Dalbert Pringle Even though American insurance adjuster, Al Colby (who was presently visiting Havana, Cuba) was somewhat of a disagreeable brute who thought nothing of shoving around both men and women whenever it suited his mood, he was still deemed so irresistible that he found not one, but two, sexy babes lusting after him as if he were the hottest hunk in tweed trousers.With that in mind, I found Plunder Of The Sun (POTS) to be one of the most clichéd, predictable and, yes, decidedly dumb Crime/Adventure stories (with its preposterous double-whammy romance, thrown in for good measure) that I've seen, from the good, old 1950s, in a mighty long time.Featuring some real goof-ball villains, annoying/boring femme fatales and various implausible (and highly laughable) situations, POTS' story about hunting for hidden treasure amongst the ancient ruins and pyramids at Monte Alban, Mexico, just didn't have what it takes to cut the mustard, from my point of view.With its story being told mainly through flashbacks, including lots of voice-over narration by Al Colby (Glenn Ford's less-than-appealing character), POTS was definitely one of those movies that left this viewer quite dissatisfied and thinking to himself that this picture certainly had the potential to be a whole lot better than it was.Even though POTS' running time was only a mere 80 minutes, it sure seemed to me that so much of the general action was all but worthless and easily forgettable.As well, this film certainly lost a lot of its overall entertainment value by being filmed in stark b&w.The many scenes that were shot amongst the Zapotec ruins near Oaxaca, Mexico, would have been so absolutely wonderful to behold had they been given the full Technicolor treatment.And, finally, I thought that, as an actor, Glenn Ford was not at all well-suited for his part. Like, c'mon, Al Colby (that face-slapping heel) actually had 2 fairly hot women throwing themselves at him regardless of what dangers this might have posed to their immediate safety.And, to me, that was preposterous beyond words.

wes-connors San Francisco insurance adjuster Glenn Ford (as Al Colby) is in hot water. He tells US authorities in Mexico what put him there… Quickly, we flashback as Mr. Ford arrives in Havana, Cuba. Strapped for cash, Ford meets alluring Patricia Medina (as Anna Luz) at a bar and takes a job offered by her old and ailing companion Francis L. Sullivan (as Thomas Berrien). Plagued by a bad heart and confined to a wheelchair, Mr. Sullivan hires Ford to help them smuggle a small package into Mexico. En route, the newly formed trio meet sneaky blond Sean McClory (as Jefferson), who is interested in small packages. Ford also encounters tipsy tramp Diana Lynn (as Julie Barnes), who propositions him with the line, "I like well built men." Finally, the package Ford is carrying opens, and mysteries are revealed. Unfortunately the plot thins and several in the cast act types rather than parts. However, the location photography by Jack Draper makes it nice looking.***** Plunder of the Sun (8/26/53) John Farrow ~ Glenn Ford, Patricia Medina, Diana Lynn, Sean McClory

Lechuguilla Illegal looting of ancient human artifacts is the unusual theme of this adventure story, set mostly in Mexico. Told in flashback, the lead character is a man named Al Colby (Glenn Ford) who gets involved in intrigue when he agrees to deliver a small packet from Cuba to a Mexican destination via ship.Assorted characters complicate Colby's courier task. But none of these characters are interesting, least of all the flippant Jefferson (Sean McClory), with his crew cut and awful glasses. Indeed, the main problem with the film is the script, with its contrived and hokey premise, and the Jefferson character as a villain.On the other hand, the tours of the various archeology sites are fascinating. And if the script had dumped some of the characters and focused more on the treasure hunt, the film would have been better.The B&W cinematography is quite good, with its dark shadows and strange camera angles. It's almost noirish. Filmed on location in Mexico, the outdoor visuals convey a sense of grand scope and historical authenticity.Francis L. Sullivan is well cast as a shady businessman. And lovely, exotic Patricia Medina is ideal as the mysterious and sultry Anna Luz. But Glenn Ford is a poor choice for the lead role. Had he been any less animated, he could have passed for one of those stone statues at the ancient ruins.The film is worth watching once, mostly for the outdoor visuals and the small part of the plot that deals with characters using clues to find missing treasure. But the film could have been so much more entertaining with a more adventure-minded actor in the lead role, and a plot geared more to the frustrations and unknown dangers linked to the task of finding buried treasure.

whpratt1 Glenn Ford,(Al Colby),"The Big Heat",'53 played an insurance man down on his luck in Mexico and meets up with Patricia Medina,(Anna Luz),"The Beast of Hollow Mountain",'56, who buys Al Colby a drink and makes sexual advances toward him and manages to involve him with a man who gives Al a package to deliver for $1,000 and that makes Al very happy, because he is completely broke. Diana Lynn,(Julie Barnes),"Track of the Cat",'54, plays the role of a sexy blond who is drunk most of the time and is always trying to get Al Colby into bed with her. It seems that Al Colby has some secrets that concern a very wealthy treasure and everyone either wants to kill him or go in business with him. Glenn Ford was at the top of his career and gave an outstanding performance.