Secret of the Incas (1954) Online

My father took me to see SECRET OF THE INCAS at the Regal Cinema in Lincoln in 1963. The now demolished 'flea-pit' was a beautiful building which showed double-features at reduced prices, most of which were filmed the previous decade. Of all the hundreds of movies I saw at the Regal, the most enjoyable and memorable was SECRET OF THE INCAS. The amazing Yma Sumac, in full throttle singing "Virgin of the Sun God" proved to be an everlasting cinematic memory, and worth the price of the tickets alone. The scenes showing Machu Picchu, the fabled lost city of the Incas, are a glorious technicolor treat, and form an unusual background to a familiar plot.

Charlton Heston is terrific as Harry Steele, an unscrupulous, arrogant, chauvinistic, ex-WWII pilot who is now fleecing gullible tourists in Cuzco, Peru. Nobody does heartless bastard as good as Big Chuck, the only characters in the movie that he does not insult, punch, swindle, lie-to or bribe are the Inca extras! Heston spends the majority of the film being a complete scum-bag, so the ending is pretty much a cop-out, Chuck turning out to be a good guy after all. Ironically, in one of the earlier scenes, the future NRA president destroys the rifle of the hit man sent to 'scare' him.

Aficionados of the Golden Era of Television will enjoy the numerous cameos that enrich the film. Leon Askin, who played General Burkhalter in HOGAN'S HEROES, is particularly good as the slimy Rumanian consul. Grandon Rhodes, the doctor in BONANZA, plays an American tourist who seems to turn a blind eye to his wife's (Glenda Farrell) constant sexual references to Heston. Glenda throws some great 'double entendres' at Chuck, who is actually young enough to be her son!

"You're the big one" and "I like it slow", she purrs at Heston, eyeing him like a middle-aged preying mantis. Farrell was the cousin of the director Jerry Hopper.

A very young Marion Ross, of HAPPY DAYS, is naive tourist, Miss Morris. Booth Colman, later to play Dr. Zaius in the TV series of PLANET OF THE APES, plays the museum curator. The actor with the worst dialogue in the film has to be Robert Young, who turned to television after appearing in this film. The scene in which he proposes marriage to Nicole Maurey is excruciatingly awful, a very badly written piece.

Michael Pate, an Australian actor who made a career out of playing Indians and baddies, plays an Inca with an upper-class English accent! Pate is wooden, but looks the part.

There is much to enjoy in SECRET OF THE INCAS, the wide vistas of Machu Picchu, the OTT performances of Yma Sumac, Heston's granite jawed arrogance and a whole host of excellent character actors, make this jungle jape well worth watching. Check it out!

Good action story of archaeologist-explorer (Heston) in search of lost fabled treasure of gold in ancient city of the Incas. Filmed partly on location in Peru, with a good script, fair direction, and strong performances by a good cast. This is the movie that gave George Lucas and Steven Spielberg the idea for their INDIANA JONES movies and character; compare Heston to Harrison Ford's character; he's got it down to the fedora, khakis, and whip! The scene in the cave with the light beam focused on the Inca treasure is impressive, and very similar to Indy's Map Room scene in RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981). Great locations, adventures, in beautiful Technicolor, but lacked the sure hand of a great director. One can easily visualize Heston as Indiana Jones in this film; he worked in this one immediately following George Pal's "THE NAKED JUNGLE" in 1954, just two years before Cecil B. DeMille made him a superstar as Moses in "The Ten Commandments" (1956). Vibrant, eerie mood music is featured by the stunningly amazing Peruvian singer Yma Sumac, a descendant of the Incas, who had a major singing career in the Fifties and remains a cult figure today. Highly recommended. Why isn't this out on video?

