command, fearing Inca reprisals, threaten to mutiny unless Atahualpa is executed, and the priests, unsuccessful in their attempts to convert the Incas, concur. Although Atahualpa guarantees Pizarro's personal safety, the Spanish soldiers sentence Atahualpa, despite Pizarro's protests. The Inca leader dons a golden mask, assuring everyone that the Sun God will not allow him to die. After the execution, Pizarro, with faith in the ruler's prediction, removes the mask to find Atahualpa dead. He then begins to realize the enormity of the crimes he has perpetrated against the Incas.
Director
Irving Lerner
Cast
Robert Shaw
Christopher Plummer
Nigel Davenport
Michael Craig
Leonard Whiting
Andrew Keir
James Donald
William Marlowe
Percy Herbert
Alexander Davion
Sam Krauss
David Bauer
Danny Yordan
Alfredo Porras
Joaquín Parra
José Panzio
Oscar Alvarez
Lisarao De La Inglesia
Crew
Roy Baker
Manuel Baquero
Ken Barker
Roger Barlow
Eva Del Castillo
Eugene Frenke
John Kirby
Antonia López
Eugene Lourié
Antonio Luengo
Wally Milner
Fernando Montejano
José María Ochoa
Peter Parasheles
Anthony Powell
Julian Ruiz
Gregorio Sacristan
Francisco Sempere
Charles Simminger
Marc Wilkinson
Philip Yordan
Philip Yordan
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Location scenes filmed in Spain and Peru. Opened in London in October 1969.
Miscellaneous Notes
Released in United States Fall October 1969
Released in United States Fall October 1969
