lust for gold movie reviews

Once Upon a Time in a Western

Lust for gold (1949).

He decides to travel there, figuring he might just have claim to part of the $20 million left behind in what’s become known as the Lost Dutchman Mine.

Floyd Buckley, an expert on the mine, has reached the area first. He’s sure he knows its location.

Intrigued, Storm follows. Until Buckley is shot in the back and killed.

Then Storm rushes back to town, delivering the news to Sheriff Lynn Early. The lawman isn’t surprised; Buckley is the fourth recent murder victim who was trying to find the mine.

Storm then learns the true story of the Lost Dutchman. His grandfather wasn’t the first to discover the mine. That distinction belonged to the Peralta family from Mexico.

And the mine was originally lost when Apache Indians attacked one of the Peralta brothers and wiped out all the miners with him. Since the mine was on sacred ground, the warriors hid the bodies and the gold.

Years later, Jacob Walz (Glenn Ford) and his partner (Wiser) overhear when a mountain guide calls his client Peralta.

So they follow them to Superstition Mountain. And once they locate the mine, Walz kills both men, then his own partner.

He’s now the only person who knows the location of the richest gold mine around. But the lust for gold isn’t limited to the men who want to dig for it.

Julia Thomas (Ida Lupino) is dissatisfied with her hardscrabble life as the wife of down-on-his-luck husband Pete.

She hears of the gold strike and decides to try to snag a piece of the fortune by stirring up some lust of a different kind in Walz.

Pete quite reluctantly agrees to stand aside while she does so. The real trouble starts when Jacob Walz learns the truth about their motives.

Glenn Ford as Jacob Walz, making the first deposit from the gold mine he found in Lust for Gold (1949)

Ida Lupino as Julia Thomas, hatching her plan to get her hands on Jacob Walz’s fortune in Lust for Gold (1949)

Get past the almost laughable purple prose that comes out of the mouth of the narrator in the opening scene, and this turns into a taunt little Western.

That’s particularly true once Jacob Walz lures the conniving Julia and her husband to Superstition Mountain to dole out his own form of justice.

The Old West portion of the film is told in flashback. In fact, top-billed Ford doesn’t appear on screen until 20 minutes into the movie.

The present-day (as of 1949) portion of the film is pretty well done too, with Jay Silverheels of Tonto fame playing the part of one of the deputies trying to solve the string of murders.

And the film is based on a real legend about a lost gold mine in the Phoenix, Arizona, area.

William Prince as Barry Storm, determined to relocate the rich mine found by his grandfather decades earlier in Lust for Gold (1949)

Paul Ford as Sheriff Lynn Early, a lawman with a new set of Lost Dutchman Mine killings to solve in Lust for Gold (1949)

Directed by: S. Sylvan Simon

Cast: Glenn Ford … Jacob “Dutch” Walz Ida Lupino … Julia Thomas Gig Young … Pete Thomas William Prince … Barry Storm Edgar Buchanan … Wiser Will Geer … Deputy Ray Covin Paul Ford … Sheriff Lynn Early Hayden Rorke … Floyd Buckley Percy Helton … Barber Jay Silverheels … Deputy Walter Myrna Dell … Lucille Arthur Hunnicutt … Ludi Harry Cording … Joe

Runtime: 90 min.

Edgar Buchanan as Wiser, Jacob Walz’s partner in the search for gold, until the Lost Dutchman Mine is located in Lust for Gold (1949)

Gig Young as Pete Thomas, the husband Julia pushes aside in her play for Jacob Walz’s fortune in Lust for Gold (1949)

Memorable lines:

Narrator of Superstition Mountain: “She looks easy, from the outside. Inside, it’s like Satan’s private art gallery.”

Pete Thomas: “I’ve had bad luck. I’m doing the best I can.” Julia Thomas: “Yes, you’ve done very well. Have you been able to keep a job? Have you been able to replace our savings you so cleverly invested in grazing land no animal could live on?” Pete: “That wasn’t my fault. I got swindled.” Julia: “No. I got swindled.

Jacob Walz to Julia Thomas: “You are more beautiful every time I see you. All the way to and from the mine, I keep praticing pretty speeches to say to you. When I see you, I forget them. I forget them.”

Barry Storm, as he heads back toward Superstition Mountain: “I got nothing to lose, except for my life.”

Glenn Ford as Jacob Walz, spruced up and smitten by Julia Thomas, just as she intended in Lust for Gold (1949)

Will Geer as Deputy Ray Covin, following Barry Storm to Superstition Mountain in Lust for Gold (1949)

Jay Silverheels as Deputy Walker, one of Sheriff Early’s two deputies trying to help solve a string of murders in Lust for Gold (1949)

Hayden Rorke as Floyd Buckley, the expert who thinks he knows the location of the Lost Dutchman Mine in Lust for Gold (1949)

Ida Lupino as Julia Thomas, realizing her ploy has been discovered by Jacob Walz and she’s now at his mercy in Lust for Gold (1949)

Glenn Ford as Jacob Walz, well-provisioned and watching two enemies suffer in the heat in Lust for Gold (1949)

Along Came Jones (1945)

Pierre of the Plains (1942)

Martha Scott as Catherine Allen with John Wayne as Daniel Somers, arriving in Oklahoma in War of the Wildcats (1943)

War of the Wildcats (1943) aka — In Old Oklahoma

Lust for Gold

Film Details

Articles & Reviews

Brief Synopsis

Cast & crew, s. sylvan simon, william prince, edgar buchanan, technical specs.

