Sharpe's Gold

Customer Reviews:

Solid Gold.......2007-04-23

As with every episode, Sharpe's Gold is another escape into Historical Fickion with lots of action to boot.

Sharpe adaptations take turn for the worse with "Sharpe's Gold".......2007-03-22

The BBC adaptations of Bernard Cornwell's beloved Richard Sharpe series are solid, fun, low-budget entertainment. Sean Bean is excellent as the titular Sharpe, and the series enjoys solid supporting performances all around as well as the occasional star turn in a minor role (Brian Cox, Pete Postlethwait, Elizabeth Hurley, etc.). The adaptatations also do a good job of telling the full Sharpe story even though Cornwell has famously written the novels out of sequence, incorporating bits from other novels as needed to tell a coherent tale.

All that gets shunted to the side with "Sharpe's Gold," easily the worst Sharpe adaptation so far. It's no coincidence that this adaptation makes the most gross deviation from Cornwell's novel of the same title.

In the novel, Sharpe is charged with stealing a hoard of gold in order to save Wellington's cash-starved army. In many ways, this is the most mature of the Sharpe novels, as Sharpe is forced to choose between the lives of several innocent people and the survival of Wellington's army.

For some bizarre reason, the BBC adaptation of "Sharpe's Gold" centers on Aztec gold hidden in the mountains. Sharpe and his Rifles are charged with exchanging 50 Baker rifles for a cadre of British army deserters captured by Spanish partisans. But these are no ordinary partisans - they are Aztec worshippers practicing murderous witchcraft in the hills. In their lair lies a horde of Aztec gold.

In other words, the plot makes no sense. Worse, this fantastical tale is completely at odds with the realistic tone of the series.

Almost as jarring as the silly plot adjustment is the fact that Ian Shaw is cast as a snobbish provost and he looks, sounds, and acts freakishly similar to his father, the late Robert Shaw of "Jaws" fame. Half the time I expected him to say, "I'm not talkin' about findin' Aztec gold! I'm talkin' about workin' for a livin' - I'm talkin' about sharkin'!"

That would have been an improvement over the actual dialogue. Maybe it's there in a blooper reel.

I didn't give this one star simply because Sean Bean and the regular cast did a fine job with this silly trifle.

"Sharpe's Gold": Sad to say, it's a real stinker.......2006-12-13

I have read (actually listened to the audio books) most, and perhaps all, of the Sharpe stories, and I found them to be wonderful entertainment. The adaptation of the stories for serialization by the BBC, however, leaves a great deal to be desired. They obviously were filmed on a limited budget, and it shows throughout, particularly in thinly populated battle scenes. And the video plots seem to be missing some of the richest elements of the book plots from which they are taken. Still, "Sharpe's Gold" is perhaps in a category of "terrible" all by itself. The plot is ridiculous, and not even Sean Bean can save it. You would be far better served by picking up the book. In fact, you might be better off skipping the DVDs (particularly this one) and going to the books and, even better, the unabridged audio books. I have thus far watched 7 of the DVDs, and none of them conveys the sense of place and time, not to mention urgency, of the books and audio books. It's just that, compared to "Sharpe's Gold," the rest of the DVDs don't look half-bad.

Ridiculous plot ruins this Sharpe outing.......2006-01-11

I have read five of the Cornwell novels (including Sharpe's Gold) and seen four of the Sean Bean TV adaptations. This TV adaptation is by far the worst, mainly because it totally changes Bernard Cornwell's plot.

In the book, Wellington sent Sharpe on a secret mission to bring back a cache of gold in the hands of Spanish partisans. The gold was needed to pay for the fortification of Wellington's position around Lisbon, to which he was forced to retreat in 1810. In the process of securing this gold, and keeping it out of the hands of the Spanish (to which it rightfully belonged), Sharpe was forced by circumstances to destroy the main gunpowder storage depot in the city of Almeida, for all intents and purposes destroying the city and handing it over to the French just as the seige had barely begun. (But the fortification of Lisbon was strategically much more important to the Peninsular campaign than the holding of Almeida, which could not have been held anyway.) The actual cause of the gunpowder explosion is not known to history, so Cornwell as able to weave Sharpe into the narrative as the cause. It was in the book Sharpe's Gold that Sharpe met his Spanish lady-friend and later wife, Theresa (whereas in the TV series, he meets her in the first episode, Sharpe's Rifles).

