Black Gold * (1962, Philip Carey, Diane McBain, James Best, Fay Spain, Claude Akins, William Phipps) – Classic Movie Review 11,825

Director Leslie H Martinson’s 1962 black and white adventure film Black Gold stars Philip Carey, Diane McBain, James Best, Fay Spain, Claude Akins and William Phipps, and is based on a story by Harry Whittington. Also notable in the cast are Iron Eyes Cody, Dub Taylor, and Ken Mayer.

Carey plays Oklahoma farmer Frank McCandless, who discovers oil on his land and becomes an oil prospector, and then battles Chick Carrington (Akins) and a plethora of bad guys on his way to wealth.

There is neither a surprise nor a thrill in sight, either from the story or from the hard-working B-movie performers, whose presence is welcome even if their acting is pretty tentative.

The film is made by Warner Bros and released by them on 21 July 1962.

Black Gold is directed by Leslie H Martinson, runs 98 minutes, is made and released by Warner Bros, is written by Bob Duncan and Wanda Duncan, based on a story by Harry Whittington, is shot in black and white by Harold E Stine, is produced by Jim Barnett and is scored by Howard Jackson.

The cast are Philip Carey as Frank McCandless, Diane McBain as Ann Evans, James Best as Jericho Larkin, Fay Spain as Julie, Claude Akins as Chick Carrington, William Edward Phipps as Albert Mailer, Dub Taylor as Doc, Ken Mayer as Felker, Iron Eyes Cody as Charlie Two-Bits, Vincent Barbi as Klein, and Rusty Wescoatt as Wilkins.

William Phipps died on 1 June 2018 in Santa Monica, aged 96.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,825

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