original Italian titles INDIO and INDIO 2: LA RIVOLTA

director for both films: Antonio Margheriti (as Anthony M. Dawson)
starring [film one]: Marvelous Marvin Hagler · Brian Dennehy · Francesco Quinn · Tetchie Agbayani · Subas Herrero
starring [film two]: Marvelous Marvin Hagler · Charles Napier · Tetchie Agbayani · Frank Cuervo · Dirk Galuba

         

          

Regardless of the genre, there's probably no better cult Euro director than Antonio Margheriti. This is especially true of his action movies [like HUNTERS OF THE GOLDEN COBRA and ARK OF THE SUN GOD] and, of course, these two jungle films.

In the first one, a half-breed ex-Marine named Morell (played by Anthony Quinn's son Francesco) fights to save the rainforest against a former US Army colonel and his corporate mercenaries in their attempt to destroy the Indio homeland in their search for a secret ore mine. The action is even stronger (lots of conflict and explosions) in Margheriti's sequel as the mega-corporation continues it's assault to the Indio rainforest as they build a highway through the tribe's home. For the first part, Hagler enters the action half-way into the movie as Sgt Jake Iron, a villain helping the evil corporation. But he eventually sides with the "Indio" against the oppressors. In part two, Hagler becomes the true hero, replacing Quinn's character after his demise.

      

Easily, these two films are the best jungle actioners to emerge from the Italian genre, but they are unquestionably ripoffs (homages?) of the Sylvester Stallone "Rambo" playbook. These movies even include the same villains (Brian Dennehy and Charles Napier) from the first two Stallone films.

Of course, the main draw is Marvin Hagler. He took these roles a year after retiring from American professional boxing. He competed in that sport from 1973 to 1987 and reigned as the undisputed champion of the middleweight division from 1980 to 1987, winning twelve successful title defenses. Nicknamed "Marvelous" by his fans (but annoyed when network announcers wouldn't announce him as such) Hagler legally changed his name to "Marvelous Marvin Hagler" in 1982. Mr Hagler died from a heart-attack in March 2021 at age 67.