Silver Dollar

Silver Dollar

Year: 1932

Runtime: 83 mins

Language: English

Director: Alfred E. Green

Drama

Can any man ask one woman to share his years of struggle- Another to adorn his days of triumph? A farmer strikes it rich out West, then leaves his wife for a young beauty.

Silver Dollar (1932) – Spoiler-Free Movie Summary & Plot Overview

Get a spoiler-free look at Silver Dollar (1932) with a clear plot overview that covers the setting, main characters, and story premise—without revealing key twists or the ending. Perfect for deciding if this film is your next watch.

In the restless summer of 1876, the wide‑open frontier of Colorado beckons with the promise of untold riches. The landscape is a patchwork of dusty trails, burgeoning boom towns, and glittering veins of silver hidden beneath the rugged hills. Against this backdrop, ordinary lives are pulled into a feverish chase for prosperity, where ambition collides with the harsh realities of a land still defining its own future.

Yates Martin is a farmer whose yearning for something greater drives him away from the steady rhythm of his Kansas homestead. He persuades his pragmatic wife, Sarah Martin, and their infant child to join him on a perilous journey westward, trading familiar fields for the uncertain allure of mining claims and frontier commerce. Their partnership is forged on contrasting values—her caution and his restless drive—setting the stage for a delicate balance between stability and the intoxicating lure of wealth.

As fortunes begin to rise, the couple’s world expands beyond the modest store they build in a fledgling town. New faces arrive, bringing whispers of opulence and power that tempt Yates toward ever grander aspirations. Among them is a striking young woman, Lily Owens Martin, whose presence hints at a shifting personal landscape as ambitions grow larger than the mines themselves. The film swirls with a tone that is both sweeping and intimate, capturing the glitter of possibility while underscoring the fragile ties that bind a family on the edge of the American Dream.

Last Updated: December 05, 2025 at 10:18

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Rise and fall tragedies like Silver Dollar

Stories of ambition forging empires only for hubris to bring catastrophic ruin.If you liked the cautionary tale in Silver Dollar, explore more movies about the tragic arc of ambition. These stories capture the thrilling ascent to power and the devastating consequences of hubris, featuring characters whose grandiose successes are undone by their own flaws, leading to financial ruin and personal tragedy.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a classic, often linear, trajectory: a period of struggle, a meteoric rise to prominence or wealth, the corruption of character that accompanies success, and a final, swift descent into ruin. The focus is on the cause-and-effect relationship between ambition and downfall.

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Movies are grouped here based on their shared narrative arc of ambition leading to catastrophe. They possess a dark tone, heavy emotional weight, and a pacing that often accelerates towards a sad or bleak conclusion, creating a cohesive experience of tragic grandeur.

Stories of moral collapse like Silver Dollar

Character studies where the pursuit of success corrupts personal values.Viewers who appreciated Silver Dollar's focus on a man losing his morals for wealth will find similar themes here. These movies are character-driven dramas about ethical compromise, infidelity, and the hollow victory of material gain, often set against historical backdrops and ending with a sense of poignant loss.

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern is one of gradual or sudden moral compromise. A character is presented with an opportunity that conflicts with their ethics or relationships. Their choice to pursue this path initiates a chain of betrayals and personal decay, leading to an ending where they are successful yet spiritually bankrupt, or utterly ruined.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their central theme of moral decline driven by ambition. They share a dark, somber mood, a straightforward narrative that focuses on character decisions, and a heavy emotional weight derived from the tragedy of a corrupted soul.

Unlock the Full Story of Silver Dollar

Don't stop at just watching — explore Silver Dollar 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 Silver Dollar is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Silver Dollar Summary

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Silver Dollar Summary

Silver Dollar Timeline

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

Silver Dollar Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Silver Dollar

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Silver Dollar. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Silver Dollar

More About Silver Dollar

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