Barry Storm, the grandson of Jacob Walz, who in 1880 was the owner of the Lost Dutchman mine, surreptitiously follows Floyd Buckley as he searches for the mine in Arizona's Superstition Mountains. When Buckley is murdered by a sniper, Barry hikes back to town to report his death. The sheriff tells Barry that twenty-one men have been murdered while searching for the mine, and Buckley is the fourth to have been shot in the same area with the same gun. Barry knows that one hundred years earlier the Peralta brothers: Pedro, Ramon and Manuel, discovered the mine: After Ramon returns home, the other miners are attacked by an Apache. The brothers cover the entrance to the mine and attempt to escape, but are killed by the Indian. After he reflects on the past, Barry takes deputy sheriff Ray Covin to the place where Buckley was killed and then stays behind to continue his search for the mine. He accidentally stumbles on an ancient rifle, which he believes might have belonged to Walz. Sheriff Lynn Early sends Barry to an old folks home near Phoenix, and there, Mrs. Martha Bannister and Bill Bates tell Barry what they know about his grandfather: Walz encounters Ramon Peralta and Ludi, his American companion, in a small town near the Superstitions and, with his friend Wiser, follows them through the mountains. One night, Peralta and Ludi wait for moonlight to strike a certain spot, then start digging. Walz kills all the others and then fills his own pockets with gold. After Walz returns to town with the gold, Julia Thomas, who owns the bakery, becomes determined to get the gold and leave her fugitive husband Pete. Chance favors her plans when a drunken Walz collapses in front of her shop. She puts him to bed, and in the morning, pretends disinterest in his gold. When Walz learns that Julia speaks German, he begins to court her. No one dares to tell the quick-tempered Walz that Julia is already married, but Julia offers the information herself, explaining that she no longer loves her husband. After Walz offers to pay Pete to divorce her, he accidentally learns that Julia is not separated from Pete as she has told him, and becomes convinced that Julia is after his money like everyone else. Later, Walz gives Julia a map of the mine and asks her to meet him there. When Julia and Pete reach the mine, Walz hides their burros and supplies and watches from a hiding place as they grow weak from hunger and thirst. A desperate Julia kills Pete with a knife and begs Walz to help her. Walz shows her no sympathy, and later, an earthquake buries Julia and the mine. When Barry's research confirms some of the details of this story, he becomes convinced that he can discover the buried mine. Once again, he explores the Superstitions and finally locates one of the landmarks. Covin, who has been looking for the mine for twenty years, tries to shoot Barry, as he has the other treasure hunters. He then struggles with Barry, but falls to his death after he is bitten by a rattlesnake. Early, who suspected that Covin was the murderer, arrives, having followed Covin at a distance. Together, Barry and Early wait for the moon to rise, but quickly realize that unless they know the exact date on which the moonlight will hit the entrance to the mine, they will never find it.

Jay Silverheels

Eddy waller.

Will Wright

Virginia mullen.

Antonio Moreno

Arthur Hunnicutt

Elspeth Dudgeon

Paul e. burns, hayden rorke.

Robert Malcolm

Virginia farmer.

Harry Cording

Baynes barron, william j. tannen, alvin hammer, anne o'neal, karolyn grimes, percy helton, arthur space, richard alexander, dorothy vernon, edmund cobb, george chesebro, howard negley.

John Doucette

Eddie fetherston, kermit maynard, trevor bardette, billy engle, louis mason, maudie prickett, nita mathews, george morrell, carl anderson, clay campbell, sidney clifford, lodge cunningham, george dunning, richard english, gene havlick, earl mcevoy, james nicholson, ted sherdeman, m. w. stoloff, archie stout, lust for gold - lust for gold.

Lust for Gold on DVD

The film's working titles were Superstition Mountain , Greed , and Bonanza . Hollywood Reporter reviewed the film under the title For Those Who Dare . On September 2, 1948, Los Angeles Times announced that George Marshall was to direct the film. Later, he was replaced by S. Sylvan Simon. Barry Storm's book was a documentary account of the actual Lost Dutchman mine and the cruel fates of those who tried to find it. He was not related to Jacob Walz. In 1955, according to a 29 November Hollywood Reporter news item, Storm, the nom de plume of John Griffith Climenson, sued Columbia for libel, stating that he was falsely portrayed in the film as the "illegitimate grandson of an Arizona frontier character, Jacob Walz." According to a modern source, the suit was settled out of court.

Your Browser is Not Supported

To view this content, please use one of the following compatible browsers:

Safari v11+

Firefox Quantum

Microsoft Edge

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

Upcoming Movies and TV shows
Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

What's the Tomatometer®?
Login/signup

Movies in theaters

Opening this week
Top box office
Coming soon to theaters
Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

Fandango at Home
Netflix streaming
Prime Video
Most popular streaming movies
What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga Link to Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
Hit Man Link to Hit Man
Babes Link to Babes

New TV Tonight

Eric: Season 1
We Are Lady Parts: Season 2
Geek Girl: Season 1
The Outlaws: Season 3
Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted: Season 4
America's Got Talent: Season 19
Fiennes: Return to the Wild: Season 1
The Famous Five: Season 1
Couples Therapy: Season 4
Celebrity Family Food Battle: Season 1

Lust for Gold Reviews

It's something of a western curio, but the stars are on fine form.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 3, 2023

Lust for Gold is the poor man's Treasure of Sierra Madre.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Jun 26, 2007

Letterboxd — Your life in film

Forgotten username or password ?

Start a new list…
Add all films to a list…
Add all films to watchlist

Add to your films…

Press Tab to complete, Enter to create

A moderator has locked this field.

Add to lists

Where to watch

Lust for gold.

Directed by George Marshall , S. Sylvan Simon

Ruthless Fortune Seekers Who Will Stop at Nothing...

A man determined to track down the fabled Arizona gold mine known as The Lost Dutchman has an affair with a married treasure hunter, whose pursuit of the mine has lead her to double-cross her husband.

Ida Lupino Glenn Ford Gig Young William Prince Edgar Buchanan Will Geer Paul Ford Jay Silverheels Percy Helton Elspeth Dudgeon Karolyn Grimes Paul E. Burns Billy Gray Arthur Hunnicutt Myrna Dell Hayden Rorke Eddy Waller Virginia Farmer Maudie Prickett John Doucette Hank Bell Chris Willow Bird Nora Bush Antonio Moreno Suzanne Ridgway Lucile Sewall Dorothy Vernon Will Wright

Directors Directors

George Marshall S. Sylvan Simon

Producers Producers

Earl McEvoy S. Sylvan Simon

Writers Writers

Ted Sherdeman Richard English

Original Writer Original Writer

Barry Storm

Editor Editor

Gene Havlick

Cinematography Cinematography

Archie Stout

Assistant Director Asst. Director

Earl McEvoy

Lighting Lighting

Art direction art direction.

