Film Review: Gold (1934)

During the interwar years, Weimar Germany stood out as a powerhouse of science fiction cinema, producing a number of classic and important films. This trend continued into the early Nazi era, with the 1934 film Gold emerging as one of the more intriguing entries in the genre during that period.

The protagonist, played by Hans Albers, is engineer Werner Holk who, at the beginning, assists his mentor and friend, brilliant scientist Professor Achenbach (played by Friedrich Kayssler), in experiments aimed to achieve transmutation of lead into gold via nuclear reaction. Unbeknownst to them, a powerful individual has learned of the project and decided to sabotage it, leading to explosion that kills Achenbach. Holk, who barely survived, is determined to both avenge his friend’s death and prove that his project would have worked. He gets an opportunity after being asked by John Wills (played by Michael Bohnen), rich British gold magnate, to arrive to Scotland and offered to work in facility built under North Sea on the device that does exactly what Achenbach’s project was supposed to do. Holk quickly realises that Wills wants to produce artificial gold and that he was responsible for sabotage. He considers sabotaging project, but things get complicated when he meets Wills’ daughter Florence (played by Brigitte Helm).

A relatively large budget was invested in the film, evident in the elaborate set design depicting the plant and Wills' gold-making machine. These visually striking scenes, coupled with special effects that were impressive for the 1930s, were later recycled for the 1953 American film Magnetic Monster. Directed competently by Karl Hartl, the Austrian director behind F.P.1 Doesn't Answer, another notable science fiction film, Gold maintains a smooth plot progression and decent cinematography. The film features an interesting and impressive cast, with Hans Albers, greatest German film star at the time, who had previously worked in F.P. 1, delivering a confident performance as the revenge-driven protagonist. Brigitte Helm, known for her role in Metropolis, offers fans a rare opportunity to hear her speak.

Despite the talents of the cast and the film's technical achievements, Gold falls short due to a mediocre script. The potentially intriguing concept of mixing nuclear technology and alchemy is overshadowed by an oversimplified and melodramatic plot. The exploration of the consequences of artificially produced gold on the world's economy and well-being of society is only briefly touched upon near the end. Talents of Albers and Helm are wasted in romantic subplot that doesn’t go anywhere, just as the subplot involving protagonist’s old friend, played by Ernst Karchow, seems redundant.

While produced under the Nazi regime, Gold manages to avoid explicit propaganda. Film comes closest to endorsing official ideology by having a British villain, although this loses an impact due to protagonist winning over presumably local workforce. Those who seek, might find subtle hints of racial ideology in the scene near the beginning, when protagonist’s life gets saved by transfusion of blood from his right and “proper” fiancee Margit Möller, played by Dutch actress Lien Deyers.

Gold was made in parallel with a French-language version, starring Pierre Blanchar and Brigitte Helm repeating her role. Despite its competent production, the film is now viewed more as a curiosity than a significant contribution to science fiction cinema history. Helm's retirement at the peak of her popularity, sometimes attributed to her disillusionment with the Nazi regime, adds an intriguing layer to the film's legacy.

RATING: 5/10 (++)

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