Customer Reviews

Sandok

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With the success of the Sword and Sandal and Spaghetti Western genres within the Italian cinema in the sixties , genres tended to mutate into Spy and Action films which actually blended a bit of everything. Mya Communication has unearthed a jewel from that period which actually trancends the diamond highlighted through out the films running time. 'SANDOK' aka 'LA MONTAGNA DI LUCE'(THE MOUNTAIN OF LIGHT) is just that rare jewel. Not only is it an action movie but it also resembles Jules Dassins 'TOPKAPI' which enters it into the heist caper movie genre. Richard Harrison is at the top of his form as Allan Foster, a thief who pulled off a daring robbery of a major bank in New York. On the lam, he winds up in the company of a Rajah in India who hires him to steal a rare diamond called the Mountain of Light from an impenetrable Pagoda. Naturally, the double crosses and action sequences ensue. Since this film was made in 1965, its fresh to see the genre glowing with such great set pieces that now since 'RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK' have become cliche. Director Umberto Lenzi, way before his forays into the cannibal/poliziotteschi genres, moves the film along in a brisk manor no thanks to the brilliant photography by Angelo Lotti. Harrison is also aided by the stunning Luciana Gilli who provides more eye candy than the beautiful sets shown throughout and a great performance from Wilbert Bradley who aids Harrison in the theft but is left to die by tigers and returns to seek revenge . If you are a fan of Indiana Jones and Allan Quartermain, definitely purchase this rare find. Mya Communication deserves to be congratulated for unearthing this excellent bit of escapist entertainment as fresh now as when it was first released. Its a beautiful, crisp widescreen transfer in Italian with English subtitles. Enough said, hit the add to cart button. Now if only someone would release the Steve Reeves/Arthur Lubin Fantasy 'THE THIEF OF BAGHDAD'.

For those wondering this release is the full, cinemascope 2.35:1 aspect ratio- NOT the 1.66:1 stated by Amazon. This film is also known as TEMPLE OF A THOUSAND LIGHTS (U.S.A.) and it's original Italian title LA MONTAGNA DI LUCE.