Secret of the Incas

Secret of the Incas follows Harry Steele, an American working as a tour guide in Peru, who hopes to make his fortune by locating a legendary Inca treasure known as the Sunburst. He holds a fragment of an old stone map pointing toward the relic's hiding place, and he is not the only one hunting it. A rival American adventurer, Ed Morgan, is chasing the same prize, while an archaeological expedition led by Stanley Moorehead is already working in the area. Steele becomes involved with Elena Antonescu, a Romanian refugee, and uses a diplomatic aircraft to get closer to the ruins.

Jerry Hopper directed the film, which sits between Pony Express (1953) and Naked Alibi (1954) among the five features listed in his filmography. Sydney Boehm and Ranald MacDougall wrote the screenplay, and Mel Epstein produced it for Paramount. Charlton Heston plays Harry Steel, with Robert Young, Nicole Maurey, Thomas Mitchell, Glenda Farrell and Michael Pate in supporting roles.

Released in June 1954, the film runs 100 minutes and took in about 1 million USD worldwide. On IMDb it holds 6 out of 10 from roughly 2,500 votes, and on TMDB it has 5.9 out of 10 from about 60 votes. The two audience scores are close to each other, indicating a moderately received adventure picture whose reputation rests largely on its star and its Peruvian setting.