Sompote Sands

Directing

Sompote Sands

Born 1941-05-24 · Phra Pradaeng, Samut Prakan, Thailand

The founder of the Thai film production company, Chaiyo Productions, Sompote Saengduenchai (สมโพธิ แสงเดือนฉาย), better known as Sompote Sands (May 24, 1941 - August 25, 2021), was a Thai film director, producer, and special effects artist. He was best known for co-directing and producing two Japanese-Thai co-productions, "Jumborg Ace & Giant" (1974) and "Hanuman and the Seven Ultramen" (1974), as well as other science fiction, fantasy, and horror films including "Hanuman and the Five Riders" (1975), the cult classic "Crocodile" (1980), "Phra Rod Meree" (1981), "Space Warriors 2000" (1985), and the children's film "Magic Lizard" (1985). Beginning in 1996, he was a major part of the licensing rights dispute between Chaiyo Productions and Tsuburaya Productions, the original Japanese studio behind Ultraman, claiming to have co-ownership of the series outside of Japan. On August 25, 2021, Sands passed away from cancer at the age of 80.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

Hanuman and the Seven Ultramen poster
5.0

After a valiant Thai boy is brutally murdered by a gang of archeological looters, his soul is joined with the Hindu god Hanuman, who teams up with Ultraman and his brethren against familiar Ultra-foes unleashed by a weather control experiment gone awry, in this influential Thai-Japanese co-production.

Hanuman and the Seven Ultramen

1974

Hanuman and the Seven Ultramen poster
5.0

After a valiant Thai boy is brutally murdered by a gang of archeological looters, his soul is joined with the Hindu god Hanuman, who teams up with Ultraman and his brethren against familiar Ultra-foes unleashed by a weather control experiment gone awry, in this influential Thai-Japanese co-production.

Hanuman and the Seven Ultramen

1974

The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army poster
NR

A young boy named Kochan is given the ability to transform into Hanuman after he was murdered, and now he and the 6 Ultra Brothers must fight against five monsters who were awakened from the destruction of a rocket test site.

The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army

1979

The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army poster
NR

A young boy named Kochan is given the ability to transform into Hanuman after he was murdered, and now he and the 6 Ultra Brothers must fight against five monsters who were awakened from the destruction of a rocket test site.

The 6 Ultra Brothers vs. The Monster Army

1979

Hanuman and the Eleven Ultramen poster
NR

A reissue of the film "Hanuman and the Seven Ultramen" but with a condensed version of the 1984 film "Ultraman Zoffy" as the first half of the film. The Seven Ultramen portion in the second half is a shortened version of the original film which removes several characters. The film would be further re-edited in the U.S. as "Space Warriors 2000".

Hanuman and the Eleven Ultramen

1984

Jumborg Ace and Giant poster
4.0

When the aliens steal the Suriyatras diamond and combine it with the power of the sun to make a beam that can destroy the Earth. A robot and an ancient god must join forces to fight the alien invaders to get the diamond back. This film was the first collaboration between Tsuburaya Productions of Japan and Chaiyo Productions of Thailand. Based on the final episode of the Jumborg Ace TV series

Jumborg Ace and Giant

1974

Chalawan poster
NR

A man goes on the hunt for a crocodile who has been killing local villagers. The directorial debut of Sompote Sands though it has been since lost.

Chalawan

1972

Chalawan poster
NR

A man goes on the hunt for a crocodile who has been killing local villagers. The directorial debut of Sompote Sands though it has been since lost.

Chalawan

1972

Crocodile poster
5.0

A giant crocodile is killing and frightening people living nearby rivers. Two men, whose wives and daughter have been killed by the crocodile, decide to chase and eliminate it.

Crocodile

1979

Crocodile poster
5.0

A giant crocodile is killing and frightening people living nearby rivers. Two men, whose wives and daughter have been killed by the crocodile, decide to chase and eliminate it.

Crocodile

1979

Crocodile Therakwad poster
NR

A story about a man that can transform from human to crocodile and has magical powers that make people adore him.

Crocodile Therakwad

1982

Crocodile Therakwad poster
NR

A story about a man that can transform from human to crocodile and has magical powers that make people adore him.

Crocodile Therakwad

1982

Hanuman and the Five Kamen Riders poster
6.0

With an unquenchable thirst for the blood of virgin women, the wicked King Dark enslaves the brilliant Thai scientist Dr. Wisut to create an army of monsters to put an end to the chivalrous efforts of the cyborg warrior Kamen Riders. When their efforts fail, can the Hindu god Hanuman help? Semi-official Thai/Japan co-production between Chaiyo and Toei. Toei allowed the usage of the Five Riders vs. King Dark film while Chaiyo forgot to license the characters out (Source: Dubbing Wiki).

