But as my time neared, the Empire fought back. The final rays of the sun that never set for England, touched the dying embers of greatness alight for a final moment of remembered glory.
There arose in Liverpool a rock ‘n’ roll plus rhythm and blues band called The Beatles who with their wittily misspelled name, their bobbed haircuts , futuristic suits and mesmerizingly simple music, tried to look like they came from another planet. They had especially strong powers over young women, causing them to scream hysterically and swoon, and this when swooning had been out of fashion for at least fifty years. In 1964, these aliens invaded Australia and swooped down upon unsuspecting Melbourne.

 

  There aren’t too many movies about the Mayans which makes it rather surprising that Kings of the Sun is so unregarded when original movies get discussed. Set around 1000 AD when the Mayas had a civilisation going in Mexico more advanced than in much of Europe, the movie speculates on theories that these people influenced the Southern American Indians, such as the Pablo and Mound builders.
  King Balam and his sister (played improbably by Greek George Chakaris and Britisher Shirley Anne Field) lead their people to safety when their civilisation is overrun by barbarians from the south, crossing the Gulf of Mexico. There they encounter Black Eagle, the local chief, who befriends them. Yul Brynner, who is near-naked for the entire movie, projects an astounding portrait of the noble savage, his great physique and lithe athleticism deployed to powerful effect.
  The Mayans set about building a new pyramid but fall out with the redskins over the issue of human sacrifice—exacerbated by the sister getting the hots for Bald Eagle (what red-blooded girl wouldn’t?).
  But when the Mayans find to their dismay that the barbarians have chased them across the gulf, the injuns come to their aid for the final battle. And thus Balam agrees to Bald Eagle’s terms and North America is spared the taint of blood sacrifice.
  A well-made, well-intentioned, starkly original film that has fallen between the cracks in the critic’s brains.

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