"Secret of the Incas" (1954) is, with out a doubt, a truly rip-roaring adventure movie. It shares uncanny resemblance too with "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and other Indiana Jones films. But I am not going to go into this with any depth, as another person, James Byrne, knows a lot more about it than I do. Having not seen it for along time, I can only remember the more memorable moments, such as: Harry Steele (Charlton Heston) nearly being killed by a sniper, who was under the orders of Ed Morgan (Thomas Mitchell), flying Nicole Maurey (Elena Antonescu) over to Machu Picchu, in Peru, and the exciting climax. For those of you who like fast moving adventure movies, with great performances, this is for you. It's such a shame that it has not come out on DVD yet.

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".

I have been to Cusco and Machu Picchu many times, and was surprised to see this movie was actually filmed in Cusco, Peru.In 1954 it must have been an incredible trip to make, as it was very remote. I thought at first they would use a small Mexican town to simulate Peru, but I was amazed that Heston was actually filmed in Cusco. However, I do not believe I saw a scene with him actually in Machu Picchu. Many background shots with him in front.But parts of the movie were filmed in Machu Picchu, so at least the crew and some actors must have made the trip.It is even hard to get to MP now , so in 1954 it must have been quite a journey. I was thrilled to see Cusco when I saw the movie this year for the first time. I actually think that Heston was the role model for Indiana Jones. The outfit he wore and the instant archeology that modern movies portray.

This film has been called the predecessor of "Indiana Jones" and indeed, Charleton Heston has a very similar costume. The film holds up rather well, and it is uplifted by the glorious singing of Yma Sumac. Miss Sumac, who I will agree is an acquired taste, sings several amazing numbers in the course of the film, as well as singing over the opening and closing credits. The film also has some surprising sexual innuendo between Mr. Heston and Glenda Farrell. The Technicolor is good and there is good native atmosphere (the film was partly filmed on location). All in all, this is an interesting film with good 50's atmosphere and some amazing music.

It is easy to poke fun at this film, since it has its fair share of silliness, but those who do so completely miss the point - it is an original, and its heart and spirit are in the right place. The more I see it the more I am convinced that Heston was Spielberg's original inspiration for Indiana Jones. Also, the geographical settings and atmosphere are wonderful and of a type that is never seen today. There is certainly no "political correctness" or moralizing about Peruvian poverty, of the sort that would no doubt be rammed down our throats should a remake ever be attempted today. It's just a straightforward adventure story in an unusual setting. I hadn't heard of Yma Sumac before I saw this, but I'm sure she's won legions of admirers from cinema audiences who've seen this film.

This is what film making used to be like fifty years ago. In many ways, it was better then than now. If you haven't seen this film, make sure you catch it the next time it's on TV.

This exciting picture deals with a ruthless adventurer called Harry Steele (Charlton Heston) wearing brown leather jacket, fedora, tan pants, over-the-shoulder bag, and wielding revolver and is hunting a priceless Inca jewel . As he searchers for hidden treasure in the Peruvian jungles . He is accompanied by a gorgeous drifter named Elena Antonescu (Nicole Maurey), a refugee fleeing from communists . She can help him get a plane and he can help her escape Peru for the relative safety of Mexico ; as she more than matches him as the feisty heroine who follows him through mountains , rivers , cliffs and all kind dangers .

Jungle thriller plenty of tremendous adventures , action , a love story , and wonderful scenarios . This is a 1950-style high adventure and driven along with enormous panaché , including enjoyable screenplay from Sydney Bohen and Ronald MacDougall . Hopper direction is uninspired , the Pine-Thomas unit in Paramount gave him his first chance at filmmaking , but his movies for them , though attractively set , all-action subjects such as this ¨The secret of Incas ¨and ¨Hurricane Smith¨ were not specially distinguished . Charlton Heston is pretty good as a rough adventurer ; here is a rugged as well as rogue young transformed into a intrepid man of action at the drop of his spectacles . Heston had played for director Hopper , two passable films : the historical Western ¨Pony Express¨ and ¨The private war of Major Benson¨ , a comedy about the relationship between a martinet commander and a very small cadet . Charlton Heston gets nice support cast from veteran Hollywood characters such as Thomas Mitchell , Glenda Farrell , Michael Pate , Leon Askin and Robert Young , in fact it was the final theatrical film of this veteran actor , who thereafter moved exclusively into television, where he enjoyed a highly successful career for over 30 years . The movie is often cited as a direct inspiration for the Indiana Jones franchise of films, with many of the scenes in Secret of the Incas bearing a striking resemblance in tone and structure to scenes in Raiders of the Lost Ark . Adequate special effects by the veteran John P.Fulton and and colorful cinematography by Lionel Lindon, though is urgent a perfect remastering . Being set on location in Cuzco , Peruvian jungles and Machu Pichu , Peru . Evocative Original Music by David Buttolph , including strange as well as hypnotic songs sung by Yma Sumac as Kori-Tica ,she is billed third on the posters .