Carl Anderson

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Sidney Clifford

Stunts Stunts

David Sharpe Kermit Maynard Jock Mahoney Gil Perkins

Composer Composer

George Duning

Sound Sound

Lodge Cunningham

Costume Design Costume Design

Makeup makeup.

Clay Campbell

Columbia Pictures

Releases by Date

10 jun 1949, 29 nov 1950, 01 dec 1950, 09 jan 2007, 02 sep 2011, 03 jun 2021, releases by country.

Theatrical U
Physical U DVD
Physical U Blu-Ray
Theatrical 16

Netherlands

Physical 12 DVD
Premiere NR
Theatrical NR

90 mins More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Jesse Snoddon ★★½

"Inside, it's like Satan's private art gallery."

Barry Storm (William Prince), the descendent of Jacob 'Dutch' Walz (Glenn Ford), comes to Superstition Mountain seeking the lost gold mine that Jacob found years ago that he feels he has a family claim to. There's just one problem, those who seek it have a tendency to wind up shot dead whenever they get close.

Though I appreciate the film's commitment to featuring a cast of characters that are basically all awful, it plays as a little one dimensional and not all that interesting once it becomes clear that the only motivation for anyone in the movie is "get the gold". The structure is a little off balance, featuring too much of Barry…

Review by Channing Pomeroy ★★★ 1

Lust for Gold is a noir–western sandwich. The outside is a modern noir frame story, a “biography of a death trap,” with plot twists and gloriously hyperbolic voice-over telling of a lost gold mine in craggy mountains “like Satan’s private art gallery.” This encloses a flashback western in which three people discover a treasure, an archetypal tale found in the 1001 Nights and Chaucer but with a love angle added to this already lethal triangle

The film is marred by some obviously fake special effects — an earthquake and Glen Ford pretending to be a rough-hewn schmo — but Ida Lupino smooths a lot of flaws, and the vertiginous fight scene staged on a friable cliff edge is absolutely fabulous.

Review by sarah 1

Clean-shaven Glenn Ford: baby-faced lover Glenn Ford with a five o'clock shadow: ruthless killer

Review by Blair Russell ★★★

A film noir/Western sandwich? In my last movie review for a day or two (I'll be out of town for about 36 hours), I'll explain what I mean.

Recently, a review from a mutual on Letterboxd inspired me to check out this rather interesting Western which is also a film noir. While most assuredly flawed, the idea is so interesting and some performances did stand out, there are no regrets in visiting the Criterion Channel to spend 90 minutes w/ something based on an actual legend. Lore states that there is a huge cache of gold buried in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona. One of the several stories purportedly related to this tale has a man named Jacob Waltz discovering…

Review by ScreeningNotes ★★ 4

I'm temporarily reactivating my Criterion Channel account because they're doing a special run of movies picked out specifically for me: western noirs . I chose to watch Lust for Gold first because I was less excited about it and I'm a save-the-best-for-last kinda guy (and because my 3:10 to Yuma rewatch left me thirsty for more Glenn Ford, as usual), and while it wasn't exactly exceptional, it was quite an appropriate way to start this mini-marathon. It's got all the hallmarks of both film noir and the western: it has excessive literary voiceover, a treacherous femme fatale, and constant lies and shifting allegiances on the noir side; and it has rugged rocky landscapes, a remote gold-rush town, and a climactic, emotionally…

Review by Andy Summers 🤠 ★★★★ 6

Like most film fans, I love a bit of trivia about the actors that I come across as I discover guys that I want to know more about. Glenn Ford has popped up a lot lately in my Western odyssey, and I wanted to more about an actor who seems, just like Randolph Scott, to wear very similar clothes in most of his films. Same hat, same jacket, reminding me of James Stewart's garb he wore in those Anthony Mann films. Ford was a fascinating man, a serial womanizer, married and divorced four times, and had a list of conquests that made Warren Beatty look like a choirboy. These are just some of the names that Ford had trysts with…

Review by Zoë 🐝 ★★½ 6

Don't mind me, just getting my Glenn Ford fix.

I unfortunately ended up being disappointed with Lust for Gold, as I had heard great things about it, and I ended up finding the construction of the story (or, more accurately, two stories) to be really detrimental to the main plot, the ill-fated tale of the Lost Dutchman mine. Wrapped around the 19th century-set story of Jacob "Dutchy" Walz is a story set in the modern day (well, modern day upon release, a calendar in the sheriff's office marks the time as September 1948) where Dutchy's grandson Barry Storm is searching for his grandfather's lost mine in Arizona and becomes a witness to a murder of another searcher. From here Storm…

Review by Gregory Kent ★★★½

1949 Ranked

Pretty solid western, Lust for Gold has a lot going for it. Those wide mountain shots, Ida Lupino, and some awesome action sequences near the end. There is a lot going against it too - the narration (although feeling very noir) is a little comical, and the tonal shifts between the bookends and the rest of the film is pretty jarring. This slightly mars, but doesn't ruin, an otherwise pretty fun story and film.

Review by Krautsalat ★★★½

Wild West Summer 2020 : Film #5 Task #15 - Watch a Western about gold or the allure of gold

Yeah, that's what I said - a Dutchman.

This is not just based on a true story , it even starts with a letter from the Governor of Arizona, swearing it's 100% historically accurate. So of course it's mostly bullshit, but it's a pretty good yarn.

Review by sakana1 ★★★ 3

There are a couple of layers of flashback here, and the voiceover done by the modern hero (William Price, who has a real “Aw gee, ma, there’s gold!” air about him) is weirdly hyperactive, almost to the point of parody at times. The inner story is the most interesting one, because it’s all about Ida Lupino running roughshod over Glenn Ford and Gig Young; together they almost made it worth watching.

