The Way to the Gold (1957)

An old inmate tells his cellmate, who's up for parole, about the location of a 35-year old gold loot and the released convict goes looking for it in Arizona.

Director:

Robert D. Webb

Writers:

Wendell Mayes (screenplay), Wilbur Daniel Steele (novel)

Stars:

Jeffrey Hunter, Sheree North, Barry Sullivan

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeffrey Hunter	...	Joe Mundy
Sheree North	...	Henrietta 'Hank' Clifford - waitress
Barry Sullivan	...	Marshal Hannibal
Walter Brennan	...	Uncle George Williams
Neville Brand	...	Little Brother Williams
Jacques Aubuchon	...	Clem Williams
Ruth Donnelly	...	Mrs. Williams
Tom Pittman	...	Sid Songster Jr.
Philip Ahn	...	Mr. Ding - cafe owner
Geraldo Mandia	...	Brokaw
Ted Edwards	...	Sid Songster Sr.
Alan Jeffrey	...	Brokaw's driver
Ken Scott	...	Intern
Jonathan Hole	...	Mr. Felton
Frank Mazzola	...	Teenager

Storyline

Joe Mundy is being released from prison and an old convict, whom he has befriended, tells him the location of a stolen cache of gold. Leaving the prison, Joe is followed to Glendale, Arizona by Little Brother Williams. There Joe meets Henrietta Clifford, a waitress, who befriends him after he is badly beaten by Williams. Marshal Hannibal questions Joe, who is unable to identify his assailant. At the boarding house where Henrietta is staying, Joe meets Mrs. Williams and her sons, Little Brother and Clem. Mrs. Williams' husband had participated in the gold robbery but had been killed before he could reveal the location of the cache. Joe also encounters Uncle George, Mrs. Williams' eccentric brother. Joe and Henrietta leave town to find the gold and are followed by the marshal. The two come to a road where they find Mrs. Williams, her sons and Uncle George waiting for them with a shotgun, and order them to proceed to the gold. (But not before Joe is beaten up by Little Brother for the ...

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Plot Keywords:

prison | u.s. marshal | treasure hunt | based on novel | glendale arizona | 

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Taglines:

All roads lead to sweeping adventure and violent excitement on The Way to the Gold.

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Genres:

Adventure | Crime | Drama

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 May 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Spur zum Gold

Filming Locations:

Florence, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$920,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System) Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to a 1954 "Daily Variety" news item, Twentieth Century-Fox bought the rights to Wilbur Daniel Steele's novel prior to its publication.

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Quotes

Joe Mundy: What do I gotta do to get waited on?
Henrietta 'Hank' Clifford, waitress: Wait.

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Soundtracks

Drive-In Rock
Music by Lionel Newman
Lyrics by Carroll Coates

User Reviews

Quite a good sleeper

This movie has a compelling atmosphere which starts in the first scene of revelation in prison and continues to the very end. There is an undercurrent of excitement created I think by our own longing for riches. We're cheering for the little man to make good in the end. As it turns out, he is finally redeemed in an unusual manner. The strength of this film lies in its strong supporting cast of 'villains', particularly Walter Brennan as the crazy uncle and Ruth Donnelly as the mother only a crook could love. Cinemascope photography is another big plus. There is great use of the widescreen to add tension to group scenes. A snapshot of rural America in the 1950's and perhaps a lingering remnant of the noir genre.