The motion picture produced by Mel Epstein was professionally directed by Jerry Hopper , but with no enthusiasm . Hopper firstly worked for Paramount , them he crossed to Universal and immediately proved himself on more intimate subjects , particularly those with veins of comedy or sentiment . Hopper directed all kind of genres such as Western : Madron , Pony Express , The Bull of the West ; gritty Thriller : Naked alibi , The Atomic City , The square jungle ; Comedy : The private war of Major Benson ; Adventures : Alaska seas , The Sharkfighters , and The Missouri traveler, it was the best of Hopper's later movies before he became entrenched in television . As Jerry Hooper also filmed a great quantity of TV episodes such as Voyage to the bottom of the sea , The fugitive , Perry Mason , Shenandoah , Adams family , Caravan and Gunsmoke .

Don't expect any Indiana Jones thrills and spills from this adventure movie, the accent is on character development and 'man's hunger for gold'. The leading characters bear a passing resemblance to Walter Huston and Humphrey Bogart in "Treasure of the Sierra Madre". Charlton Heston was born to play the roguish adventurer Harry Steele and Thomas Mitchell is perfect as the seedy, treacherous Ed Morgan, a grizzled old man with food stains on his cardigan. I was particularly looking forward to seeing Yma Sumac after reading and hearing so much about her. 'The Peruvian Songbird' didn't disappoint me, she even injected a little humour into her part, I got the impression that her character secretly had the hots for Robert Young, but this wasn't explored. The set designs, the music and the location shots make "Secret of the Incas" a very pleasurable experience. I taped the movie last year when channel Five showed it one Sunday afternoon. The logo previewing it during the adverts, to The Beatles singing 'Do You Want To Know a Secret' was a bit misleading ... 'Coming up next, Spanish Conquistadors, Buried Treasure, Peru AND Charlton Heston'. There are no Spanish Conquistadors in the film, if you want those guys see "The Royal Hunt of the Sun".

I accidentally caught this movie, which ran in the middle of the night on television. I had fallen asleep and woke up after the movie started, but I was captivated enough to stay awake, mesmerized, through the rest of the movie. The voice of Yma Sumac, the costuming and the scenery, which includes Machu Picchu, Peru, can only be described as incredible and magnificent. For some reason, "someone" or "some ones" out there seem to be trying to bury both Yma Sumac and the movie. I can't buy it on video and the latest movie review books don't list Yma Sumac or the movie. I can only wonder as to why. Yma Sumac's vocal range is the widest of any singer yet. She glides to delicate, bird-like high ranges and then drops to throaty deep levels. Absolutely incredible!

Charlton Heston made two films in 1954, and both have a South American setting. Whereas the first, "The Naked Jungle", was filmed in the USA, with Florida standing in for the Brazilian jungle, the second, "Secret of the Incas", was actually shot on location in Peru. It is often regarded as an inspiration for "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and the Indiana Jones franchise. Heston's character Harry Steele is, admittedly, not a professional archaeologist; he is an adventurer who poses as a tourist guide but whose real reason for being in Peru is to find an ancient gold and jewelled Inca treasure. Legend has it that the Inca Empire fell when this object was stolen from the Temple of the Sun and that the Empire will be reborn once it is found and returned to its rightful place. Steele's costume, including a leather jacket and fedora hat, is similar to that worn by Harrison Ford in the Indiana Jones films, and at one point he even wears a light beard, something unusual in the fifties when Hollywood's leading men were nearly always clean-shaven. (Many people were upset when Gregory Peck appeared with a historically-accurate moustache in "The Gunfighter", a fictionalised biography of the Wild West outlaw Johnny Ringo).