Unfortunately, none of Cornwell's plot makes its way into the TV episode. Instead, the action is moved back three years, to 1813, when Wellington is contemplating the invasion of France. Sharpe is sent on a mission to exchange Baker rifles for British stragglers and deserters held by Spanish partisans. Except that they are not just partisans, but the remnant of Aztec captives taken from Mexico to Spain almost 300 years earlier. Amazingly, after almost three centuries, they are still a separate group of people and still practice their cult of human sacrifice in a cave wherein they have placed some of the relics of their precolombian culture (including the titular gold). This is about as stupid a plot as it is possible to imagine, and a real insult to Cornwell's historical novel.

Please watch these TV episodes in order--don't start with this one--or you'll never watch another episode, and you'll miss out on all the fun. Also, I would offer the general observation that the TV episodes are a bit of disappointment after reading the Cornwell novels, because the grand scale of action that Cornwell describes simply could not be reproduced on a mid-1990s British TV budget (if it could be reproduced on film at all). But the first three TV episodes--Sharpe's Rifles, Sharpe's Eagle, and Sharpe's Company--were nothing like the disappointment of Sharpe's Gold

Cornwell Should Sue!.......2005-03-27

I loved the book so I looked forward to the movie and was greatly dissapointed. This movie should be ashamed for destroying the title of this book. The movie was so bad I coudlnt even finish it! The characters in this book are weak and completely fake and the movie just drags on. Dont but this movie for the love of god! If you must rent it from your library.

Average customer rating:

"The King of B-Westerns & Serials...VCI Entertainment ~ The Master Key (1945)"
"The King of Serials...VCI Entertainment ~ The Master Key (1945)"

The Master Key
Starring: Milburn Stone , Jan Wiley , Dennis Moore , Addison Richards , and Byron Foulger
Director: Ray Taylor , and Lewis D. Collins
Manufacturer: Vci Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B000E97HW6
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Description

Actors: Milburn Stone, Dennis Moore, Byron Foulger, Russell Hicks, Lash LaRue, Jan Wiley: Universal's 64th of 69 sound-era serials in 13 exciting chapters. Set in 1938, Nazi agents kidnap mineralogical scientist, Elwood Henderson (Byron Foulger) and utilize his Orotron machine, which extracts gold from the ocean. Operating under the secret leadership of "The Master Key," the gang is trailed by Federal Investigator Tom Brant (Milburn Stone). Brant is aided by detective Jack Ryan (Dennis Moore) and ace reporter Janet Lowe (Jan Wiley). DVD Bonus & Features: Bios, Original Theatrical Trailers, Bonus Classic Cliffhanger Trailers, Chapter Selection, DVD-9 / DVD-5, Dolby Digital 2.0, 250 min, B&W, 1.33:1, NR, 1945.

Customer Reviews:

"The King of B-Westerns & Serials...VCI Entertainment ~ The Master Key (1945)".......2006-02-25

VCI Entertainment and Universal Pictures present..."The Master Key" (1945) (Dolby digitally remastered), a 13 Chapter cliffhanger from an action packed Universal serial era featuring an outstanding cast with Lewis D. Collins and Ray Taylor at the helm....our story has to do with Nazi agents who are planning to use steal an invention that can extract gold from the ocean floor...what is this strange machine the "Orotron" and what evil disorder is coming from Migsy, head henchman (Lash Larue)...can Tom Brant (Milburn Stone), Jack Ryan (Dennis Moore) and Janet Lowe (Jan Wiley) round up the Nazi Agents and free Elwood Henderson (Bryon Foulger)...and just who is the unknown head agent and leader of "The Master Key"...boy, can Universal Serials get any better than this chapter play...don't leave the theater until the final chapter is over and done with "The Last Key"....just remember double thrills, chills, mystery and suspense...hitting the bull's eye with excitement...don't miss a single spine thrilling episode..return next week to this local theater for another episode of action and adventure that will keep you thrilled until the next chapter.

