Movie spotlight
After a group of convicts escapes from prison, they take refuge in the wilderness. While most of the crew are ruthless sociopaths, Jim Canfield is an innocent man who was jailed under false pretenses. When Canfield and his fellow fugitives reach an isolated farming settlement where the men are all away, it creates tension with the local women. Things get direr when rumors of hidden money arise, and Canfield discovers that the man who framed him is part of the community.
A woman, Marcia Blaine, travels west to California in 1871, seeking to reunite with her husband, a prospector. Upon arrival, she discovers he has died and left her only a small sum of money and a map to a rumored gold mine. She becomes involved with a group of escaped convicts who are also after the gold.
The Secret of Convict Lake was met with mixed reviews upon its release. While its scenic cinematography and the performances of its lead actors, particularly Gene Tierney, were often praised, the plot was sometimes criticized for being predictable and overly melodramatic. Audiences at the time showed a moderate interest, contributing to its status as a respectable, though not groundbreaking, Western film.
Praised for its visual appeal and Gene Tierney's performance.
Some critics found the narrative to be formulaic and lacking in originality.
The film offers a standard but competently executed Western drama.
Google audience: Audience reception data from Google is not readily available for this older film. However, general sentiment suggests it was viewed as a satisfactory entry in the Western genre, appreciated for its cast and setting.
The film was originally intended to be a Technicolor production, but was ultimately shot in black and white due to budgetary constraints.
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Zachary Scott is quite menacing in this chilly tale of half a dozen escaped convicts who find themselves caught up in the wintery weather on the look out for shelter - and for $40,000! When they arrive at a remote village they discover that...
The Convict Conundrum. The Secret of Convict Lake is directed by Michael Gordon and collectively written by Anna Hunger, Jack Pollexfen, Oscar Saul and Victor Trivas. It stars Glenn Ford, Gene Tierney, Ethel Barrymore, Zachary Scott, Ann...