Although Steele he is the hero of the film, he is by no means wholly admirable. This was something of a departure for Heston, who normally specialised in playing the good guys. Christopher Leiningen, his character in "The Naked Jungle", may be rather stiff and lacking in human warmth, even towards his wife, but morally he is wholly upright. Steele is not. His initial intention towards the Inca artifact is to steal it; he is only the "hero" by comparison with his ruthless rival Ed Morgan. Only at the end does Steele have a change of heart. A subplot deals with his romance with a glamorous Romanian refugee named Elena Antonescu. We never discover Elena's full back-story, but she must have been a person of some consequence because the Romanian secret police have sent an agent all the way to Peru to persuade her to return to her homeland.

"Secret of the Incas" is in many ways a standard action/adventure flick, but Heston always makes a very watchable action hero, and the striking photography of the Andean scenery lifts it above the level of the average fifties B-movie. it is often credited with popularising Machu Picchu as a tourist destination. 6/10

This movie always amazes me that it has escaped notice. In it we have the prototypical Indiana Jones right down to the five o'clock shadow, fedora, and leather jacket. I read one time about the costume designer fretting so mightily over the IJ costume and wondered if they had seen this movie and subconsciously used the character of Harry Steele for their template.

The similarity is amazing and Charlton Heston does a great job of keeping this movie alive and out of the ditches. One almost wishes that Lucas/Indiana would remake this movie, updated with today's visual effects, and add it to their library of plots. Didn't we all think the openings of the Indiana series represented great story lines of their own?

Here's their chance to get back to South America and flesh out the opening of the first film. This movie, the 'Secret of the Incas', is a fine film that would carry well with a bit of refreshing. An overlooked gem for certain.

Harry Steele (Charlton Heston) is working as a tour guide of sorts in the Peru. However, his ultimate goal is the treasure he believes he can find high in the mountains at Machu Picchu. Into his life walks a woman with the answers to his prayers - a plane that can get him to the top of the mountain. But she brings something else - he falls for her. In the end, what will it be - treasure or love?

As others have pointed out, the comparisons with Indiana Jones are more than obvious - dress, map room, search for treasure, etc. When Secret of the Incas focuses on the adventure and the search for gold, it's very good. Too bad melodrama too often gets in the way of a good time - but wasn't that the case in a lot of these 50s era adventure films. Charlton Heston is quit good here and very believable. Nicole Maurey, whom I don't remember seeing before, is a revelation. One of the real stars has to be the locations. The real life Peruvian sets are spectacular. Overall, not a bad way to spend 90 minutes.

I first saw this movie in my early teens to say the the beautiful pic of Peru took my breath away would be and understatement. I have been waiting for it to be put to DVD for years!! I had hoped that since they release the CD soundtrack for it the movie would be coming soon after... unfortunately no such luck ..... I believe that a lot of the old movies have great story and actors and it's a shame that the kids now can appreciate the good older movie even if the wanted too there not out to see on VHS or DVD but if given the chance to see this it great actors like chuck Heston could show a lot of new actor how to play a role

Spoiler alert. This is the missing link between "Only Angels Have Wings" and Indiana Jones. Charlton Heston creates the hard drinking, unshaven, take women or leave 'em archetypal pilot, right down to his worn leather flight jacket and khaki pants. Steven Spielberg and Harrison Ford should send him a case of Pisco, Peruvian hard liquor that tastes like gasoline, in gratitude. Charlton also seduces older tourist women on the side, for fun and profit!

