Plunder of the Sun (1953)

"Take a good look at yourself! Who'd want to kiss THAT?"

One of the more ambitious titles from John Wayne's Batjac production company, PLUNDER OF THE SUN (based on the book by David Dodge) stars Glenn Ford as an average joe who becomes the target for a deadly game of cat-and-mouse when he agrees to take a mysterious parcel over the Mexican border.

Al Corby (Glenn Ford), broke and stranded in Havana, is offered $1,000 to transport a small package from Havana to Mexico. He quickly agrees but soon regrets his rash decision when he's later keenly chased by a bleach-blonde assassin (Sean McClory), an alcoholic basketcase (Diana Lynn) and a Mexican spitfire (Patricia Medina). Who can he trust...and who is the enemy? The red herrings fly thick and fast in this well-paced adventure story, filmed on location at the spectacular ruins of Mitla and Monte Alban in Oaxaca Mexico.

This movie also has something serious to say about the criminal practice of looting and profiting from ancient treasures. Most of the characters within PLUNDER OF THE SUN are involved in the illegal trafficking of artifacts. The whole cast is very impressive, especially Diana Lynn as a bitter harpy, and Glenn Ford as the "hero", who colours his performance in various shades of gray. Patricia Medina is luminous as Anna Luz, and Sean McClory (a regular Batjac player) is outstanding as the mysterious Jefferson.

The DVD has some fascinating background material on the locations used in the movie, a featurette on the career of Sean McClory, rare home movies of Glenn Ford on location, plus a commentary track with Peter Ford (Glenn's son) and Frank Thompson. (Single-sided, dual-layer disc). November 30, 2007

Interesting Characters

I'm not one to fall all over A productions at the expense of B films. Too many of the latter type are more entertaining and this film is a good example. The script unfolds in an entertaining, no-frills manner but is significantly heightened by the quirky characters. Sean McClory definitely stands out but check out that slob of a ship's captain. You don't really know what to make of the characters. Plunder is not overlong and has great location scenery. Glenn Ford's movies are among my all-time favorites especially his Columbia films and this WB movie is no exception to an entertaining output. One reviewer compared his niche at this time to Robert Mitchum's. I totally agree and this movie could easily have been a Mitchum/RKO film.
I wish more of Glenn Ford's films were avialable on dvd. Check this title out for a fun popcorn viewing at the movies. April 14, 2007

Greed, Buried Treasure, and Glenn Ford, too!

While much of Glenn Ford's early 1950s film output are unabashedly 'B' movies (he filled the same niche as Robert Mitchum did, at RKO), his movies are, by and large, very entertaining, and "Plunder of the Sun", shot in Mexico for Warners and John Wayne's Batjac Productions, is no exception. Directed by John Farrow, this action drama offers noir elements (an ambiguous hero, a 'fallen' woman, brutal violence, and an 'expressionist' use of light and shadow), John Huston-like characters (reminiscent of both "The Maltese Falcon" and "Treasure of Sierra Madre"), and an actually pretty accurate look at ancient Indian civilizations that built cities with pyramids when Europe consisted of little more than tribes.

Ford is Al Colby, a down-on-his-luck American recruited by rotund Thomas Berrien (Sidney Greenstreet-channeling Francis L. Sullivan) to slip a package through Mexican customs. When Berrien unexpectedly dies, a variety of characters offers Colby money, potential treasure, or his life, in exchange for the mysterious package, which he discovers contains part of an ancient document mapping where a hidden cache of priceless artifacts is buried. Seduced by both beautiful native girl Patricia Medina, who seems involved with all the 'major players', and drunken American 'party girl' Diana Lynn (doing a 'Gloria Grahame' impression), and 'educated' through beatings and genial lectures by the mysterious 'Jefferson' (scene-stealing Sean McClory), Colby teeters between succumbing to the vast wealth the document promises, and 'doing the right thing', and turning everything over to the Mexican authorities, who legally 'own' the artifacts. While Ford's portrayal lacks the subtle shadings of Bogart or Mitchum, he handles the moral dilemma quite well, and he certainly can take a beating!

With much of the action filmed at actual Aztec sites, in Oaxaca, Mexico, the film has an authentic 'feel', is fast-paced, and very watchable.

Certainly worth a look! October 8, 2006

A B rated Maltese Falcon set in Mexico

The late Glenn Ford was known for his stand up roles (Cowboy, Pocketful of Miracles) in most of his films. Here he plays against hero type...a down on his luck guy asked to carry a package (ala Bogie in Falcon) from Havana to Mexico on a ship. He meets characters similar to Bogie's Falcon (A fat man, a lorre wantabee in dark glass and two Fem Fetales). It ends in mexican ruins and Ford shines better then this script. John Farrow (mia's dad) direct this fairly, mostly in angles and over staging the scenes. John Wayne's BATJAC company product this film and it shows Wayne love for Mexico with his picturique footage-I only wish for COLOR instead of Black & White

Bennet Pomerantz, AUDIOWORLD September 20, 2006

Only Fair Suspense Thriller but Interesting Location Filming

Just fair movie as a suspense goes but interesting on-site filming in Mexico. The caracters were interesting but the story never delivered the suspense needed. July 26, 2006

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