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Secret of the Incas

"Marrying Doc is my one chance ... Don't kiss it away for me, Harry ... please ... please ... please ..."

Harry Steele (Charlton Heston) is a tourist guide determined to make his fortune by finding the Sunburst, an Inca treasure.

Top Cast

  • Charlton Heston

    Charlton Heston

    Harry Steel

  • Robert Young

    Robert Young

    Stanley Moorehead

  • Nicole Maurey

    Nicole Maurey

    Elena Antonescu

  • Thomas Mitchell

    Thomas Mitchell

    Ed Morgan

  • Glenda Farrell

    Glenda Farrell

    Mrs. Winston

  • Michael Pate

    Michael Pate

    Pachacutec

  • Leon Askin

    Leon Askin

    Anton Marcu

  • William Henry

    William Henry

    Phillip Lang

  • Kurt Katch

    Kurt Katch

    Man with rifle

Overview

Harry Steele (Charlton Heston) is a tourist guide determined to make his fortune by finding the Sunburst, an Inca treasure.

Rating

5.8 / 10
58 Reviews
1 Popular

1 Reviews

  • Wuchak
    Wuchak
    6 Nov 24, 2022

    **_Indiana Jones three decades before the character existed_** An American adventurer in Cuzco, Peru, halfheartedly works as a tour guide, but his real interest is a priceless Incan artifact. He schemes to steal a Romanian official’s plane to make it to the lost city of Machu Picchu in the remote high country of the Andes, where he’s surprised to discover an archaeological dig is taking place. Robert Young plays the leader of the scientists. "Secret of the Incas" (1954) is an adventure flick that became the blueprint for Indiana Jones in the 80s, the first film of course being the exceptional “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” While Harry Steele (Heston) certainly dresses like Indiana Jones, he’s not a noble professor; he’s a cynical and avaricious treasure hunter, not to mention opportunist. In the last act there is a tomb sequence featuring a revealing shaft of light similar to the Map Room scene in “Raiders.” Being shot in 1953, this naturally has a quainter tone by comparison. The first 45 minutes, for instance, entirely take place in a remote Andes town with a lot of talk and little action, which might turn off fans of Indiana Jones. But I enjoyed Heston’s towering presence and nonchalant mojo. His character, Harry Steele, is similar to Taylor in “Planet of the Apes” (1968), just fourteen years younger. The Andes sequences are scenic and striking Peruvian vocalist Yma Sumac plays the role of Kori-Tica with a couple of extraordinary singing sequences. Meanwhile Nicole Maurey is sharp as the Romanian defector, Elena. The film runs 1 hour, 41 minutes, and was shot in Peru at Cuzco and Machu Picchu with (obvious) studio scenes done at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. The studio sets are surprisingly well done and convincing enough. GRADE: B-/B

Trailers & Clips

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