The high point for me was the colorful native ritual dance, complete with men in pink tutus, shot on location at Macchu Picchu. This movie was made back when you could do anything you wanted, at any sacred site you wanted. Just when I thought it couldn't get any gayer, Yma Sumac pops up out of nowhere, singing "Babalu" in her unique style.

Thomas Mitchell, an old hand at chewing scenery from Stagecoach, Gone With The Wind and Only Angels Have Wings, returns to the Andes to ham it up as Heston's seedy competitor. The French woman of questionable virtue and Robert Young are given little to do. This movie is a true Bigfoot, and it deserves to be re-released. BC

The sunlight coming into the cave reflecting off the golden 'mirror' that Heston holds that then reveals the location of the treasure of the Incas remains in my mind as one of the most persistent movie memories from when I was nine years old in 1954 watching the film at the Bing Theater in Springfield, MA. Years later, Steven Spielberg seems to have been influenced by that image and includes a similar scene in "Raiders of the Lost Ark". I can't help but think that Mr. Speilberg must also have seen the "Secret" fresh on the big screen when he was a child. And I cannot find the movie at any, as yet, visited video store to rent it and thereby return to the marvelous scenes of the Andes and the stirring sounds of singer Ima Sumac's four-octave range present at least once in the film. All other movie book references to Heston's work seem to omit this forgotten 'gem' of an enjoyable film that filled one memorable Saturday afternoon at the neighborhood cinema.

I will write a little more about this, because it's a bit special, at least for me, being myself born beyond the iron curtain, just like the main female character of this film. I saw Charlton Heston in many movies that I liked very much: "Soylent Green", "Planet of the Apes", "El Cid", "Ben-Hur", "The Big Country", "Touch of Evil", "The Wreck of the Mary Deare", "Major Dundee", "Agony and the Ecstasy", "Khartoum", "The Omega Man", "Antony and Cleopatra", "The Three Musketeers", "Airport 1975", "The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge", "Earthquake", "The Awakening", "Mother Lode", "Tombstone", "True Lies". All big, great films, in which he usually has the lead role. All films which delighted my childhood and adolescence beyond the iron curtain, in the same country as the character Elena Antonescu from this film. A character played by the beautiful French Nicole Maurey, whom I have seen also in "Sale temps pour les mouches", "Killer Spy", "The Scapegoat" and "Diary of a Country Priest". She is very convincing here, playing a character similar to me in real life, being also born in the same country, Romania. I've seen Thomas Mitchell in many famous and very good movies, he's a very good actor, "Gone with the Wind", "Tales of Manhattan", "It's a Wonderful Life", "High Noon", "Pocketful of Miracles". Yma Sumac, probably the greatest voice of all time, in her first role as an actress, also singing and being very funny. Leon Askin, who I saw in "Road to Bali", "The Terror of Doctor Mabuse" and "Airplane II: The Sequel", very good in the role of the Romanian officer of Securitate Anton Marcu. The story is very simple and very well accomplished by Jerry Hopper.

Secret of the Incas proved to be Peru's best wind fall for increased tourism in 1954. The one element that made this an excellent film was the shroud of mystery that the photography captured (especially night scenes) of a really spiritual place. The exotic sounds of Yma Sumac along with the photography made this film almost spooky. That was the feeling I had coming out of the theater in 1954 when I was just 14 years old. This knock off of the book, "Secret of the Andes" (very little similarity), kept enough of the archaeological flavor (discovery of Incan mummy burial sites)to make it scantly believable. I have seen this film a total of three times and would own a VHS or DVD copy if there was one. To date I have yet to find any copy available. Maybe cable TV will air this fine old movie treasure.

I remember this exciting film,The Secret of The Incas, so well ! saw as a a child in theatre...maybe have seen once or twice on commercial TV..haven't seen in years !! Why wasn't this film released on VHS or DVD? There are bootlegs available yes.. with scenes deleted.. but I want the original Uncut only!! I have some music from film recorded by the phenomenal Peruvian Singer featured in film, Yma Sumac.. but no video!!This film we all know was the precursor to Raiders of the Lost Ark & other films of that genre..Spielberg had to be influenced by this movie..Lets get it released on Video, please !!

