The semi-classic 1953 thriller Plunder The Sun, based on the novel by David Dodge, (To Catch A Thief) has everything one would expect from the genre; exotic locations, mysterious women, shady characters, and hidden treasure. However, this quasi noir, is lacking a couple of essential elements that relegate it to the level of a tantalizing, but ultimately forgettable escapist diversion; a credible story line and real flesh and blood characters.

Glenn Ford stars as a financially strapped American Insurance Adjuster Al Colby, brought into questioning by the Mexican police when they discover that several people, with whom he has had recent contact, turn up deceased. When the U.S. Consulate is called in, Colby launches into a sinister tale of greed, deception, and betrayal, that led him from Havana to the lost civilizations of Mexico the previous week.

Told in a lengthy flashback sequence, Colby reveals that he was seduced by a beautiful Mexican woman, Anna Luz (Patricia Medina) and taken to a wheelchair bound antique dealer, Thomas Berrien, (Francis L. Sullivan) who offers him $1,000 to smuggle a small parcel into Oxaca, Mexico via ship. Once onboard, however, Colby realizes that he is walking into a trap, when several passengers, including a roguish disbarred archaeologist, called Jefferson (Sean Mc Clory) and a boozy, blond, American seductress, Julie Barnes (Diana Lynn) make it clear that they have designs on the package. When Berrien dies mysteriously, Colby unwraps the package, and finds an ancient Zapotecan manuscript which he discovers may be the map to a hidden treasure, and a small jade medallion. The remainder of his adventure consists of his attempts to hold onto the obviously highly valuable artifacts, while fending off all manner of villains.

Director John Farrow (Mia's father) goes to great lengths to combine mystery, romance, and adventure in this brisk, tightly scripted, 81 minute tale. He is successful to a large degree, in creating a sort of sinister tension throughout the film, which is made all the more appealing by the film's exotic setting, amidst the ruins of an ancient civilization in Mexico. Cinematographer Jack Draper makes excellent use of the rugged terrain, with some spectacular (even in black and white) wide angle shots, and creative use of light and dark, in order to add to the film's mysterious tone.

Unfortunately, those features fail to make up for the lack of a credible story and cardboard characters. Glenn Ford does his best to create an interesting lead character, as he portrays Colby as a rather cynical, unusually rugged and physically scrappy Claims Adjuster, unwittingly caught up in a dangerous treasure hunt. Jefferson, is another odd character, in that, despite his obvious lack of moral conscience, passes up several opportunities to finish off Colby, only to wind being ambushed himself. The audience is never really sure where Patrician Medina's character fits into the puzzle until the very end, which has a rather unexpected odd twist.

A product of John Wayne's famed Batjack production company, this film, has been labeled by some as a rip-off of a couple of John Huston classics, The Treasure of Sierra Madre and The Maltese Falcon. While not quite in the same league with those films, Plunder The Sun is a fairly entertaining action adventure film, and one that benefits from the black and white photography, which adds to it's noirish appeal.

The Special Collector's Edition has some decent extras, including a commentary, on-location featurette with Glenn Ford, the Batjac trailer and a photo gallery. I was a little disappointed in the DVD transfer, however, which was not quite as immaculate as some other newly restored Batjac features I've seen. Overall, this film deserves at least a half-hearted recommendation for those who enjoy purely escapist action adventure films.

This is an entry into Epinions member Stephen Murray's black and white write-off, in honor of his 2,000th review.