Also: Edgar Buchanan and Glenn Ford were in at least 9 movies together. I know they both worked a ton, but that’s like 10% of Buchanan’s output which seems really high — I hope the liked one another, or at least got along. Otherwise, that would have been a real drag.

Review by PUNQ ★★★½

A little sappy when Glenn Ford was all in love, but whenever that Lust for Gold (1949) was in effect, which was most of it, this was a gem of a movie!

Review by Kevin Jones ★★★

The 1940s, 20/100

Many films have explored the nature of greed, especially in terms of gold. It is and was a constant trait of many westerns, one of which was Lust for Gold. As a western noir, it is a rather unique take on the idea with the more western pursuit of gold blending nicely with the dark and cynical portrayal of humanity afforded by its noir inclinations. Originally set to be directed by George Marshall before he quit over a row with producer S. Sylvan Simon, Lust for Gold wound up being directed by Simon. It purports to tell a true story, albeit some elements have been altered. To make it a bit more noir friendly, Julia Thomas (Ida…

Similar Films

Select your preferred poster

Lust for Gold

Where to Watch

Ida Lupino (Julia Thomas) Glenn Ford (Jacob 'Dutch' Walz) Gig Young (Pete Thomas) William Prince (Barry Storm) Edgar Buchanan (Wiser) Will Geer (Deputy Ray Covin) Paul Ford (Sheriff Lynn Early) Victor Adamson (Barfly) Richard Alexander (Townsman) Trevor Bardette (Man in Saloon)

S. Sylvan Simon

Fortune seeker Barry Storm stumbles onto some clues that may lead him to the fabulous Lost Dutchman Mine, but others have tried and been murdered.

Join or Sign In

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy .

TV Listings
Cast & Crew

Lust for Gold Reviews

1 hr 30 mins
Drama, Action & Adventure
Watchlist Where to Watch

Flashbacks help tell the tale of a search for a famed goldmine and the troubles that ensue for those who seek the missing gold.

Prince plays a young man trying to locate the fabled Lost Dutchman Gold Mine by searching through some public records. The bulk of the story about the mine's original discovery is then told in flashback. Ford plays the Dutchman, a money-mad miner who first runs across the mine during the days of the Old West. He has an affair with Lupino, an equally greedy woman, who wants to control the mine for herself and her husband (Young). Ford kills her and her husband when he catches on to her motives. Their deaths are revenged by nature when Ford is killed in an earthquake. The film flashes forward to Prince and his own search for the mine. On the verge of finding the gold, he gets into a fight with corrupt deputy Geer. The two engage in a to-the-death battle for the rights to the mine. Shot in black and white, the film was released in sepia tone, and also includes some stock footage. The narrative unfolds in a straightforward style, and the cast does the standard job. Originally the film was to be directed by George Marshall, but he was replaced by Simon shortly before shooting began. The new director simplified the plot of the original novel, and named Prince's character after the novel's author, Barry Storm. Storm was furious over the film's interpretation of his book and sued for misrepresentation.

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

Top Ten Lists

LUST FOR GOLD

Post author: eenableadmin
Post published: August 5, 2019
Post category: Uncategorized

(director: S. Sylvan Simon; screenwriters: Ted Sherdeman/Richard English/based on the book Thunder God’s Gold by Barry Storm; cinematographer: Archie Stout; editor: Gene Havlick; music: George Duning; cast: Glenn Ford (Jacob Walz), Ida Lupino (Julia Thomas), Gig Young (Pete Thomas), William Prince (Barry Storm), Paul Ford (Sheriff Lynn Early), Jay Silverheels (Walter, Deputy), Edgar Buchanan (Wiser), Will Geer (Deputy Ray Covin), Paul E. Burns (Billy Bates), Antonio Moreno (Peralta), Arthur Hunnicutt (Ludi), Percy Helton (Barber); Runtime: 90; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: S. Sylvan Simon; Columbia/Tri-Star; 1949) “Lust for Gold is the poor man’s Treasure of Sierra Madre.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Lust for Gold is the poor man’s Treasure of Sierra Madre. S. Sylvan Simon (“The Fuller Brush Man”/”I Love Trouble”/”Son of Lassie”), a director of comedies and musicals, was a last minute replacement for director George Marshall and nearly ruins a spellbinding tale with his convoluted flashback telling of the offbeat story. It’s based on a novel of an ill-fated true story, Thunder God’s Gold, by Barry Storm. It’s adapted by Ted Sherdeman and Richard English. It tells the actual location of the legendary “Lost Dutchman” goldmine, where there’s a cache of $20,000,000 in mined, high-grade gold ore buried by an earthquake somewhere in Arizona’s Superstition Mountain (east of Phoenix) and available to anyone who finds it. Simon so simplified the complex plot that Storm, whom the character played by William Prince is called, sued for misrepresentation. There’s also an overbearing narration by Prince.

The film picks up with the twentysomething Barry Storm, a visitor from Colorado, discovering the prospector he was following on Superstition Mountain to locate his grandfather’s lost mine, the “Lost Dutchman,” has been killed. He returns to report it to the sheriff (Paul Ford) in Florence, Arizona.

The film goes into a prolonged flashback, back to the 1870s to tell about the exploits of Storm’s granddad, the tough-guy and heavy drinker named Jacob Walz (Glenn Ford), who discovered the mine. He was a German prospector, mislabeled a “Dutchman,” who with his partner Wiser (Edgar Buchanan) obtained the mine by either killing the wealthy Mexican rancher named Peralta who possessed it or saved his life from his greedy American partner Ludi and the two were rewarded with a map to the mine. Walz (Ford plays him with an embarrassing German accent) stayed in Phoenix, keeping the location of the mine secret by visiting it secretly. The attractive but untrustworthy Julia Thomas (Ida Lupino) came to Phoenix four years ago from Milwaukee with her spineless husband Pete (Gig Young). She’s unhappy struggling to run a bakery shop and greedily schemes to get the lovesick Walz, a fellow German, to fall in love with her. Her plan is to trick him into revealing where the mine is and then running off with the gold. Walz discovers she’s not only married, but is planning with her husband to take him for a sap. Walz then leads the couple to the site of the mine, and traps them there. What he doesn’t figure on, is an earthquake burying the mine.