It has been a long time since I've seen this film, but I will share what I remember the most. This is a great flick of the 50's that is a bit of adventure, culture,and the beautiful scenery of Peru. Their are many familiar faces you will see:the brash character of Charlton Heston's Harry Steele can intimidate or turn off anyone, just as it can be a "turn on" to others. He has a charisma that is appealing to both sexes. The rough exterior that which many a male wishes he could portray. That rough exterior is attractive to a woman who likes to soften that rough exterior and solve the mystery in her man. The actress Nicole Maurey, with whom I am not familiar, her hair color is quite a contrast to the lush green background of Peru's mountains. Robert Young is a bit out of character compared to his familiar "Father Knows Best" super dad role. This is a role that may not have been his favorite, however, you have to give him credit for trying. Then, there is the infamous Thomas Mitchell...always a superb character actor. His character is nothing like Mr. O'Hara (Scarlett's daddy) or the forgettable Uncle Billy in "It's A Wonderful Life". And, of course, the Peruvian natives add a lot of color and humor to the movie. You can just see Steven Spielberg sitting in the theater, in his youth, watching this movie, a Harry Steele wannabe...thus, the birth of Indiana Jones! Another movie that should be on DVD.I would like to see it on TV, again. Afterall, "The Naked Jungle" made it. Why not this one?

There is no secret here or rather nothing to be gained unless you enjoy watching caricatures of what Peruvians are really like. One need to only see the actors in the film to realize that the movie has no Peruvian actors except for Yma Sumac who plays the "exotic" female for all to gaze at. Some might see this movie as an early Indiana Jones type film and this is true. Western Archaeologist playing God and thinking he's going to save someone else's "dead" culture by taking that which is sacred to them.

I think of movies like Laurence of Arabia, King Kong or any Indian Jones film when watching this film. One film I would suggest that has any pertinence of reality would be Aguirre: The Wrath of God.

Even if this movie predates Indiana Jones...well I do not think that the seventh art would have suffered ,hadn't it been Spielberg's hero. This movie might appeal to Heston's fans but who else?No surprise,no secret(the famous "sunburst" ),dubious Inca songs (where the singer is backed by a symphonic orchestra (!)and where the natives are only decorative ).

Nicole Maurey ,who's cast as a Rumanian ,but has kept her French accent ,found her best part in Robert Bresson's "Journal d'un curé de campagne".We're far from "secret of the Incas".

The main reason to watch Secret Of The Incas is for a glimpse at Peruvian Indian culture, something like it was before Pizarro and the Spaniards got there. The location cinematography in the Peruvian Andes is stunning as well as the sequences depicting the remnants of the Incas. Otherwise though Secret Of The Incas is a potboiler adventure flick set in an unusual vacation.

For a guy who played such noble heroes in film, Charlton Heston plays one of the more disreputable roles in his career as Harry Steele who urges all to call him Harry. He's an American stranded in a really backwater part of Peru and living off the tourists providing all kinds of services. When we first meet him he's getting paid from Marion Ross for some really special interest. Later on the married Glenda Farrell attracts his attention, but he discards her for Nicole Maurey, a refugee from behind the Iron Curtain that the Romanians want back although the film never really explains why. So much so that their consul Leon Askin is giving it his personal attention though I think his interests are really personal as are Heston's.

But Askin does have a private plane and Heston knows how to fly so he and Maurey take off for an even more remote part of Peru where they believe an Inca treasure is buried. It's a yellow sunburst made of gold and expensive jewels. Like the Maltese Falcon worth the hunt. But a dig organized by archaeologist Robert Young is in the way. And an even bigger low life than Heston shows up and declares his interest in the treasure and that's Thomas Mitchell.

