“You can’t have a weak stomach and get rich.” —Sam
Today’s quick review: The Naked Hills. Chasing the promise of easy gold, Tracy Powell (David Wayne) and his friend Bert Killian (Denver Pyle) leave their home in Missouri to go prospecting in California. There Tracy goes down a dark path, briefly partnering with Sam Wilkins (Keenan Wynn) to steal claims from fellow prospectors. As the years pass with no success of his own, Tracy is torn between his dream and the woman he loves (Marcia Henderson).
The Naked Hills is a Western drama about a man who succumbs to the lust for gold. Although he starts out with the best of intentions, Tracy sacrifices friends and family in the vain hope of striking it rich. The Naked Hills features potent subject matter, but the story itself is mediocre. For every moment of genuine drama, there are several more that feel misplaced or abrupt. The result is a winding story that never quite hits the mark.
The Naked Hills is missing the storytelling instincts it needs to get the most out of its premise. The plot is broken up into several segments which cover the different eras of Tracy’s prospecting career. The general beats of the story work well—a parade of misleading successes and crushing setbacks for Tracy—but the rhythm is off. None of the human relationships in the movie have a chance to breathe, and the segment transitions are too sudden.
The Naked Hills holds modest value as a drama about the destructive influence of greed, but it lacks the artistry to have any lasting impact. Those who are interested in its themes may want to give it a short, but it is outclassed by dramas that manage their human element better, as well as Westerns that take better advantage of their setting. Ultimately, most viewers will want to steer clear.
For a more artful drama about the lust for gold, try The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. For a more comedic take on similar subject matter, try The Gold Rush. For a white collar drama about a man seduced by money, try Wall Street.
[5.5 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049540/). I give it a 6.0 for potent themes and miscalibrated drama.