There's a lot to like here.
First, the film is based on a real legend of the West -- the Lost Dutchman's Mine, and parts of the movie were filmed in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix.
There's also a few things not to like here...like alternating shots that clearly were filmed in the mountains, and then shots of mountains that were so fake looking that it was almost laughable. Like the frequency at which boulders were falling on people (although the earthquake scene is quite good). And if you think...could there really be that many rattlesnakes? Well, that answer is apparently yes.
Ida Lupino, never one of my favorites, is quite good here as the mastermind behind stealing Glenn Ford's gold. The only problem is that Glenn Ford (as the Dutchman) is just about the worst villain you can imagine...so quite a different role for him. Gig Young as Lupino's husband is no gem either. I didn't think I was familiar with the "hero" of the film -- William Prince -- but later realized that I knew him for his much later, work as an older character actor; he was quite good here; surprised he didn't go further in film. Edgar Buchanan has a small role here, and it seems as if his voice-overs may have been done by someone else. Will Geer is another bad guy, while Paul Ford is a good guy sheriff. Jay Silverheels has a significant role, but was uncredited for his work.
I'm not saying this is one of the great American westerns, but it's very interesting and worth watching.
First, the film is based on a real legend of the West -- the Lost Dutchman's Mine, and parts of the movie were filmed in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix.
There's also a few things not to like here...like alternating shots that clearly were filmed in the mountains, and then shots of mountains that were so fake looking that it was almost laughable. Like the frequency at which boulders were falling on people (although the earthquake scene is quite good). And if you think...could there really be that many rattlesnakes? Well, that answer is apparently yes.
Ida Lupino, never one of my favorites, is quite good here as the mastermind behind stealing Glenn Ford's gold. The only problem is that Glenn Ford (as the Dutchman) is just about the worst villain you can imagine...so quite a different role for him. Gig Young as Lupino's husband is no gem either. I didn't think I was familiar with the "hero" of the film -- William Prince -- but later realized that I knew him for his much later, work as an older character actor; he was quite good here; surprised he didn't go further in film. Edgar Buchanan has a small role here, and it seems as if his voice-overs may have been done by someone else. Will Geer is another bad guy, while Paul Ford is a good guy sheriff. Jay Silverheels has a significant role, but was uncredited for his work.
I'm not saying this is one of the great American westerns, but it's very interesting and worth watching.