The color cinematography also does justice to Nicole Maurey's beauty as well as the Peruvian landscape. Thomas Mitchell creates an interesting portrait of an aging crook, living by his wits in a racket he should have gotten out of a long time ago. But his way of living is the only thing he knows. Heston's motivations for turning good guy are not really ringing true, though he doesn't turn quite so good. I will say some adult themes are explored and hinted at here that would not have passed Code muster five years earlier.

Paramount lifted this one a bit from its true origins by location cinematography and some A list players in the cast. But Secret Of The Incas is really just your average potboiler adventure story.

In the 50s, between historical epics, Chuck made a few pretty good exotic adventure flicks. Two of them were located in South America -- the one in which he is a plantation owner fighting both a horde of army ants and Eleanor Parker's sexual experience, and this one, in which his career consists apparently of nothing more than acting as a guide in Peru, swindling rich tourists, and seducing their bored wives. Both have some snippy dialog. The censors must have been asleep at the switch.

I can't remember the plot too well. I saw it on its release as a kid, and only more recently once on TV, when some of the lines and some of the scenes sent me into ictal spasms.

A lot of traveling up and down rivers, to tricky places. Thomas Mitchell as a grubby, greedy American after Incan treasures. (And they were THERE too, the ones that Pizarro didn't make off with. Cripes, the royal family wore garments made of gold, and after they were worn once the garments were thrown away!) Mitchell's most memorable line. He's wringing his hands with glee, practically drooling, as he fantasizes about how they're going to rip off some priceless treasure that night. "Ahh, nobody ever made a buck in the daytime!" Later, Mitchell makes a grab for a golden statue or something and falls off the mountain some thirty-thousand feet. Later someone asks Heston what killed Mitchell. "Gravity," he replies.

But the most hilarious exchange, the one I could hardly believe on second viewing, takes place between Glenda Farrell, the middle-aged bored wife of a dull bulb of an American zillionaire. She's eyeing him as he slinks around the room polishing his rifle or something and she asks if he likes his job. It goes something like, "It's a living." She: "How do you approach your work?" He: "I take it slow and easy." She: "That's just the way I like it. Are you good at it?" He: "I've never had any complaints." It goes on, but I can't.

It's a lively movie, completely unbelievable, as is the voice of Yma Sumac, a woman who bore an uncanny resemblance to the mother of the school girl I was dating at the time. The natives are laughable. Oh, they existed, just as the Inca did (though the name "Inca" was used only in reference to the incestuous royal family), but they didn't look anything like these Hollywood head shrinkers from Central Casting. I hope I'm not getting this mixed up with Heston's other South American adventure!

Robert Young is stuck with the role of the nice guy -- again. It must have been an easy morph into Marcus Welby, MD.

In its own quiet way this is a classic of its kind, if pure schlock can be considered a kind. Quite enjoyable.

As another review noted, it's kitsch and camp. There's also appeal in seeing Heston in an early role and having as a villain the absent minded uncle from It's a Wonderful Life. TV's Marcus Welby also shows up, equally stiff playing a lonely archaeologist. There's also a white Australian in really bad tanning makeup playing an Indian named Pachacutik.

The biggest appeal for me and many others is its glimpse of Peruvian Indians. IOW, whenever Heston and the other white actors step aside and let us see a bit of the real Peru. Large parts of the film show Quechua Indians, esp three great musical numbers from the legendary Yma Sumac.

Other parts are pretty revealing of the colonial mentality of the times, incredibly ignorant parts that make anyone who knows anything about Peru laugh out loud: Pachacutik as an Indian name? That's like an Italian calling himself Tiberius. Machu Pichu as a "lost" city in 1954? When it already had thousands of visitors a day. A hokey prophecy that "Incan" Indians have been waiting on? That's just as fake as the 2012 hoax. Calling them "Incan" Indians is like calling Italians "Caesars." That's the title of emperors. And also, Heston's Spanish is incredibly bad. His pronunciation is so impossible to understand it becomes a dialect unknown in Heaven or Earth.

So whenever someone white speaks in the film, don't rely on it as truth about Peru or its Natives. The other scenes, yes, definitely worth seeing.