Under director's Lewis D. Collins and Ray Taylor, producer Morgan B. Cox, original story by Jack Natterford and Dwight V. Barcock, original screenplay by George H. Plympton, Joseph O'Donnell and Ande Lamb, dialogue director Willard Holland, musical score by Charles Previn, Hans J. Salter, Frank Skinner and Dimitri Tiomkin, stunts Carl Matthews, David Sharpe, Tom Steele, Ken Terrell and Dale Van Sickel ...the cast includes Milburn Stone (Agent Tom Brant), Jan Wiley (Janet Lowe), Dennis Moore (Detective Lt. Jack Ryan), Addison Richards (Gerhard Doenitz), Bryon Foulger (Prof. Elwood Henderson), Maris Wrixson (Dorothy Arnold), Sarah Padden (Aggie), George Lynn (Herman/chief thug), Russell Hicks (Police Chief Michael J. O'Brien), Roland Varno (Arnold Hoffman), Lash LaRue (Migsy/street urchin) (as Alfred La Rue), Jerry Shane (Dan/boys' club member), Neyle Morrow (Spike/boys' club member), George Chesebro (Fireman Dragging Hose), Edmund Cobb (Riverton Railroad Official in Tower), Al Ferguson (Truck Driver), Jack Perrin (Policeman), Jack Rockwell (Safecracker), Gene Roth (Bat Logan/gangster), David Sharpe (Policeman), Tom Steele (Policeman), Forrest Taylor (Hospital Doctor), Dale Van Sickel (Policeman in Loft Building). . . . . . . . special footnote as we showcase actor Milburn Stone who was inducted (as a cast member Doc Adams of "Gunsmoke") into the "Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum" in 1981.. Milburn became an overnight star and, along with Matt Dillon's James Arness stayed a citizen of Dodge City throughout its entire 20-year run (500 episodes)........meanwhile back to our Universal Serial which is always good till the last drop and this serial is no exception...there is a great deal of entertainment here for the cliffhanger fans out there...all courtesy of VCI Entertainment, who in my humble opinion is the best there is in restoring early serials and features.

BIOS:
1. Milburn Stone
Birth Date: 7/05/1904 - Burrton, Kansas
Died: 6/12/1980 - La Jolla, California (heart attack)
2. Dennis Moore
Birth Date: 1/26/1908 - Fort Worth, Texas
Died: 3/01/1964 - San Bernardino County, CA
3. Lash LaRue (Alfred LaRue)
Birth Date: 6/15/1917 - Gretna, LA
Died: 5/21/1996 - Burbank, CA
4. Ray Taylor (Director)
Birth Date: 12/01/1888 - Perham, Minnesota
Died: 2/15/1952 - Hollywood, CA
5. Lewis D. Collins (Director)
Birth Date: 1/12/1899 - Baltimore, MD
Died: 8/24/1954 - Hollywood, CA

CHAPTER TITLES:
1. Trapped by flames
2. Death Turns the Wheel
3. Ticket to Disaster
4. Drawbridge Danger
5. Runaway Car
6. Shot Down
7. Death on the Dial
8. Bullet Serenade
9. On Stage For Murder
10.Fatal Masquerade
11.Crash Curve
12.Lightning Underground
13.The Last Key

If you're into vintage serials as I am, why not pick up a copy of the following titles from VCI Home Video:
VCI CLIFFHANGER TRAILERS:
1. Adventures of Red Ryder (Don "Red" Barry)
2. Adventures of the Flying Cadets (Bobby Jordan)
3. Buck Rogers (Buster Crabbe)
4. Captain Midnight (Dave O'Brien)
5. Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere (Judd Holdren & I. Stanford Jolley)
6. Dick Tracy's G-Men (Ralph Byrd)
7. Don Winslow of the Navy (Don Terry)
8. Don Winslow of the Coast Guard (Don Terry)
9. Drums of Fu Manchu (Henry Brandon)
10.Fighting Kit Carson (Johnny Mack Brown)
11.Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (Buster Crabbe)
12.The Green Archer (Victory Jory)
13.Jungle Girl (Frances Gifford)
14.Jungle Jim (Grant Withers & Raymond Hatton)
15.Lost City of the Jungle (Russell Hayden & Keye Luke)
16.Mandrake the Magician (Warren Hull & Dick Curtis)
17.Miracle Rider (Tom Mix & Tony Jr)
18.The Painted Stallion (Ray "Crash" Corrigan)
19.The Phantom (Tom Tyler)
20.The Return of Chandu (Bela Lugosi)
21.Riders of Death Valley (Dick Foran, Leo Carrillo & Buck Jones)
22.Secret Agent X-9 (1937) (Scott Kolk & Henry Brandon)
23.Secret Agent X-9 (1945) (Lloyd Bridges & Keye Luke)
24.Sky Raiders (Donald Woods & Billy Halop)
25.Undersea Kingdom (Ray "Crash" Corrigan)
26.Winners of the West (Dick Foran, Harry Woods, Roy Barcroft & Charles Stevens)
27.Zane Greys "King of the Royal Mounted" (Allan "Rocky" Lane)
28.Zorro's Cliffhanger Collection (Reed Hadley, John Carroll & Linda Stirling)

