Absolutely brilliant

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Although Panamanian filmmakers have finally been able to tell stories about their country, its people, and their lives, most productions dealing with anything remotely Panamanian have been foreign. A few like "Riffraff" (1946) and "The Tailor of Panama" (2001) only used the country as decor, while others as "Charlie Chan in Panama" (1940) and "Across the Pacific" (1942) were not even shot there. Only the documentary "The Panama Deception" (1992) or Paul Leduc's bizarre "Dollar Mambo" (1993) were more concerned, dealing with something as dramatic as the US invasion of Panama in 1989. In recent years things have changed a bit and a few Panamanian features have been made, as "The Fists of a Nation" (2006), "Chance" (2009), or "The Dry Season" (2012), with more in production or already released. I just finished watching "Morgan, the Pirate", an Italian-French co-production that ends with the taking of the city of Panama in 1671, under the direction of André de Toth (whose claim to fame is the 1953 original version of "House of Wax", made in 3-D) and starring Steve Reeves in the lead as Sir Henry Morgan. Of course, beautiful Chelo Alonso is on hand, as an exotic prostitute who lives in the island of Tortuga and stages magnificent Afro-Cuban choreographies on the beach (of the Italian island of Procida, where exteriors were shot), but the romantic interest was centered on vapid Valérie Lagrange (I guess for co-production reason with the French), as the daughter of the Governor of Panama, "the richest city of the Americas", as it is often identified in a couple of scenes. To be honest, wholesome Steve Reeves was often betrayed by weak scripts and rushed editing that summarized complex stories in less than 90 minutes. Although he had the physique to play a mere great action hero, in this film (as a extremely handsome Morgan, if one compares him to illustrations of the famous corsair) he could have developed a more complex character than the demigods he often played in péplum sagas, with the strong traits of Morgan's personality, according to annals of history. But this is all absent in the script. It is true that Reeves was no Laurence Olivier, but he functioned well in these epics, and besides showing flair as a swordsman in galleons and taverns, and against beautiful beaches and blue sea, he seemed eager to try more dramatic roles. Unfortunately this was neither a rich production: although it is well stated that the capture of the city of Panama was made after Spain and England had signed a peace treaty, the violent campaign (that included hundreds of men crossing the isthmus in a month, through the jungle) is trivialized and reduced to a romantic stroll through fields and hills, and in spite of the great fires that destroyed the city and forced its people to change its location, the city ends without scratches (these are reserved to Mademoiselle Lagrange, for a dramatic but false demise). With fine cinematography and music, watch it as simple entertainment and if possible in Italian and its original wide-screen format.

Along with "The Thief of Bagdad, one of Reeves' best flicks. It has a great story, perfect casting, authentic locations, rousing action and pretty music score. Reeves' presence and the strong romantic theme add quite a bit of appeal to the genre. Check out the sword fight on Tortuga Island, a classic. The whole family will love this.Having seen this flick at the Saturday matinée when I was an impressionable young lad, it's hard to imagine anyone duplicating this role in a more convincing way than Reeves, but someday perhaps Hollywood will revisit the story of Morgan the Pirate, it's certainly worthy of a remake, if they could find someone with half the presence of Reeves to play the role.

During my school years this was the movie I viewed more times(4 1/2) at the theaters than any other.Although a steve reeves fan I was all set to make fun of this movie with my brother before viewing it,maybe I was too use to seeing him run around in sandals(Steve Reeves not my brother)and thought his playing the part of a pirate was kind of hokey.Fifteen minutes into the movie I accepted his playing a mortal and really started to enjoy this movie,actually the movie got real interesting earlier than that with the first appearance of Valerie Lagrange.Wow!The rest could have the blondes, this dark haired beauty was my type.First there was Annette,Gina ,Sophia and now Valerie,finally there would be Lucianna(that's my wife and leading lady).The romantic pairing of Reeves and Lagrange is fairytale like and probably had much to do with my repeat viewings that were an escape from the blah events of reality.Still though this is top adventure/action entertainment with a nice musical score.Like many Italian movies a few laughs are mixed in with all the action.The biggest one probably being when one pirate changes his mind about baring from the waist up before dueling reeves,seem as though his built wouldn't compare well with the champion body builder.There are nice scenes of impressive ships at sea to go along with the battles,pillaging and plundering.An epic without the long duration that causes squirming in the seats.In this film is also another big star of european adventure films-Chelo Alonso,she no doubt is appealing to many of the viewers also.The way I see it,if a person doesn't like this movie it's because they don't like pirate movies period.

This pirate vehicle for muscleman Reeves is an effective change of pace from his sword-and-sandal adventures, and similar to his heroic, action-oriented version of THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD. The extraordinary participation of Chelo Alonso gives this minor epic a big boost, as she, once again, provides a lively, exotic dance number amidst Steve's pec flexing. Enjoyable.