Armed with the history of the mine, Storm tries to locate it with all the new info he digested. But he’s followed by a killer stalking the mine site, who killed four prospectors in the last two year. The madman killer has caught the gold bug and wants no partners if he should ever find the gold. Jay Silverheels, known forever as the Lone Ranger’s Tonto on TV, has the part of the good deputy sheriff, who has Storm’s back covered. The always smiling Will Geer plays the other deputy sheriff, who seems to know a lot more about the mine on Superstition Mountain than he should.

REVIEWED ON 6/26/2007 GRADE: B-

Prince of persia: the sands of time, lost city, the, mars attacks.

https://tinyurl.com/rst3dtl

Information

This article was written on 18 Nov 2019, and is filled under Reviews .

Current post is tagged

apache , apache indian , arizona , gold , superstition mountains

Lust for Gold *** (1949, Ida Lupino, Glenn Ford, Gig Young) – Classic Movie Review 9077

Producer-director S Sylvan Simon’s 1949 Lust for Gold stars Ida Lupino, who is suitably tough and completely believable as Julia Thomas, the ruthless woman trying to steal a gold mine from her equally money-obsessed cohorts in this enjoyable little flashback-told black and white Western.

A well-cast, involved Glenn Ford co-stars as the grabby German miner, Jacob ‘Dutch’ Walz, who has a fling with Lupino but prefers the lure of gold. It is easy to forget the simple ‘money is the root of all evil’ message and enjoy the appealing crime adventure entertainment.

Ted Sherdeman and Richard English’s screenplay is based on Barry Storm’s novel Thunder God’s Gold.

Also in the cast are Gig Young, William Prince, Edgar Buchanan, Will Geer, Jay Silverheels, Eddy Waller, Paul Ford, Will Wright, Virginia Mullen, Antonio Moreno, Arthur Hunnicutt, Myrna Dell, Tom Tyler, Elspeth Dudgeon, Paul E Burns, Hayden Rorke, Fred Sears, William J Tannen, Kermit Maynard, Edmund Cobb, Richard Alexander, George Cheesebro, Arthur Space and Percy Helton.

Lust for Gold is directed by S Sylvan Simon and George Marshall (uncredited), runs 90 minutes, is made and released by Columbia Pictures, is written by Ted Sherdeman and Richard English, based on Barry Storm’s novel Thunder God’s Gold, is shot in black and white by Archie Stout, is produced by S Sylvan Simon, is scored by George Duning and Morris Stoloff, and is designed by Carl Anderson.

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

Lust for Gold (1949) Starring Ida Lupino and Glenn Ford

August 2, 2011 By Cliff Aliperti 5 Comments

Helen Twelvetrees, Pefect Ingenue by Cliff Aliperti

This article has been written as part of the Spread the Ida-Love Blogathon being hosted by MissIdaLupino.Wordpress.com . I've previously written about Ida Lupino movies, good and bad, here in coverage of Search for Beauty (1934) and The Sea Wolf (1941) . Ida was also featured in The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt (1939) which I recently wrote about on Warren-William.com. This entry covers Lust for Gold (1949) starring Ida Lupino and Glenn Ford. Be sure to check out Ida Lupino related content just published by several other writers as part of the Ida Lupino Blogathon .

Speaking from recent experience, you'll get a lot more out of Lust for Gold if you read up on the legend of the Lost Dutchman's Mine before watching. If you don't there's a good chance you'll come away feeling similarly to Jane Lockhart, who reviewed Lust for Gold in the September 1949 issue of The Rotarian . Lockhart wrote, "With its complicated flashbacks within flashbacks, this is probably one of the most confusing plots ever put on the screen ... Magnificent scenery, but that's about all you can say for it."

Lust for Gold opens with a short note from the Governor of Arizona, filled with qualifiers, but basically stating what you are about to see is a true story based on history ... and legend. The legend is believed to have been greatly embellished after the 1891 death of the real-life Jacob Walz, played by Glenn Ford in the film.

In brief, the legend, cobbled from the few sources mentioned at the bottom of this piece, involves the Apache massacre of the Peraltas and their men, a group of prospectors who had discovered gold in the shadow of Weaver's Needle at Superstition Mountain, Arizona. The gold, already mined, was either obscured by the Apache to placate the gods or covered by an earthquake. Jacob Walz, or Waltz, was the German whom the Dutchman was named for--Germans were often referred to as Dutchmen in those days. Opinions about the real Walz ranged from his being a crazy old coot to "one of the most callous and ruthless serial killers" (Fanthorpe) in Arizona.

Most of what's mentioned above is pictured in the movie Lust for Gold with a good deal of color and action added.

Wikipedia has a lengthy and well-documented page about the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine if you'd like to learn more.

Glenn Ford cashing in. Gold nuggets in the foreground

Glenn Ford, as mentioned, plays the Dutchman, Jacob Walz, in the main part of Lust for Gold . Walz as quickly established as not only being mean and no good, but a murderer as well. That's the thing about Lust for Gold : none of its main characters are very likable.

When Walz returns to Phoenix to cash in his gold the event draws just about everybody in town out to surround him, including Ida Lupino's Julia Thomas. Julia and her husband Pete own the bakery in town and it's none too satisfying an occupation for Julia. Upon meeting the pair Julia mentions a murder Pete had committed when they'd lived in Milwaukee four years ago and she establishes herself as a disappointed fortune hunter. Pete rattles off all of the schemes he's had to make money over the years mentioning how one of them "wasn't my fault. I got swindled." Lupino, cold as ice, replies, "I got swindled," referring more generally to her marriage to Pete.

Ida Lupino and Gig Young

Julia sends Pete off to corral the Dutchman but, as usual, Pete fails pretty miserably. Luckily the bartender had spiked the Dutchman's drink so after he stumbled out of the bar gun a blazing he just happens to pass out in front of the bakery. Julia drags him inside, puts him to bed, and sets about earning his trust.