VCI Home Video on DVD presents "FLAMING FRONTIERS" (1938), Universal Serial with 15 chapters, featuring Johnny Mack Brown, Eleanor Hansen, John Archer, James Blaine and Ralph Bowman..."OREGON TRAIL" (1939), another Universal Serial with 15 exciting chapters featuring Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Roy Barcoft and Charles King..."THE TALL TEXAN" (1953), full length feature starring Lloyd Bridges, Lee J Cobb, Luther Adler and Marie Windsor...check out these titles and more on Amazon or VCI Entertaiment your two favorite sites for serials and B-Westerns.

Great job by VCI Entertainment for releasing "The Master Key" (1945), the digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '30s, '40s & '50s...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment where there are plenty of copies available on DVD, stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure from the "King of Serials" VCI...just the way we like 'em

Total Time: 250 mins on 2 DVD ~ VCI Entertainment 8444 ~ (2/28/2006)

"The King of Serials...VCI Entertainment ~ The Master Key (1945)".......2005-11-30

VCI Entertainment and Universal Pictures present..."The Master Key" (1945) (Dolby digitally remastered), a 13 Chapter cliffhanger from an action packed Universal serial era featuring an outstanding cast with Lewis D. Collins and Ray Taylor at the helm....our story has to do with Nazi agents who are planning to use steal an invention that can extract gold from the ocean floor...what is this strange machine the "Orotron" and what evil disorder is coming from Migsy, head henchman (Lash Larue)...can Tom Brant (Milburn Stone), Jack Ryan (Dennis Moore) and Janet Lowe (Jan Wiley) round up the Nazi Agents and free Elwood Henderson (Bryon Foulger)...and just who is the unknown head agent and leader of "The Master Key"...boy, can Universal Serials get any better than this chapter play...don't leave the theater until the final chapter is over and done with "The Last Key"....just remember double thrills, chills, mystery and suspense...hitting the bull's eye with excitement...don't miss a single spine thrilling episode..return next week to this local theater for another episode of action and adventure that will keep you thrilled until the next chapter.

Under director's Lewis D. Collins and Ray Taylor, producer Morgan B. Cox, original story by Jack Natterford and Dwight V. Barcock, original screenplay by George H. Plympton, Joseph O'Donnell and Ande Lamb, dialogue director Willard Holland, musical score by Charles Previn, Hans J. Salter, Frank Skinner and Dimitri Tiomkin, stunts Carl Matthews, David Sharpe, Tom Steele, Ken Terrell and Dale Van Sickel ...the cast includes Milburn Stone (Agent Tom Brant), Jan Wiley (Janet Lowe), Dennis Moore (Detective Lt. Jack Ryan), Addison Richards (Gerhard Doenitz), Bryon Foulger (Prof. Elwood Henderson), Maris Wrixson (Dorothy Arnold), Sarah Padden (Aggie), George Lynn (Herman/chief thug), Russell Hicks (Police Chief Michael J. O'Brien), Roland Varno (Arnold Hoffman), Lash LaRue (Migsy/street urchin) (as Alfred La Rue), Jerry Shane (Dan/boys' club member), Neyle Morrow (Spike/boys' club member), George Chesebro (Fireman Dragging Hose), Edmund Cobb (Riverton Railroad Official in Tower), Al Ferguson (Truck Driver), Jack Perrin (Policeman), Jack Rockwell (Safecracker), Gene Roth (Bat Logan/gangster), David Sharpe (Policeman), Tom Steele (Policeman), Forrest Taylor (Hospital Doctor), Dale Van sickel (Policeman in Loft Building)........special footnote as we showcase actor Milburn Stone who was inducted (as a cast member Doc Adams of "Gunsmoke") into the "Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum" in 1981.. Milburn became an overnight star and, along with Matt Dillon's James Arness stayed a citizen of Dodge City throughout its entire 20-year run (500 episodes)........meanwhile back to our Universal Serial which is always good till the last drop and this serial is no exception...there is a great deal of entertainment here for the cliffhanger fans out there...all courtesy of VCI Entertainment, who in my humble opinion is the best there is in restoring early serials and features.