Hanuman and the Five Kamen Riders

1975

Hanuman and the Five Kamen Riders poster
6.0

With an unquenchable thirst for the blood of virgin women, the wicked King Dark enslaves the brilliant Thai scientist Dr. Wisut to create an army of monsters to put an end to the chivalrous efforts of the cyborg warrior Kamen Riders. When their efforts fail, can the Hindu god Hanuman help? Semi-official Thai/Japan co-production between Chaiyo and Toei. Toei allowed the usage of the Five Riders vs. King Dark film while Chaiyo forgot to license the characters out (Source: Dubbing Wiki).

Hanuman and the Five Kamen Riders

1975

The Ultraman poster
8.0

After being killed by a gang of bandits who desecrate a Buddha statue, a young boy named Ah Kuo is revived by Ultramen and becomes a new Ultraman. Together, the Ultramen battle an army of monsters who are awakened by a failed rocket test.

The Ultraman

1975

The Ultraman poster
8.0

After being killed by a gang of bandits who desecrate a Buddha statue, a young boy named Ah Kuo is revived by Ultramen and becomes a new Ultraman. Together, the Ultramen battle an army of monsters who are awakened by a failed rocket test.

The Ultraman

1975

Magic Lizard poster
7.5

After an opening sequence in which we watch Magic Lizard roller-skating around the city to the accompaniment of 80s dance music, recycled footage from the earlier Giant and Jumbo A shows us some space aliens landing in a pink flying saucer. One of the aliens steals into a cave beneath a temple where the hapless but lovable Magic Lizard appears to be responsible for guarding some kind of treasure. After threatening Magic Lizard with a light saber, the alien makes off with a crystal of some sort, after which Magic Lizard starts with the high-pitched nattering and spazzing out that will characterize his behavior for the rest of the film. He runs to Yuk Wud Jaeng, the demon-like living statue previously featured in both Giant and Jumbo A and Tah Tien and pleads for his help. Yuk Wud Jaeng takes off into the heavens, not to be seen again for some time.

Magic Lizard

1985

Magic Lizard poster
7.5

After an opening sequence in which we watch Magic Lizard roller-skating around the city to the accompaniment of 80s dance music, recycled footage from the earlier Giant and Jumbo A shows us some space aliens landing in a pink flying saucer. One of the aliens steals into a cave beneath a temple where the hapless but lovable Magic Lizard appears to be responsible for guarding some kind of treasure. After threatening Magic Lizard with a light saber, the alien makes off with a crystal of some sort, after which Magic Lizard starts with the high-pitched nattering and spazzing out that will characterize his behavior for the rest of the film. He runs to Yuk Wud Jaeng, the demon-like living statue previously featured in both Giant and Jumbo A and Tah Tien and pleads for his help. Yuk Wud Jaeng takes off into the heavens, not to be seen again for some time.

Magic Lizard

1985

Magic Lizard poster
7.5

After an opening sequence in which we watch Magic Lizard roller-skating around the city to the accompaniment of 80s dance music, recycled footage from the earlier Giant and Jumbo A shows us some space aliens landing in a pink flying saucer. One of the aliens steals into a cave beneath a temple where the hapless but lovable Magic Lizard appears to be responsible for guarding some kind of treasure. After threatening Magic Lizard with a light saber, the alien makes off with a crystal of some sort, after which Magic Lizard starts with the high-pitched nattering and spazzing out that will characterize his behavior for the rest of the film. He runs to Yuk Wud Jaeng, the demon-like living statue previously featured in both Giant and Jumbo A and Tah Tien and pleads for his help. Yuk Wud Jaeng takes off into the heavens, not to be seen again for some time.

Magic Lizard

1985

Tah Tien poster
5.5

Tah Tien is ostensibly a retelling of an old Thai folk tale about a battle between two giants, Yak Wat Jaeng and Yak Wat Pho.

Tah Tien

1973

Tah Tien poster
5.5

Tah Tien is ostensibly a retelling of an old Thai folk tale about a battle between two giants, Yak Wat Jaeng and Yak Wat Pho.

Tah Tien

1973

Computer Superman poster
4.5

Four boys are born with strange features, one has very big ears, one has a tail, one has very big hands, one has a big nose. Becoming friends, they spend most of their time playing and sleeping. Becoming adults, their fathers banish them from the village as they are doing nothing to help the community. Just as they leave, a local mafia gang threatens the villagers to get help to cultivate opium and to provide food for their members. Meanwhile one lady wants to marry one of the boys but wishes that he can remove his tail. He refuses. At night time, while he is sleeping, she cuts his tail. He flees away but looses a lot of blood. A crazy scientific professor finds and decides to save him by using technology. He then gathers his three other friends to free the villagers from the mafia gang. A sci-fi take on a classic Thai fairy tale.

Computer Superman

1977

Project Ultraman poster
1.0

The only footage of planned Project Ultraman TV series, shown publicly.

Project Ultraman

2006

Project Ultraman poster
1.0

The only footage of planned Project Ultraman TV series, shown publicly.

Project Ultraman

2006