Slaughter on the Khyber Pass (1970)

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

The acting in this movie is really good.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

SLAUGHTER ON THE KHYBER PASS is an Italian costume adventure film starring Peter Lee Lawrence, the actor best known for appearing in spaghetti westerns before dying young. This film has the misfortune to have been made after the British comedy CARRY ON UP THE KHYBER, which has exactly the same look but of course renders any attempts at seriousness here unsuccessful. It doesn't help that one of the supporting cast members looks exactly like Roy Castle! I couldn't help but wish I was watching the CARRY ON film instead because this film is bland and by-the-numbers throughout, with bickering English soldiers struggling to quel a native uprising. Expect thuggee cult members, a beautiful native girl for our hero to fall in love with, a traitor, and the occasional fight scene. That's if you can stay awake that long.

A conflict of ideals - a conflict of arms - fought out in the Kyber pass and across the scorching plains and mountains of India . The film portrays a a fort on the Northwest Frontier of British-Raj India commanded Major Castleway (Mariano Vidal Molina) and other officers . And group of people formed by Indian rebels tribes , they're led by Tantya (Carlos , ¨Charles¨ Quiney) , a reluctant chief who to protest against British oppression and tyranny , he becomes a rebel leader and his second-in-command , Tanalunduri (Nello Pazzafini) banded together against the Brits . Rebels carry out strong attacks by robbing , raiding and murdering British forces and the rich and higher castes . Soldiers are commanded by the half-breed Sergeant Cullen (Peter Lee Lawrence , and the stiff-upper-lip Captain Miller (Sergio Ciani) on an assignment to vanquish the native uprising , as they set out in pursuit from the outpost to Kyber pass where is the baddie headquarter . But the regiment is surrounded by the rebel army which spent time in the chase . Meantime , the Red Coats are double-crossed by a traitor (Antonio Mayans) . The Brits strike back displaying their arms and swords , but the rebellious Indians carrying out a brutal slaughter .This is a Spanish/Italian attempt to match the US adventures spectacles of the mid-sixties and early seventies , containing derring-do , sword-play , spectacular battles , gorgeous outdoors and being quite entertaining , though a little mediocre . It's a fiery as well as adventurous outing , set late 19th-century adventure yarn that makes little sense but bulges with emotion that keeps coming at you , as action and adventures are maintained throughout . It's one of several adventures-action pictures made in Spain of the sixties that such Spanish/Italian stars , regulars in co-productions as Peter Lee Lawrence : Western ordinary , Alan Steel or Sergio Ciani : Peplum customary , Mariano Vidal Molina , Charles Quiney : Jose Luis Merino's fetish actor , and Antonio Mayans : Jesús Franco habitual , among others . It packs an atmospheric cinematography , though a perfect remastering is necessary . Being shot on location in Monastery of Piedra and Los Monegros , Zaragoza , Spain , showing splendidly the stark landscapes , deserts , mountains and gorgeous falls and caves.Te motion picture was professionally directed by Jose Luis Merino , though resulted to be mediocre . He's a skill and successfully craftsman . Merino often uses same actors , such as Stelvio Rossi , Peter Lee Lawrence and Charles Quiney . He has written/directed numerous films of all kinds of genres such as Terror : Ivanna , The hanging woman ; Euro-spy : Colpo Sensazionale al Servicio Del Sifar ; Chorizo/Spaghetti Western : More Dollars for the MacGregors , Frontera Sur , Réquiem for the gringo , Gatling gun , Seven ride to death , ; Wartime : Last Panzer battle , Hell commandos , A Bullet for Rommel , When heroes die ; Musical : Europa Canta , Aquellos Tiempos Del Cuple , and his most successful films are the fresh and diverting adventures : Tarzan and King Salomon's mines , Robin Hood , Rebelion De Bucaneros , El Zorro knight of Justice , El Zorro De Monterrey , Last adventure of Zorro and this one.

Even the top-billed presence of the doomed-to-die-young Peter Lee Lawrence, plus lots of those eye-pleasing red coats once worn by Her Majesty's soldiers, can bring life to this tired "Northwest Frontier" drama. Most of the plot, such as it is, involves a band of these British soldiers wandering off from a fort on some kind of mission whose goals and purposes are never very clearly defined. There's conflict between the enlightened Lawrence and a narrow-minded, stick-to-the-rules superior who doesn't appreciate any aspect of the local culture, and there's a pretty girl thrown in there along the way, but it all just falls unto the "killing time" category. This makes "The Brigand of Kandahar: look like "Gunga Din!"