BIOS:
1. Milburn Stone
Birth Date: 7/05/1904 - Burrton, Kansas
Died: 6/12/1980 - La Jolla, California (heart attack)

CHAPTER TITLES:
1. Trapped by flames
2. Death Turns the Wheel
3. Ticket to Disaster
4. Drawbridge Danger
5. Runaway Car
6. Shot Down
7. Death on the Dial
8. Bullet Serenade
9. On Stage For Murder
10.Fatal Masquerade
11.Crash Curve
12.Lightning Underground
13.The Last Key

If you're into vintage serials as I am, why not pick up a copy of the following titles from VCI Home Video:
VCI CLIFFHANGER TRAILERS:
1. Adventures of Red Ryder (Don "Red" Barry)
2. Adventures of the Flying Cadets (Bobby Jordan)
3. Buck Rogers (Buster Crabbe)
4. Captain Midnight (Dave O'Brien)
5. Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere (Judd Holdren & I. Stanford Jolley)
6. Dick Tracy's G-Men (Ralph Byrd)
7. Don Winslow of the Navy (Don Terry)
8. Don Winslow of the Coast Guard (Don Terry)
9. Drums of Fu Manchu (Henry Brandon)
10.Fighting Kit Carson (Johnny Mack Brown)
11.Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (Buster Crabbe)
12.The Green Archer (Victory Jory)
13.Jungle Girl (Frances Gifford)
14.Jungle Jim (Grant Withers & Raymond Hatton)
15.Lost City of the Jungle (Russell Hayden & Keye Luke)
16.Mandrake the Magician (Warren Hull & Dick Curtis)
17.Miracle Rider (Tom Mix & Tony Jr)
18.The Painted Stallion (Ray "Crash" Corrigan)
19.The Phantom (Tom Tyler)
20.The Return of Chandu (Bela Lugosi)
21.Riders of Death Valley (Dick Foran, Leo Carrillo & Buck Jones)
22.Secret Agent X-9 (1937) (Scott Kolk & Henry Brandon)
23.Secret Agent X-9 (1945) (Lloyd Bridges & Keye Luke)
24.Sky Raiders (Donald Woods & Billy Halop)
25.Undersea Kingdom (Ray "Crash" Corrigan)
26.Winners of the West (Dick Foran, Harry Woods, Roy Barcroft & Charles Stevens)
27.Zane Greys "King of the Royal Mounted" (Allan "Rocky" Lane)
28.Zorro's Cliffhanger Collection (Reed Hadley, John Carroll & Linda Stirling)

Coming soon January 2006 from VCI Home Video on DVD..."FLAMING FRONTIERS" (1938), Universal Serial with 15 chapters, featuring Johnny Mack Brown, Eleanor Hansen, John Archer, James Blaine and Ralph Bowman..."OREGON TRAIL" (1939), another Universal Serial with 15 exciting chapters featuring Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Roy Barcoft and Charles King..."THE TALL TEXAN" (1953), full length feature starring Lloyd Bridges, Lee J Cobb, Luther Adler and Marie Windsor...watch for more details on VCI Entertainment and Amazon your two favorite sites for serials and B-Westerns.

Great job by VCI Entertainment for releasing "The Master Key" (1945), the digital transfere with a clean, clear and crisp print...looking forward to more high quality releases from the vintage serial era of the '30s, '40s & '50s...order your copy now from Amazon or VCI Entertainment where there are plenty of copies available on VHS, stay tuned once again for top notch action mixed with deadly adventure from the "King of Serials" VCI...just the way we like 'em

Total Time: 265 mins on 2 VHS ~ VCI Entertainment 1710 ~ (6/25/2002)

Average customer rating:

This is not a Ken Maynard Movie

Haunted Ranch
Starring: Glenn Strange , John "Dusty" King , Julie Duncan , Dave Sharpe , and Max "Alibi" Terhune
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00015HXAY
Release Date: 2004-02-24

Customer Reviews:

This is not a Ken Maynard Movie.......2005-09-01

This is not a Ken Maynard Movie. It was not made in 1926. It was made in 1943, and is a Dust King movie.

Average customer rating:

Galloping Dynamite
Starring: Dennis O'Keefe , Ricky Kelman , Eloise Hardt , Eddie Ryder , and Hope Emerson
Director: Don Weis , Abby Berlin , and Harry L. Fraser
Manufacturer: Alpha Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Adventure | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

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Ken Maynard Double Feature: Whirlwind Horseman/Alias - The Bad Man

ASIN: B000641A3Q
Release Date: 2004-11-23

DVD:

DVD

DVD