While it takes about 10-20 minutes for Glenn Ford to remember he's supposed to have a German accent he's otherwise very good here. Extremely menacing in a way that 3:10 to Yuma (1957) fans will appreciate. Ford also gets to show his tender side in an escalating series of love scenes with Ida Lupino, who's masterfully duplicitous throughout her part in Lust for Gold .

Ida Lupino and Glenn Ford

Ida excels in the little moments. Check her facial expression when she buries her head into Gig Young's chest and looks away. You can almost see the plot she's imagining as Ford gives her the directions to his mine. And when it comes to the climactic scene at the mine Ida pulls out all the stops, pleading, plotting, tearing up and bouncing around in a more physical way than I can recall seeing her do before. You might notice from the screen captures interspersed throughout this article that Ida is a woman of many faces. Her Julia wears them all well throughout Lust for Gold because she's as crooked as can be. Lupino is so good as the heavy that I found myself, at times, rooting for a pair of murderers over her.

While the title card is reserved for Ida Lupino and Glenn Ford, Gig Young's performance as the jealous husband shouldn't be overlooked. Despite the terrible end to Young's life he's still well regarded for his work as one of the more consistent good guys on the screen. Well, that's no so in Lust for Gold where, as I mentioned, he's got a murder in his past and at one point threatens to tack on a second. While his Pete is never completely enamored with the swindle wife Julia wishes to pull he makes himself worth watching by unraveling just a little bit more each time he enters a new scene.

The shame of Lust for Gold is that Lupino, Ford and Young, despite carrying the bulk of the movie, only work 60 of the 90 minutes that the picture runs. In fact, we don't even see Ida until we're almost a half hour into Lust for Gold , and when I say almost I mean 29 minutes and change.

Their story, set in the 1880's, is framed by the modern tale of Jacob Walz' grandson, Barry Storm, who's played by an eager but annoying William Prince. Prince perhaps would be easier to take if it weren't for the too wordy voice-over he provides with the tones of a radio announcer calling a really exciting ballgame. An example of this diaglogue: "The land dropped out from under me like a deceitful friend." Almost every line complete with strange simile verging on camp today and wearing down the effective main portion of the film from the outside-in.

William Prince

Lust for Gold is littered with popular character actors starting in the modern sequences with the Sheriff played by Paul Ford of The Phil Silvers Show ; Grandpa Walton, Will Geer, as Ford's deputy; and another TV star, Jay Silverheels, soon Tonto alongside The Lone Ranger . At the Pioneer Rest Home Elspeth Dudgeon tells Prince the story which spins us back in time for the first shot of Glenn Ford in the movie. There he scares Dudgeon as a little girl, played by Karolyn Grimes, who you certainly know as Zuzu in It's a Wonderful Life (1946).

William Prince, Will Geer and Paul Ford

Ford's best pal is played by Edgar Buchanan, of Petticoat Junction fame as well as having appeared on screen over a dozen times with real life pal, Glenn Ford. Former silent star Antonio Moreno shows up as the character based on the supposed last surviving member of the Peraltas, the group who'd originally found the mine before being mostly slaughtered by the Apache. Blonde Myrna Dell is on hand in a bar scene; Arthur Hunnicutt is here. I'm likely forgetting others, but you get the idea-- Lust for Gold is packed.

Glenn Ford and Edgar Buchanan

Lust for Gold was a Columbia picture, the last under contract at that time for Glenn Ford, who re-upped for seven years afterwards, and the first under a contract with the studio for Ida Lupino. Lupino had recently married Collier Young, her second husband and at that time executive assistant to Columbia head Harry Cohn. Lust for Gold was originally to be directed by George Marshall but he clashed with producer S. Sylvan Simon and so Simon took over the film himself.

The original 1949 New York Times review called Lust for Gold "a tense, intelligent and often thrilling adventure." The Times also brings up the elephant in the room when it mentions that the film is "not in the same class as Treasure of Sierra Madre to which school it belongs, but it very competently probes into the anatomy of greed." The last word is interesting because von Stroheim's Greed (1924) was the other film I thought of, besides Treasure of the Sierra Madre , while watching Lust for Gold . Ford's got it, Young isn't that interested in it, but Ida Lupino becomes obsessed with gold in a way I've only seen topped by Greed's Trina.

Lust for Gold was enjoyable the first time I viewed it, but as I mentioned you'll want to have at least a little grip on the history before watching yourself as that helped me enjoy a second go-around much more. It did seem strange to have the top three billed stars only appear for an hour in the middle of Lust for Gold . What happens once Glenn Ford and Ida Lupino depart and we return to the 20th Century is entertaining, but I found myself mentally checking out once the stars left, wondering when the credits would roll.

Lockhart, Jane. "Looking at Movies." The Rotarian September 1949: 37.
" Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine ." Wikipedia: .
"The 'Lost Dutchman.'" The Arizona Republican. 12 Jan 1899: 5.

Classic Biography:

Freddie Bartholomew 1936 MGM Studio Paper Premium Photo

Freddie Bartholomew Complete Biography of the 1930’s MGM Child Star

More Biographies of Old Time Movie Stars

Featured Review:

Ten Cents a Dance (1931) Starring Barbara Stanwyck

Movie cards & collectibles.

Current Immortal Ephemera eBay Sales Listings

The Stories We Tell

LUST FOR GOLD

A race against time.

The Feature Presentation: Like the 1949 Columbia Pictures release of Lust for Gold , this present-day true story is about obsession, greed, and the hunt for gold.

Boyhood dreams of treasure lead to a lifelong search when a retired missile scientist makes a monumental discovery and tempts fate for fortune as he hatches a secret plan to prove his claim. With his estranged son at his side, he secures an entertainment / personal injury lawyer who assembles a team – a retired blackjack dealer, a veterinary assistant, and a dog. The plan? To covertly remove gold bullion from within the most restricted area of Federal land deep within Superstition Mountain, Arizona.

But the one risk greater than facing the unforgiving terrain and Federal prosecution is time.

The Feature Presentation is preceded by a Featurette, The Tomb , which follows the same team in their efforts to unearth a Jesuit Tomb said to contain millions of dollars of gold bars, jewels, coins and paintings.

