Frankie Darro's cinema appearances are never less than tolerable, as is the case here, an action/adventure affair with oil drilling forming its background, a quite popular minimally budgeted effort that regularly played the side street "B" movie circuit for at least twelve years after its initial theatrical release, its title becoming a mimetic phrase for crude oil, and although the plot is somewhat hackneyed, a capable cast makes the most of thin material. Darro plays as Clifford "Fishtail" O'Reilly, his nickname given him by his father Dan (Frank Shannon) after a drill bit used with rotary rigs during the early days of oil exploration that form the setting for the storyline. When Dan falls to his death due to sabotage arranged by loan sharking J.G. Anderson (Berton Churchill) who wishes to take possession by default of the well, Clifford must decide if he will continue in working the site wherein he has spent many of his ripening years. His initial uncertainty ceases when freelance geologist Hank Langford (Roy Mason) convinces him that the well is about to gush, additionally joining with Fishtail in working the rig, while being stimulated by the presence of Clifford's friend and guardian Cynthia (Gloria Shea). Because Anderson's acquisitive interest in the affair is imperiled by Langford's involvement, the latter, as well as the younger O'Reilly, are soon in danger of losing more than eventual oil based income. This is a short (53 min.) film, that is long on documentary montage of oil drilling techniques, additionally and quaintly supplied with two original musical numbers, one of which is sung by Darro and Mason. It benefits from the able camera-work of Arthur Reed and strong turns are contributed by Darro, Mason and the beautiful Shea, with acting honours going to ever reliable Churchill, cast as leader of the Forces of Evil.
Review of Black Gold
