The Treasure of Lost Canyon (1952)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Ted Tetzlaff

Writers:

Emerson Crocker (writer)
Brainerd Duffield (writer)

Release Date:

1 March 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Western

Plot:

Young David, orphaned en route to California, falls into the hands of medicine-show rascal Baltimore Dan...

Plot Keywords:

Treasure | Based On Novel

Cast

William Powell	...	Homer 'Doc' Brown
Julie Adams	...	Myra Wade
Charles Drake	...	Jim Anderson
Rosemary DeCamp	...	Samuella
Henry Hull	...	Cousin Lucius Cooke
Tommy Ivo	...	David
Chubby Johnson	...	Baltimore Dan
John Doucette	...	Gyppo
Marvin Press	...	Paddy
Frank Wilcox	...	Stranger
Griff Barnett	...	Judge Wade
Jack Perrin	...	Sheriff
Virginia Mullen	...	Mrs. Crabtree
Paul Newlan	...	Coach Driver
George Taylor	...	Clem

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #15456)

Filming Locations:

McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park - Highway 89, Burney, California, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Soundtrack:

Oh Lemuel, My Lemuel

Life's Real Treasure

No longer the debonair and very urban leading man, William Powell was trying to move into roles more in line with his age. Powell turned 60 at the time The Treasure of Lost Canyon and was now playing an eccentric married man who's cousin, Henry Hull has been robbing him blind for years.

Into his life comes young Tommy Ivo whose mother died and his father killed in a stage holdup. Though he didn't think so, Powell takes to the young boy and his dog and plans to adopt him.

Ivo locates some old bandit loot on Powell's property which seems to be the answer to their financial worries. That's the treasure in the title. But there are still a lot of questions to be answered.

The Treasure of Lost Canyon is based on a Robert Louis Stevenson short story, The Treasure of Franchard and is clearly aimed at a family audience. It's a pleasant and rather short film, 82 minutes and is moderately entertaining. Stevenson fans will note the similarity between young Tommy Ivo and a couple of other young Stevenson heroes, David Balfour and Jim Hawkins.

Besides those mentioned Rosemary DeCamp is Powell's wife and Charles Drake and Julia Adams play a pair of helpful neighbors. Especially Drake who is most helpful in getting a lot of questions answered.

The Treasure of Lost Canyon is not a great film, but entertaining enough. Sad to say movie audiences apparently didn't take to William Powell in a role more suited to Gabby Hayes or Walter Brennan. Still though, Powell as romantic lead was far more ridiculous at his age.