An adventurer searchers for hidden treasure in the Peruvian jungles.An adventurer searchers for hidden treasure in the Peruvian jungles.An adventurer searchers for hidden treasure in the Peruvian jungles.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
Booth Colman
- Juan Fernandez
- (uncredited)
Fritz Ford
- Tourist
- (uncredited)
Martin Garralaga
- Dr. Cesar Perez
- (uncredited)
Geraldine Hall
- Mrs. Richmond
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis film is often cited as a direct inspiration for the Indiana Jones franchise of films, with many of the scenes in "Secret of the Incas" bearing a striking resemblance in tone and structure to scenes in "Raiders of the Lost Ark". Throughout the film, the main character, Harry Steele, can be seen wearing the "Indiana Jones" outfit - brown leather jacket, fedora, tan trousers, and revolver.
- GoofsRegarding Machu Picchu, the famous Incan ruins in Peru, Charlton Heston's character, Harry Steele, tells Elena, "It's an ancient city of the Incas. It's been lost for over a thousand years". In reality, Machu Picchu was built around 1450, and rediscovered in the early 1900's, making it "lost" for a bit less than 500 years.
- Quotes
Miss Morris: [to Harry Steele] For a tall man, you're the smallest man I ever met.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Top 10 Dumbest Indiana Jones Moments (2009)
- SoundtracksVirgin of the Sun God
(uncredited)
Written by Moises Vivanco
Performed by Yma Sumac
Arranged and Conducted by Les Baxter
Featured review
Indiana Jones three decades before the character existed
An American adventurer in Cuzco, Peru, halfheartedly works as a tour guide, but his real interest is a priceless Incan artifact. He schemes to steal a Romanian official's plane to make it to the lost city of Machu Picchu in the remote high country of the Andes, where he's surprised to discover an archaeological dig is taking place. Robert Young plays the leader of the scientists.
"Secret of the Incas" (1954) is an adventure flick that became the blueprint for Indiana Jones in the 80s, the first film of course being the exceptional "Raiders of the Lost Ark." While Harry Steele (Heston) certainly dresses like Indiana Jones, he's not a noble professor; he's a cynical and avaricious treasure hunter, not to mention opportunist. In the last act there is a tomb sequence featuring a revealing shaft of light similar to the Map Room scene in "Raiders."
Being shot in 1953, this naturally has a quainter tone by comparison. The first 45 minutes, for instance, entirely take place in a remote Andes town with a lot of talk and little action, which might turn off fans of Indiana Jones. But I enjoyed Heston's towering presence and nonchalant mojo. His character, Harry Steele, is similar to Taylor in "Planet of the Apes" (1968), just fourteen years younger.
The Andes sequences are scenic and striking Peruvian vocalist Yma Sumac plays the role of Kori-Tica with a couple of extraordinary singing sequences. Meanwhile Nicole Maurey is sharp as the Romanian defector, Elena.
The film runs 1 hour, 41 minutes, and was shot in Peru at Cuzco and Machu Picchu with (obvious) studio scenes done at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. The studio sets are surprisingly well done and convincing enough.
GRADE: B-/B.
"Secret of the Incas" (1954) is an adventure flick that became the blueprint for Indiana Jones in the 80s, the first film of course being the exceptional "Raiders of the Lost Ark." While Harry Steele (Heston) certainly dresses like Indiana Jones, he's not a noble professor; he's a cynical and avaricious treasure hunter, not to mention opportunist. In the last act there is a tomb sequence featuring a revealing shaft of light similar to the Map Room scene in "Raiders."
Being shot in 1953, this naturally has a quainter tone by comparison. The first 45 minutes, for instance, entirely take place in a remote Andes town with a lot of talk and little action, which might turn off fans of Indiana Jones. But I enjoyed Heston's towering presence and nonchalant mojo. His character, Harry Steele, is similar to Taylor in "Planet of the Apes" (1968), just fourteen years younger.
The Andes sequences are scenic and striking Peruvian vocalist Yma Sumac plays the role of Kori-Tica with a couple of extraordinary singing sequences. Meanwhile Nicole Maurey is sharp as the Romanian defector, Elena.
The film runs 1 hour, 41 minutes, and was shot in Peru at Cuzco and Machu Picchu with (obvious) studio scenes done at Paramount Studios in Hollywood. The studio sets are surprisingly well done and convincing enough.
GRADE: B-/B.
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Details
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,400,000
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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