Secret of the Incas (1954)

Director:

Jerry Hopper

Writers:

Sydney Boehm (story)
Ranald MacDougall (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

6 June 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure

Plot:

An adventurer searchers for hidden treasure in the Peruvian jungles.

Plot Keywords:

Native | Expedition | Archeologist | Airplane | Discovery

Cast

Charlton Heston	...	Harry Steele
Robert Young	...	Stanley Moorehead
Nicole Maurey	...	Elena Antonescu
Thomas Mitchell	...	Ed Morgan
Glenda Farrell	...	Mrs. Winston
Michael Pate	...	Pachacutec
Leon Askin	...	Anton Marcu
William Henry	...	Phillip Lang
Kurt Katch	...	Man with rifle
Edward Colmans	...	Col. Emilio Cardoza
Yma Sumac	...	Kori-Tica

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Quechua | Romanian | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | USA:Approved (MPAA rating: certificate #14852) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Canada:G (Manitoba) | UK:U | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Peru

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

"Secret of the Incas" was the final theatrical film of veteran actor Robert Young, who thereafter moved exclusively into television, where he enjoyed a highly successful career for over 30 years.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The "Starburst" is the size of a dustbin lid, several inches thick and made of solid gold. Yet, not only can an old man with altitude sickness run around holding it with one hand, but Pachacutec at the end can seemingly hold it up above his head indefinitely.

Quotes:

Miss Morris: Most men don't enjoy taking money from women.
Harry Steele: I do. It's the hardest to get, and it smells so good.

High kitsch

Charlton Heston is Harry Steele, an American adventurer seeking a fabulous Inca sunburst that has been lost for centuries in mysterious Machu Picchu, a Lost City in the Andes of Peru. Thomas Mitchell is Ed Morgan, a slovenly dreamer and schemer who is also after the Inca gold. Goody-goody archaeologist Robert Young and Romanian refugee Nicole Maurey add a bit of spice to the proceedings. "Secret of the Incas" is a fine example of a 1950's adventure film, with some quite astounding location footage of Machu Picchu and Cuzco. The movies plot is pretty standard fare, but the scenery, acting , set designs are first rate. Heston steals the show, and everything else he can lay his hands on in the movie. One of the highlights is Peruvian singer Yma Sumac, who will burst your ear drums in a pantomime side-show performance of high energy and even higher kitsch. Yma Sumac makes Carmen Miranda look sedate and boring. They don't make 'em like this anymore, and if you want to unearth the origins of Indiana Jones, don't miss "Secret of the Incas".