The Golden Plague Forging Its Path of Annihilation!

One of the few expressly science fiction films produced under German National Socialism, Gold makes a spectacle of British-German relations in the early years of the Third Reich. An “evil” British alchemist sabotages a “good” German chemist’s experimental attempt to obtain gold from base metals with the help of an atomic reactor, and the chemist dies in the ensuing explosion. The deceased chemist’s “good” engineer assistant, Werner Holk (Hans Alber), survives the disaster and starts to look for the parties responsible for the death of his mentor. Effectively kidnapped by the Brits during his search and coerced into aiding them, Holk finds himself in a vast underwater facility where the atomic reactor designed by his dead friend is being reconstructed on a grand scale. While attempting to sabotage this new alchemical project before it destroys the world economy with mass-produced artificial gold, Holk also has to figure out what to do about his feelings for the daughter of the British alchemist, Florence (Brigitte Helm). Playing on many of the anxieties and fears connected with Germany’s experiences with hyperinflation in the 1920s, Hartl’s film is a unique peek into Nazi cinema of the 1930s. Wittily “sampled” in Curt Siodmak’s American sci-fi classic, The Magnetic Monster (1953), excerpts from which will be shown as well, Gold is not to be missed!

Presented by It Came from the Thirties! For the remainder of the quarter, we will be showing 1930s films from different countries each week. Same time, same place. All are welcome. Tell your family, invite your friends.