Customer Reviews

Lust for Gold

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4 star:		(7)
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In a way LUST FOR GOLD is a "mystery" Western that doesn't lose its real interest after you understand (sort of) the mystery and understand the story. And that says a lot about its lasting attraction and why I am delighted to see it on DVD. The stark but beautiful B&W print lends atmosphere to the "search" for lost treasure, and even the name of the mountain range where the Spanish gold was mysteriously buried, Superstition Mountain, adds to the ambience. This is a truly entertaining oater that will entertain the entire family or friends. Recommended highly.

This forgotten gem is an A movie trying to break out of a B movie's conventions. Even as a B movie, if it had been directed by Edgar Ulmer many people would be raving over it. But it was directed by a man named S. Sylvan Simon who died of a heart attack in his forties. This was his last movie, and it has been forgotten just about as thoroughly as he has.

It's the story of the Lost Dutchman Mine, a rich gold mine lost, then discovered again, and then apparently lost forever. It's the story of Jacob "Dutch" Walz (Glenn Ford), a German immigrant in 1880 who, with a partner, tracks two men to the mine in Arizona's Superstition Mountains. When the men find it, Walz and his partner shoot them down. Then Walz cooly turns his rifle on his partner. It's also the present day story of Walz' grandson, Barry Storm (William Prince), who is searching for the mine again. A generation and a half ago his grandfather disappeared, taking the secret of the mine with him. Storm is determined to find the place, but a killer has been murdering prospectors who have gotten too close to where the mine might be.

The movie is oddly constructed but still works well. Three quarters of the time is a flashback to Jacob Walz, his search for the mine and his entanglement with Julia Thomas (Ida Lupino), a woman as ruthless as he, and her husband, Pete (Gig Young), a jealous and weak man. Bracketing this story is Barry Storm. At first, Storm is following a man who is confident he knows where the Lost Dutchman is located. A rifle shot ends that search and Storm is left with a dead body to explain to the sheriff (Paul Ford) and the sheriff's deputy (Will Geer). At the end of Walz' story we move back to Storm. Now, the killer is tracking him. In a nice twist, the killer is probably not who you'll immediately suspect.

Glenn Ford does a nice job as the grim, mean Jacob Walz. When he thinks Julia may actually love him, he's shy and a little tongue-tied. When he realizes she was using him...well, let's say he gets his own back with her and her husband after he's tricked them into the Superstition Mountains. This is an unusual role to take on for a young and increasingly popular lead actor. After he was established as a major star, Ford didn't often play ruthless bad guys. With this role, he proved he could whenever he wanted to.

Ida Lupino does a great job as the in-it-for-me Julia Thomas. She looks just fine when she's luring Jacob into her web. Later, she's not afraid to look dirty and bedraggled after she's been without water for a couple of days, had to scramble over rocks, been shot at and tossed in the dirt.

The black and white DVD picture is in very good condition. There are no extras.

A rather grim but extremely satisfying Western directed by S. Sylvan Simon, features Glenn Ford as Jacob "Dutch" Walz, a German who discovers "the richest goldmine in the world" in 19th century Arizona. Although not as well-known as other Columbia Westerns, it holds up very well, and is much more appreciated now than it was when it was released in 1949. Juliet Thomas (Ida Lupino) is the cold-hearted woman who pretends to admire Walz as a man, when in fact she just wants to know where his mine is located. She goes so far as to put him up in her home after he collapses in a drunken stupor on the porch of her bakery, and later lets him court her. She pretends to be German (even briefly speaking to him in his native tongue), and feigns ignorance and disinterest in his newfound status as a wealthy citizen. Her pursuit of Jacob only infuriates her estranged husband, Pete Thomas (Gig Young), who wants to be back on her good side (as well as her bed), and so they quietly conspire together to learn the location of his mine and rob Jacob of his fortune. But he is soon onto them and it ends on an interesting showdown on Superstition Mountain.

Despite its serious tone, the film has some light-hearted moments, never more wonderfully presented as Juliet shows Jacob her family album and he comes across a photograph of her as an "au natural" baby, or the moment after Jacob hands off the cookies he bought from Juliet's shop to a young boy, who collapses under the weight of two massive baskets full! And Lupino shows her independent mind and capabilities in this unsympathetic role, while Gig Young's scoundrel manages to gain a little sympathy as the ignored husband. But Ford, who rarely played villainous roles, really brings uncompromising realism as a greedy, self-serving, ill-tempered man (the scene involving the little girl and him allowing her to "play" with his shotgun is a classic example of this). His attempt at a German accent falters in some sequences, but this does not deter from his performance.

This aspect of the movie is actually shown in flashback, the opening being of Jacob's grandson Barry Storm (William Prince) trying to find the mine and solve the mystery of the many puzzling, tragic deaths of those who have attempted to discover it. Fans of the Lone Ranger television series will enjoy the early, uncredited appearance of Jay Silverheels as a deputy.

Now I know why greed is among the seven most deadly sins!

The DVD features a few theatrical trailers.

Columbia Pictures DVD, excellent print and audio. A fun western mystery that holds your attention and keeps you guessing whodunit right up to the end. You may even be tempted to pack your duds and go in search of the legendary "Lost Dutchman" gold mine. Myself, I may do a little online research for fun on some rainy afternoon. Solid entertainment.

Anyone who lives in Arizona would love this flick, a great story about the Old West.

LUST FOR GOLD (1949) is very interesting western.

Ostensibly the true story of the fabled Lost Dutchman Gold Mine in Arizona's Superstition Mountains, the movie casts Glenn Ford as Jacob "Dutch" Walz, perhaps the most villainous role of his career.

Walz, according to this story, murdered several men, including his partner (Edgar Buchanan) in order to keep the location of his mine secret. However, when he meets Julia Thomas (Ida Lupino), he falls hard and is about to share his wealth with her until he learns that she and her husband (Gig Young), plan to steal the fortune from him. Walz' love quickly turns to thoughts of a brutal revenge.

Directed by S. Sylvan Simon, LUST FOR GOLD is actually two stories. There is the historical one, plus a modern tale in which Walz' grandson (William Prince) seeks the mine, only to be stalked by a mysterious killer.

This first-rate western is a mix of film noir and thriller.

© Michael B. Druxman

I've always been a Glenn Ford fan but this was one I had somehow missed. It is a very good movie and I was surprised at how good it actually is.

Glenn Ford plays quite a different role to what we are used to, the special effects are great(given the age of the movie) and a cast of talented supporting players ensure you are entertained from start to finish.

Definitely worth a look!

Glenn Ford as a bad guy? Not just a bad one, but downright vicious? Quite a surprise to see one of my favorites in such a role. But then, it's just one more illustration of his acting versatility. Might watch it again sometime, but not as often as his Sheepman, The Courtship of Eddie's Father or Teahouse of the August Moon.

"Lust For Gold" with Glen Ford and Ida Lupino will appeal to those who love a good old-fashoned black and white western...I recommend this DVD to all who appreciate this genre.

Glenn Ford stars in this thrilling action western as Jacob Walsh, first to claim the Lost Dutchman mine after killing off the other propectors. Ida Lupino does very well as the ambitious bakery clerk who wants him and his gold, but finds both come at a high price in a duel between him and her husband near the mine where an earthquake kills them both. We flash forward to Walsh's grandson who's looking for the mine. Twenty men have been murdered before him and he could be next! Surprise ending helps this rather violent, wicked tale.