The Yellow Mountain

The Yellow Mountain

Year: 1954

Runtime: 78 mins

Language: English

Director: Jesse Hibbs

Western

Pete Menlo runs gold claims in Nevada alongside his old friend Andy Martin. Crooked mine‑owner Bannon proposes a merger to create a monopoly, but the partners refuse. Pete falls for “Nevada” Wray, the daughter of rival mine‑owner “Jackpot” Wray, though she prefers Andy. Spurned, Pete teams with Bannon, discovering that Jackpot may control all the region’s gold veins. Bannon’s gang moves against Andy, prompting Pete to confront his betrayal and ultimately return to his friend’s side.

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Timeline & Setting – The Yellow Mountain (1954)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Yellow Mountain (1954). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Location

Goldfield

Goldfield is a rough frontier town built around mining claims and the bustling Fandango saloon-casino-brothel. The town's fate hinges on ore strikes, mule teams, and the shifting loyalties of prospectors and bosses. Its dust-swept streets become the stage for price wars, betrayals, and gunplay that shape every fortune.

🏜️ Desert town 💎 Mining hub

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:18

Main Characters – The Yellow Mountain (1954)

Meet the key characters of The Yellow Mountain (1954), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Bannon (John McIntire)

Bannon is the mining magnate and principal antagonist who battles for control of the town's mines. He deploys hoodlums to pressure rivals and drives a ruthless price war that threatens every partnership. His bid to expand influence through broader deals highlights his readiness to bend rules for wealth and power.

🕶️ Villain 💰 Wealthy magnate 🗡️ Ruthless

Andy Martin (Lex Barker)

Andy Martin is one of the two former partners who built their fortune on mining stakes. He is strategic and pragmatic, capable of dissolving partnerships when trust is broken, and he remains a central player in the town's mining disputes. His actions drive much of the drama surrounding ownership and control of the mines.

🧭 Protagonist 💼 Ambitious ⚖️ Calculated

Pete Menlo (Howard Duff)

Pete Menlo is Martin's partner who manages mining operations and negotiates with rivals. He chases opportunities like a railway deal that could secure a larger stake for himself and for the town, showing a pragmatic but morally flexible approach to profit.

🤝 Partner 🧠 Strategist 💰 Money-minded

Nevada Wray (Mala Powers)

Nevada Wray is Jackpot Wray's daughter and the town's ore assayer, serving as the love interest for Martin. She embodies a practical link between romance and the town's economic lifeblood, with expertise that influences mining outcomes.

💎 Ore expert 💘 Love interest 🧭 Objective

Jackpot Wray (William Demarest)

Jackpot Wray is a regular gambler and the town's ore expert whose mine becomes a focal point of the power struggle. His relationship with Nevada anchors the romance and ties personal fortunes to the larger mining war.

🎲 Gambler 💖 Protective father 🪙 Ore expert

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:18

Major Themes – The Yellow Mountain (1954)

Explore the central themes of The Yellow Mountain (1954), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💰 Greed & Power

Greed drives the central conflict as mining profits become political leverage. Wealthy magnates maneuver to control the mines, railways, and shipments, often at the expense of workers and partners. The movie uses the price war to comment on how money can corrupt trust, justice, and community ties. The looming question is whether profit can coexist with loyalty or if it will always fracture relationships.

🤝 Loyalty & Betrayal

Loyalty and betrayal run parallel to the romantic plot as partnerships strain under pressure. A lawyer's betrayal helps Bannon gain an upper hand, fueling suspicions of double-crosses among the principals. Trust is tested as alliances fray and motives blur, underscoring how quickly friendship can turn to rivalry. Yet acts of loyalty emerge through protective choices that shape the town's fate.

💘 Romance

Romance threads through the mining war as Martin pursues Nevada Wray, binding personal happiness to the town's fortunes. Nevada, the town's ore assayer, embodies a bridge between heart and profit, complicating business decisions with affection. The romance is tested by the strategic moves of powerful players, yet it anchors the conflict in human stakes beyond gold. The outcome of the mining battle ultimately intertwines with the lovers' future.

⚖️ Law & Conflict

Law and mining claims drive the plot as registration and property rights determine who can stake a claim and profit from the ore. The town's legal framework is manipulated by greed, forcing protagonists to navigate a tangled web of contracts and corruption. Gunfights and legal maneuvering collide, testing whether justice can prevail in a frontier town. The ending hinges on a blend of legal savvy and frontier grit.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 19:18

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The Yellow Mountain Summary

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The Yellow Mountain Summary

The Yellow Mountain Timeline

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The Yellow Mountain Timeline

More About The Yellow Mountain

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