Lust for Gold: A Race Against Time

10 days. 31,000 gold bars.

OFFICIAL TRAILER

Now Available on Digital, Blu-Ray, and DVD!

“Lust for Gold is a fascinating adventure documentary.”

“…beautifully shot…showing gorgeous vistas around the Superstition Mountains…”

“…the exploratory drive that lives within mankind.”

Retired missile scientist Robert Kesselring’s search for treasure began when his aunt gave him Barry Storm’s Thunder Gods Gold . It was a book that comforted him throughout his life, would help him weather his time in Vietnam, and would become a foundation for his research.

After serving in Vietnam, Kesselring graduated from SMU with a master’s degree in electrical engineering and a math minor. He worked for Honeywell, Digital Equipment Company, Raytheon and within NASA’s Redstone Arsenal.

Throughout his career and into retirement, Kesselring maintained his interest in the Superstition Mountains and spent years doing research on the area, which culminated in a new discovery. Seven years later, he assembled a team in an attempt to prove it.

Bill Blackwell grew up in the desert of Palm Springs. He graduated from the University of Colorado and Western State University, College of Law. Blackwell spent the majority of his legal career practicing entertainment law in Los Angeles and moved to Nevada near Lake Tahoe.

Blackwell learned about the Superstition Mountains and the Legend of the Lost Dutchman from his father, who used to take him treasure hunting there when he was a kid. When he came across an article Kesselring published online about his discovery, calling for a pro-bono lawyer, he contacted him immediately and jumped onboard.

James Sybesma was born and raised in Michigan but later moved to Lake Tahoe where he started his career as a blackjack dealer at a local casino. When Bill Blackwell moved to Lake Tahoe, he settled right next to Sybesma. As neighbors, they shared their love of adventure and treasure hunting. Upon retirement, Sybesma joined forces with Blackwell in search of gold, and when Blackwell offered him the opportunity to join Kesselring’s team, Sybesma didn’t hesitate.

Jason Kesselring was 39 two years prior to filming, when he received his GED – a proud moment, especially given that his mother was a schoolteacher and his father a missile scientist. Jason had been estranged from his father, Robert Kesselring, for 32 years, and is eager to make up for lost time. When Kesselring offered to introduce Jason to his research and pass down his legacy, Jason eagerly accepted. He saw the expedition as an opportunity to reconnect with his father, and was looking forward to supporting him in whatever way he could.

David Smith comes from a long line of “rock-hounds” and spent years combing the desert surrounding Palm Springs for geological treasures with his family. He became friends with Bill Blackwell during high school, and the two have since kept in touch. Smith’s had a varied career including work as a veterinary assistant, rancher, and electrical contractor, and spent a number of years as a gold miner. Smith and his dog Gordy spend most of their time outdoors, and upon joining Kesselring’s team, were eager to see Superstition Mountain.

Part Rottweiler, part Labrador, Gordy was rescued by David Smith from mistreatment in an environment where he was kept outside – rain or shine. Smith would often drive by Gordy’s home, witnessing firsthand his neglect and abuse. He eventually befriended Gordy (and his owners) and convinced them to turn Gordy over to him to serve as Gordy’s trusted and valued guardian. Gordy is eight years old and has spent the last six years as David’s constant companion.

Available now on major TVOD platforms including Fandango Now , Google Play , iTunes , Apple TV , Vudu , and Kino Now . Blu-ray and DVD now available – click to order .

LUST FOR GOLD TREASURE HUNT

Lust for Gold , at its core, is about outdoor adventure and the thrill of the hunt. The Lust For Gold Treasure Hunt brought that excitement to participants across America for an event full of creativity and exploration. And just like in the movie, technology met the hunt for treasure—but without the unforgiving terrain.

The results are in, and we want to congratulate our Lust For Gold Treasure Hunt winner, Jennifer MacNeil from Spearfish, South Dakota – her treasure hunting savvy, creativity, and dedication have earned her $400 of backpacking gear!

Meet LFG Treasure Hunt Winner Jennifer MacNeil!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

“Nearly a year ago my husband and I decided to sell most of our belongings and embark on an epic (possibly never-ending) roadtrip. We sold our home and bought an RV. We established residency in South Dakota and once Fall arrived we started heading to the Southwest. We have been exploring the Southwest ever since and love this area of the country. I took a job for the summer in Escalante, Utah so we have been here since May. The landscape is spectacular. We are both photographers and started a YouTube channel as well about our journey and adventures. We are MacNeils on Wheels . I also write a weekly blog which we post on our website . I really love learning and will never stop doing so as we travel, meet new people, learn about history and different cultures. Prior to doing this I worked for most of my adult life at a non-profit agency providing mental health and housing services for adults with disabilities. I was a clinical supervisor there and loved my work and the people I worked with. It was tough to leave it behind, but I’ve found other ways to have a positive impact on those around me since we’ve hit the road and I am so happy to have the freedom to go where I want and have full control of so much of my time. I love to read, write, take photos, cook for people, make new friends, explore new places, cross stitch, puzzle, and build miniatures.”

Why did you enter the Lust For Gold Treasure Hunt?

“I love puzzles and challenges. I was in Arizona for the winter when I first heard about it and had been considering buying a metal detector and doing some treasure hunting of my own so this seemed like a great activity to help me get into it.”

Any plans for your new backpacking equipment?

“We are here in Utah until November I think and there’s so much to see and explore here though most of the coolest stuff is in very remote wilderness which is tough to get to. There are lots of slot canyons we would like to explore as well as the Jacob Hamlin arch in Coyote Gulch and the Cosmic Ashtray. Having the right gear will help us to make these treks safely and also enable us to overnight camp so we can capture the Milky Way at these locations as we have some specialty photographing night sky.”

What was the first thing that went through your mind when you found out you’d won?

“I was happy and excited. I did work diligently to complete as many of the challenges as I could and I think that there was only one that I did not complete.”

