Lust for Gold

Lust for Gold

Year: 1949

Runtime: 90 mins

Language: English

Directors: George Marshall, S. Sylvan Simon

WesternDramaAction

Ruthless fortune seekers will stop at nothing in their quest for the legendary Lost Dutchman gold mine in Arizona. A man obsessed with locating the fabled treasure begins an affair with a married treasure hunter, whose relentless pursuit forces her to betray her husband, driving both into a dangerous game of greed and deception.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Lust for Gold yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Lust for Gold (1949)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Lust for Gold (1949). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Modern times; 1880s flashback

The present-day inquiry unfolds in contemporary times as investigators chase the mine's legend, while a vivid flashback to 1880 reveals the mine's brutal origins. The past shows murder, greed, and the creation of the treasure myth; the present parallels those events, complicating who can be trusted. The timeline juxtaposes calm search with explosive violence and eventual collapse of the mine.

Location

Superstition Mountains, Phoenix, Arizona

The story centers around the Superstition Mountains near Phoenix, a harsh desert landscape renowned for legends of the Lost Dutchman Mine. Remote canyons, rugged terrain, and mining camps provide the backdrop for the hunt for gold. The environment tests characters as greed, danger, and old wounds collide in a setting saturated with myth.

🏜️ Desert 🗺️ Exploration 💎 Treasure

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:23

Main Characters – Lust for Gold (1949)

Meet the key characters of Lust for Gold (1949), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Lynn Early (Paul Ford)

The steadfast county sheriff who anchors the investigation into Buckley's murder and the Lost Dutchman Mine. Practical, wary of greed, and committed to truth, he keeps pace with a case that blends old legends with new crimes.

👮 Lawman 🕵️ Investigator 🏜️ Desert

Barry Storm (William Prince)

An ambitious writer and claimant to the mine whose pursuit of legacy and wealth drives much of the plot. He navigates danger with a mix of confidence and suspicion, becoming a focal point for trust and betrayal.

🧭 Ambition 🎭 Deception 💎 Treasure

Jacob 'Dutchy' Walz (Glenn Ford)

A ruthless prospector who seizes the mine through murder and manipulation. His cold calculation, willingness to toy with others, and ultimate downfall expose greed's brutal cost.

🔪 Murderer 🧭 Calculating 💎 Treasure

Julia Thomas (Ida Lupino)

Married to Pete, she uses charm and calculated lies to steer the map toward the gold. Her duplicity tests loyalties and fuels the deadly interplay between past and present.

💋 Seduction 🧭 Deception ❤️ Love

Pete Thomas (Gig Young)

Julia's husband who becomes entangled in the pursuit of the mine. He is cautious but ultimately meets a violent fate as greed surrounds the treasure.

❤️ Husband 🗡️ Conflict 💎 Treasure

Wiser (Edgar Buchanan)

Friend of Walz and witness to the discovery and killings in the past. His memory anchors the flashback and illuminates the chain of violence that propels the legend.

🧓 Elder 🔎 Witness 💎 Treasure

Deputy Ray Covin (Will Geer)

A corrupt deputy who has hunted the mine for decades, disposing of rivals to protect his claim. His greed culminates in a fatal confrontation that reveals the extent of his deceit.

💰 Corruption 🗡️ Betrayal 🧭 Power

Ludi (Arthur Hunnicutt)

A companion in the past whose careless remark triggers the discovery of the Peralta mine. His offhand moment ignites a deadly sequence that shapes the legend.

🗣️ Gossip 🕵️ Curiosity 🗺️ Past

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:23

Major Themes – Lust for Gold (1949)

Explore the central themes of Lust for Gold (1949), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💎 Greed

Greed for gold drives the plot, turning relationships into a race for wealth. The discovery and pursuit of the Lost Dutchman Mine unleash manipulation, murder, and risk. Present-day investigators and older figures mirror the same lure, showing treasure's power to corrupt.

🗡️ Betrayal

Betrayal threads through both the past and present as characters manipulate others to protect or seize the mine. Walz's ruthless actions and Julia's deception betray Pete and others, illustrating how trust is eroded by wealth. The mountain's legend becomes a stage for duplicity and dangerous loyalties.

🏜️ Survival

The desert environment imposes physical and strategic danger on everyone pursuing the mine. Gunfights, rockfalls, and harsh weather punctuate the hunt, testing resolve and judgment. The landscape itself becomes an antagonist that amplifies greed, risk, and consequences.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:23

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about obsessive greed and crime like Lust for Gold

Stories where an all-consuming obsession leads characters into a fatal spiral of crime.If you liked the dark spiral of greed in Lust for Gold, explore more movies about obsessive pursuits that lead to treachery and moral collapse. These similar crime dramas and thrillers feature characters consumed by their desires, resulting in tense, fatalistic narratives.

obsessivefatalisticgrimsuspensefulcynicaltreacheroustense

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a character's descent as an initial ambition becomes a destructive obsession. This journey is marked by moral compromises, betrayals, and escalating criminal acts, building toward an ending where the protagonist may achieve their goal at a terrible cost or face ruin, leaving a somber, cautionary message.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here for their shared focus on the corrupting power of obsession, a consistently dark and tense tone, and a narrative structure that charts a fatalistic descent. They deliver a heavy emotional experience centered on moral decay and the high price of ambition.

Noir Western movies with a dark tone like Lust for Gold

Western stories infused with the cynical fatalism and moral ambiguity of film noir.For viewers who enjoyed the dark, treacherous atmosphere of Lust for Gold, this section highlights similar Noir Westerns. Discover more movies that combine Western settings with noir themes of moral ambiguity, betrayal, and fatalistic journeys, creating a uniquely grim hybrid genre experience.

noircynicalfatalistictreacherousgrimsuspensefulmoral ambiguitygreed

Narrative Summary

The narrative unfolds in a Western landscape but follows a noir structure: a morally ambiguous protagonist is drawn into a web of deception, often by a mysterious treasure or a seductive figure. The story is propelled by betrayal and greed, leading to a climax where violence feels inevitable and the moral lines are permanently blurred.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific genre hybridity, merging the visual and thematic elements of Westerns (frontier towns, deserts, prospectors) with the core tenets of noir (cynicism, fatalism, flashbacks, voice-over, moral ambiguity). They create a distinct vibe of grim suspense set against a historical backdrop.

Unlock the Full Story of Lust for Gold

Don't stop at just watching — explore Lust for Gold in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Lust for Gold is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Lust for Gold Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Lust for Gold, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Lust for Gold Summary

Lust for Gold Timeline

Track the full timeline of Lust for Gold with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Lust for Gold Timeline

Lust for Gold Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Lust for Gold that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Lust for Gold Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Lust for Gold

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Lust for Gold: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Lust for Gold

Similar Movies to Lust for Gold

Discover movies like Lust for Gold that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.