Rating: 
Summary: Same world, different video?
Review: Unless the previous reviewers were too harsh and I too lenient, Simitar may have revised their DVD release of THE ROYAL HUNT OF THE SUN. The version I saw was part of a two-pack featuring it and THE FIFTH DAY OF PEACE in Amaray-type keep cases. Anyhow, the picture is letterboxed, but crops off a bit of the right, evidenced early on by the title reading "Christoph(er) Plumme(r)" and Robert Shaw being cut off when he stands too far to the right. Yes, the print shows damage in the form of scratches, artifacts, and bad splices, along with faded colors and a picture lacking sharpness. The audio is in unexceptional Linear PCM. But get this: the bars are honest to goodness BLACK! In my opinion, it's staill quite watchable, not at all the horrid and incomprehensible mess described by others. The outstanding cast, scenic Spanish locations, energetic score, and resouceful production designing by Eugene Lourie elevate this film far beyond its low budget roots as well as the deficiencies of this video presentation. THE ROYAL HUNT OF THE SUN is a fine movie that certainly deserves better, much better. But as it stands, the DVD is okay...for now. A final note, the DVD clocks in at 95 minutes, not the 88 printed on the cover.
Rating: 
Summary: DVD dreggs at a "not so bargain" price!
Review: When Peter Shaffer agreed to allow a screen translation of his Broadway play, "The Royal Hunt of The Sun" it was entrusted to the very able Phillip Yordan and a stellar cast (some from the original stage cast). Unfortunately, this is the type of issue that can and will give DVD a bad name. The producers of the DVD, Simitar Entertainment, utilized a print that was obviously stored in someone's garage and dragged through the streets frame by frame before the transfer was attempted. I've never seen so many breaks, missing frames and scratches in my history of collecting (which goes back to 16mm in the 50's). The sound is either poor optical or lousy magnetic mono, take your pick. The Sound Simply Sucks! The picture quality is marginal and the overall experience of seeing this film again after so many years.....eternally marred for this collector. Despite Amazon's real bargain price for the disc....it's a bummer in sheep's clothing and the folks at Simitar should be ashamed for foisting such a dud on a trusting public. Finally, a curse on whoever decided blue borders at the top and bottom of the letterbox would be a nice touch. All that's missing here are the cute squigglies the Italians and Japanese used to give us in earlier VHS letterbox versions. Finnally, as if to add insult to injury, Simitar adds box notes that proclaim how easy it is to play the disc on "your computer". There are bonuses here too, but what good is a cheap dessert after a lousy meal? In closing, I nominate this disc for the international "distortion in sound" award. It's a hands down winner!
Rating:
Summary: Simitar destroys superb movie!
Review: When this movie became available on DVD I immediately snatched it up, because I remembered the lasting impression it had made on me the first time I had seen it in the 60s.Unfortunately the production values of the DVD version are worse than if it had been produced as a high school project in someone's garage or cellar. Virtually every aspect of video and audio is simply abysmal. I sincerely believe that Simitar could not have done a poorer job if it had tried. This movie deserves so much better! So I would recommend that if you like the movie stay away from this DVD. It's awful! (Five stars for the movie, 0 stars for the production.)
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