LUST FOR GOLD SWEEPSTAKES & MORE

Congratulations to the Lust For Gold Sweepstakes grand-prize winner, Alton Rau from Augusta, Georgia! He and a guest will set out on a four-day/three-night guided backpacking expedition through Superstition Mountain, Arizona to visit locations featured in the film, Lust for Gold: A Race Against Time . The trip includes meals, backpacking and camping equipment, lodging (before and after the expedition), passes to Goldfield Ghost Town and Superstition Mountain Museum, plus an $800 airfare/travel stipend.

Meet Lust For Gold Sweepstakes Winner Alton Rau!

“…I was born in Massachusetts and moved to Augusta, GA when I was 6. I worked the largest printer in the world called World Color. I was a machine operator and then supervisor until 2004. … I love boating, fishing, and hunting. I love American history and adventures.”

Why did you enter the Lust For Gold Sweepstakes?

“I’ve always been interested in the Lost Dutchman’s goldmine!”

How excited are you for your four-day trip into Superstition Mountain?

“Ecstatic! Just what I needed: an adventure.”

Do you know who you’ll be bringing with you?

“My mother, Loretta Rau.”

“I couldn’t believe it!!! Here we come, Superstition Mountain.”

The sweepstakes sponsor partners are Goldfield Ghost Town , Superstition Mountain Museum and The Dons of Arizona . REI Co-op Adventures is the outfitter and guide for the expedition.

Privacy Overview
Strictly Necessary Cookies

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

Get 20% off a Lifetime Plex Pass

Movies & TV Shows
Most Popular
Leaving Soon
Documentary
Browse Channels

Lust for Gold

There are no locations currently available for this title

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Dennis Schwartz Lust for Gold is the poor man's Treasure of Sierra Madre.

Take Plex everywhere

Home » Movies » Movie Reviews

‘Golden Kamuy’: A Thrilling Action-Adventure Encapsulating War, Treasure, and Heart

Kento Yamazaki as Saichi Sugimoto in Golden Kamuy on Netflix for review

Originally a manga, Golden Kamuy has enjoyed adaptations. In addition to getting a popular anime series, the Japanese story has been adapted into a feature-length live-action movie that’s enjoyed a theatrical release in Japan and a global release on Netflix. Admittedly, I felt slightly anxious about the Sunday release date (because why are Netflix stuffing it at the end of the week?), which led to me being pleasantly surprised. Golden Kamuy is as good as any global tent-pole action-adventure movie, with good production values.

For those unaware of the story, Golden Kamuy is set during the Russo-Japanese War . Saichi Sugimoto (played by Kento Yamazaki in the live-action) is a seasoned war veteran and seemingly immortal (although his near-misses do appear comical). His post-wartime experience turns into a quest to find ancient gold of the Ainu people, eventually joined by an Ainu woman called Asirpa (played by Anna Yamada).

They come across a man with a coded map tattooed on his body; many fleeing prisoners like him have similar tattoos, giving the location of the gold. Saichi wants the gold, and Asirpa wants vengeance for her father, a miner who was killed in an act of betrayal when retrieving the famous Ainu gold. Asirpa vows to join Saichi on his quest, only if he does not kill.

I’ll stop there because while the premise extends itself in other sources, much of the plot surprises newcomers, including myself, who enjoyed the magical storytelling. What caught me initially was the value of the production. There’s a lot of love for this story, and it shows in the opening minutes, when it’s all-out war, revealing the seemingly immortal nature of Saichi (nicknamed “Immortal Sugimoto”). War is the catalyst for all events — the movie shows the struggle between soldiers that war can bring, a running and valuable theme running amongst the quest for gold.

But it’s also quite obviously a tent-pole movie that Japan enjoyed, too (it earned £3.4 million in its opening weekend and quickly became the country’s number one movie), making this an event film more than a thematic moral story. The chemistry between the characters, especially Saichi and Asirpa, is heartwarming. There are funny jokes and quips — there’s a feeling that they need each other for different purposes, and that development grows throughout.

But don’t be complacent, either; while Golden Kamuy is lighthearted, it also contains elements of darkness and violence. It does not push boundaries, but director Shigeaki Kubo wanted to take the adaptation of the story seriously. It’s 20th-century Japan, after all, so it shouldn’t be entirely pleasant.

With sweepingly good shots and great action set-pieces, Golden Kamuy gains a second wind by the third act. The team behind the movie has found balance, ensuring each act has its respect. I was half expecting the historical action movie to sag eventually, but the characters’ charm translates to an efficiently engaging movie, complimenting the 2-hour runtime. There’s a particular moment when Saichi and Asirpa have a problem with their language barrier, and when Saichi presents her with miso to add to their tasty meals, she thinks he is eating poo. Is this the best joke ever? No. But sometimes, it’s good to find dumb humor when you expect things to be dumb.

And when you feel that you cannot get enough, the movie’s final act confirms one thing: there will be a sequel. And it’s not a dramatic cliffhanger either, but it’s more of an ominous interlude ready to take this story into an assumed trilogy. Also, if you cannot stand waiting and feel tempted like me, there are four anime seasons so far. I’m saying that Golden Kamuy deserves more than a sneaky Sunday release on a global streaming platform. We are lucky to watch this highly engaging and cinematic movie at home.

Golden Kamuy (2024) Ending Explained
Is Golden Kamuy (2024) based on a true story?

Article by Daniel Hart

Daniel is the co-founder of Ready Steady Cut and has served as Editor-in-Chief since 2017. Since then, Dan has been at the top of his game by ensuring that we only produce and upload content of exceptional quality and that we’re up to date with the latest additions to the streaming and entertainment world.

Is Crosshair in danger in The Bad Batch season 2?

Partner Track season 1 - who is Ingrid Yun?

This website cannot be displayed as your browser is extremely out of date.

Please update your browser to one of the following: Chrome , Firefox , Edge

Cast & crew
User reviews

Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1

Chronicles a multi-faceted, 15-year span of pre-and post-Civil War expansion and settlement of the American west. Chronicles a multi-faceted, 15-year span of pre-and post-Civil War expansion and settlement of the American west. Chronicles a multi-faceted, 15-year span of pre-and post-Civil War expansion and settlement of the American west.