I acquired this picture as the make-weight on a DVD double bill with Jungle Hell. It is actually the better picture of the two, although that is not saying much.
The movie starts in America, with Sabu as a boxer heading for a world title fight. However, the character's boxing background is of no significance and plays no part in the subsequent plot. This is symptomatic of the main problem with the picture: it takes forever to get started. It was only at the third attempt I actually got past the seemingly endless prologue and watched the movie through to the end.
However, when the movie does finally spark into life there is a surprising amount of action for what is essentially a 'no budget' B picture.
The story takes us to an island in the South China Sea where Sabu is crowned king and leads his people in their resistance against communist invaders and local traitors. A treaty with America ensures their future freedom and prosperity.
The invaders are not numerous but there are more of them than I expected. There is a fair bit of outdoor shooting, both on location and on the back lot so the picture never gets too claustrophobic. The biggest surprise was a couple a long tracking shots, including an unexpectedly elaborate track and crane in the coronation scene.
Perhaps the most revealing thing about this movie is that its director, William Berke, was banging out 8 or 10 of these movies a year for most of the Forties. Perhaps the true benchmark for these programmers would be weekly episodes of a TV series rather than other feature films.
This is far from being a good picture and there is no reason for anybody to go out of their way to see it, but at least it is a genuine movie, not a con trick, like Jungle Hell, which is frankly unendurable.
'Just about watchable' may seem like damning with faint praise, but in the context of these bottom of the barrel pictures it is almost a compliment.
The movie starts in America, with Sabu as a boxer heading for a world title fight. However, the character's boxing background is of no significance and plays no part in the subsequent plot. This is symptomatic of the main problem with the picture: it takes forever to get started. It was only at the third attempt I actually got past the seemingly endless prologue and watched the movie through to the end.
However, when the movie does finally spark into life there is a surprising amount of action for what is essentially a 'no budget' B picture.
The story takes us to an island in the South China Sea where Sabu is crowned king and leads his people in their resistance against communist invaders and local traitors. A treaty with America ensures their future freedom and prosperity.
The invaders are not numerous but there are more of them than I expected. There is a fair bit of outdoor shooting, both on location and on the back lot so the picture never gets too claustrophobic. The biggest surprise was a couple a long tracking shots, including an unexpectedly elaborate track and crane in the coronation scene.
Perhaps the most revealing thing about this movie is that its director, William Berke, was banging out 8 or 10 of these movies a year for most of the Forties. Perhaps the true benchmark for these programmers would be weekly episodes of a TV series rather than other feature films.
This is far from being a good picture and there is no reason for anybody to go out of their way to see it, but at least it is a genuine movie, not a con trick, like Jungle Hell, which is frankly unendurable.
'Just about watchable' may seem like damning with faint praise, but in the context of these bottom of the barrel pictures it is almost a compliment.