The Golden Mask

source: The Golden Mask

South of Algiers

Watchable. Interesting footage of actual local culture, journeys through the desert. Lacks character development, apart from Van Heflin's character, and one poignant scene between Wanda Hendrix and Jacques, Heflin's rival for her affection. I like to research backgrounds to films after I watch them, so some actual history would have given the film a bit more depth for me. I looked up the character Marcus Manilius- there was a famous poet/astrologer by that name, and one famous general with a similar name, but no connection to the plot here. Same with the places Rifka and Sadamis- nothing turns up.

A British adventure; A story about a British archaeologist and an American philanthropist searching for an ancient, fabled golden mask in a Roman tomb in Algeria. They have to contend with dangerous looters out to steal the artefact. This schoolboy style tale lacks originality, but it gains for being colourful, with marvellous scenery and locations, and the cinematography of desert scenes are stunning. It was mostly filmed on location in Algiers and Tunis which are the main attractions for viewers. Scholarly Eric Portman and jaunty Van Heflin provide good contrast and conflict. Wanda Hendrix provides adequate support and all the supporting and local players are impressive for all their contributions. All in all, it is crisply directed but low key for its subgenre.

Doctor Burnet (Eric Portman) is an archaeologist from the British Museum. He is searching for the Golden Mask of Moloch and reluctantly takes along adventure writer Nicholas Chapman (Van Heflin) who offers to work for free. They are joined by Burnet's daughter Anne and followed by unscrupulous treasure hunters. The real life street footage in Algiers is interesting. The Arab women seems to be conservatively dressed and the men are wearing fez hats. The dude doing the belly dancing is weird but I'm guessing that a female performer would never do it in the streets although a girl does do a fun dance in the desert. Let's be frank. The story is a bland Indiana Jones in a suit and tie. The local colors are much more interesting and the locations are great. Sadly, this chocolate covered confection has a bland chalky white center as in the white characters are all very bland.

A typical early fifties Technicolor travelogue shot in Algeria with 'A' feature stars and sumptuous colour photography courtesy of cameraman Ossie Morris fresh from 'Moulin Rouge'. There's a plot of sorts about a pair of Continental crooks also after the fabulous Golden Mask, but Jack Lee's directorial brief is plainly not to let the cast unduly obstruct the view. So they don't.

This is a neglected gem about a British archaeologist's 15 year pursuit of historical treasures from the Roman empire in Northern Africa. It is shot on locale with wonderful scenes of Algiers, its nearby famous ruins, and most especially, spectacular footage of the desert. I have read a few negative reviews, which baffle me; I find the plot line, character development and dialogue a distinct cut above. But what makes this worth owning (alas, the DVD won't play on most American sets) are the unforgettable shots of the desert. Unique in this film is a sub-plot involving an orphaned brother and his young sister. It adds a dimension to the film of unexpected and uncharacteristic (for the genre) humanity.

This movie has not been seen anywhere for several years (that I am aware of. The story deals with an archaeologist's passion to find a fabulous golden mask thought to be buried in a Roman tomb. The hunt begins in Rome and ends in the sands of Africa.The pursuers of the mask range in character from good to evil. The movie rather reminded me of the movie,Treasure of the Sierra Madre. Both are in black and white, dealing with greed and the consequences of greed.The flavor of this movie was interesting to me. The rather bleak desert locations were more than made-up for by the depiction of the local tribes and their customs. Unfortunately for this movie, the background music was seriously overdone, almost detracting from it. I find this to be the case often with early European movies. However, if you enjoy treasure hunts and ancient history somewhat fictionalized, this is a treasure hunt movie worth seeing. I'd like to see it again.

Writer Nicholas Chapman (Van Heflin) teams up with archaeologist Dr. Burnet and his pretty daughter (Eric Portman, Wanda Hendrix) to search for golden mask of Moloch. Two thieves (Jacques Brunius and Charles Goldner) try to sabotage the expedition to get the mask for themselves. Tomb-raiding adventure film is very dry and very dull. Forced romance between Van Heflin and a girl young enough to be his daughter doesn't help. Partially shot on location in Algiers but there's still plenty of poor rear projection effects. Ultimately, it's an avoidable film that is lacking adventure or suspense -- two prerequisites for movies of this type.

SOUTH OF ALGIERS is another exotic adventure yarn of the 1950s whose only interest is in presenting a few foreign locations to local audiences. Here they did some colour location photography in North Africa, so you get to see a few touristy destinations en route, but otherwise the tired old plot has an archaeologist on the trail of lost treasures and pursued by the usual criminal types. An annoying Van Heflin seems to bag most of the screen time over Eric Portman, and the tacked-on romance is quite excruciating. Marne Maitland and George Pastell inevitably turn up in minor parts.