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The Philippines, 1945. Japanese troops escorting a gold shipment are ambushed by headhunting natives. Most of the soldiers are killed, but not before they manage to hide the gold in a cave. Three officers survive. Thirty-six years later, Rex Larson (Purdom) is hunting for the lost fortune. He recruits one of the surviving officers and has his financial backer help arrange for an expedition. The lead guide is Mark Forrest (Whitman) who helps arrange for assistance in the Philippines. Once in the wilderness, the group must contend with the elements, treachery, and murder. Billed as a cannibal film at my local video store, it does not qualify as such. It is definitely inspired by the Indiana Jones flicks, but is much more conventional. The film had many of the elements necessary for success including a strong cast. Woody Strode is a welcome presence, but is largely wasted. I came away with the impression that the filmmakers were simply manufacturing a movie for a quick release rather than making a genuine effort to entertain. While it likely wouldn't have become a blockbuster or anything akin to a classic, it could have been far better with only minimal script changes and perhaps a more firm directorial hand. Or not.

Schlock producer Dick Randall almost had a solid "B" movie with Invaders of the Lost Gold. The first third of the film was excellent with a particularly fun bar fight seen augmented by very beautiful lady's gracefully dancing for our enjoyment. Once the premise is set and the whole gang is in the Jungle on a River Boat determined to retrieve the gold which as you can guess is hidden in a Jungle Cave, things really go haywire. If you have ever worked with haywire you will understand the reference. Lovely Laura Gemser (Maria) dies for know apparent reason during a skinny dipping scene, Someone releases a snake into the jungle guides tent for no reason, Harold Sakata (Tobachi) and the great Woody Strode's (Cal) fight to the death scene ends up in a Bro-hug for no reason, On and on we go. The acting is good with the very hot Glynis Barber (Janice) and her father David De Martyn (Douglas) quite believable. Stewart Whitman as leading man (Mark Forest) was also O.K. A special shout out to Harrold Sakata, in his last film, who keeps a sense of humor while everybody else on the boat is either forlorned or angry. The great veteran of many Filipino movies Mike Cohen as the scruffy boat Captain is also notable. I understand that director Alan Birkinshaw has done good work in other endeavors but he really bit the big one with Invaders. Wow, really bad directing and it seemed that he just ran out of any sort of screenplay with thirty minutes remaining in the film. The scene where Woody Strode meets his end would have received a (D-) from any respectable Junior College film class. I am however going to give Invaders of the Lost Gold a recommendation for the talent on screen, and even with the numerous flaws it was still entertaining. With a little more story and better directing Producer Dicky Randall would have had a clear winner.

While going through my DVDs I stumbled across a copy of "INVADERS OF THE LOST GOLD". Scratching my head, I couldn't remember anything of it, other than simply going by the two out of ten star rating I previously gave it. I started watching and it came flooding back. They weren't great memories either. After the opening slaughter by jungle natives of some Japanese soldiers (with laughable dubbing/accents) escorting gold during WWII, you can't help but be drawn in. Thinking that you might be onto something fun with this jungle adventure exploitation. Come on, we get decapitated heads on spears and Japanese soldiers slicing off limbs in their escape. Alas, all that comes to a thud, once it heads to present day.

There begins the expedition, as wealthy businessmen set-up their team for the Philippines to find the hidden gold. Sadly even with the stalwart likes of Stuart Whitman, Woody Strode, Harold "Oddjob" Sakata and Laura Gemser along for the journey; you're left with a cheap, uninspired and boring jungle trek. Leaving you dazed and confused, despite a little blood and nudity along the way. The dangers of the jungle (e.g. crocodiles, snakes, rope bridges, booby traps and greedy men) come to fruition, but those bloodthirsty natives from the opening sequence are M.I.A. Talk about being a party pooper.

However the real talking point is the unknown death of a character suddenly panicking and dropping dead while skinning dipping. It's a real head scratcher. This could be contributed to its terrible editing, which really does show in numerous hacked-up sequences. Like the out-of-nowhere fight between Strode and Sakata. After one calls the other a killer, repeatedly, they continue their trek then suddenly the next scene shows the two scuffling to only laugh it off like something out of a gag reel. Although one of them does get the last laugh. I couldn't help but be disappointed by "INVADERS OF THE LOST GOLD", after liking the director's previous film; "KILLER'S MOON" (1978).

Yes this started out with a promise of being a rather good adventure outing. With in the first 5 minutes a head hunting tribe against Japanese Army showdown begins resulting in a lot of gore and bloodshed.

Then it just degenerates further and further into large plot holes, bad acting and terrible editing for effects shots.

This movie was enjoyable as a novelty for the first 2/3, then became a chore there after till the convoluted and "you guessed right" ending.

After an enjoyably trashy opening sequence, in which a group of WWII Japanese soldiers are forced to hide their shipment of gold in a cave when attacked by blood-thirsty head-hunting natives, this jungle-bound adventure movie from prolific producer Dick Randall rapidly turns into a very tedious trek through extremely familiar territory, as a team of modern-day treasure seekers set out to recover the long-lost horde.

Despite a promising premise and an excellent cast of exploitation regulars—including Edmund Purdom (Pieces, Nightmare City), Laura Gemser (the Emanuelle series), Stuart Whitman (Welcome to Arrow Beach, Eaten Alive), and Harold 'Oddjob' Sakata—Invaders of the Lost Gold is instantly forgettable low budget junk that becomes more and more painful with every passing minute.

The story lacks excitement, with much of the film's running time devoted to bickering between characters and unlikely romance rather than on action and adventure, and the whole damn mess just simply isn't exploitative enough: Gemser strips off (I'd have been more surprised if she hadn't), but tasty TV blonde Glynis Barber keeps her clothes on (and I so wanted to see Makepeace nekkid!); there's almost no gore after the opening scene; and the ending totally wimps out, with not a savage native in sight.