The Golden Mask aka South of Algiers (1953)

(On Cable TV, September 2021) This obscure Van Heflin vehicle is perhaps most amusing for a plot summary — archeologist finds precious relics and is pursued by villains—that could (and has) fuelled dozens of big-spectacle action movies. Alas, this specific take on the high concept is a somewhat dull affair, with Heflin spending most of his time looking intensely at ruins. He tepidly avoids the bad guys, keeps the mask, and romances the girl — all familiar elements executed without much excitement. Given those lacklustre adventure elements, perhaps the best reason to watch the film today is a relatively restrained depiction of pre-revolution Algiers in the early 1950s, shot in colour with plenty of location footage. (Alas, the surest mark of the film’s obscurity is the terrible state of the copy shown on TCM — faded, blurry and clearly in need of restoration.)  The setting is unusual enough — although, inevitably, the movie’s inherent colonialism is frequently irritating. The Golden Mask is not a terrible film, but even Van Heflin fans will have trouble deciding whether the viewing time was worth it.