Black Water Gold

Considering that "Black Water Gold" is about lost gold from the era of the Spanish galleons, you'd think it would be a lot more exciting than it turned out to be. Poor dialog and a poor print ultimately made this film tedious...and perhaps if you can find a copy NOT on YouTube, your viewing experience might be a bit better.

The story begins with a guy sneaking into an off limits area to do some poaching for fish. However, while he's scuba diving, he sees some men murdered and dumped into the water! Among the dead guys' possessions are a couple small bags....and inside them are some artifacts from a Spanish galleon. He knows that there's something really exciting here and soon he finds some folks to go on a diving adventure with him in the Bahamas. Unfortunately, some rich jerk (Bradford Dillman) is also after the same shipwreck and he'll stop at nothing to get it.

I have been diving throughout the Florida Keys as well as the Bahamas. It's positively gorgeous. But so much of this is lost on this badly degraded print. It's a shame, as this is the star of the film....and without that you are stuck with generally forgettable and unlikable characters, poorly written dialog and a plot that is far more tedious than you'd expect.

A scuba bum joins a marine archaeologist and a Mexican historian in a race to reach a treasure from a sunken Spanish galleon, ahead of a well-armed dilettante and his associates. Great cast, fairly intense TV movie, with Keir sporting a hearing aid and mustache. Good performances from Keir, Ricardo, Bradford, and France Nuyen. Nice compact running time, no padding. This movies was shot on location, instead of the usual '70s T.V. Movie, which were shot on the studio back lot to save money. The underwater scenes were well filmed. I enjoyed seeing this movie when it was first broadcast on T.V.. I was quite happy to see it on DVD (on Amazon.com), and purchased a copy so that I could enjoy it again. Recommended

I too saw this film when I was young,15,in 1974, and enjoyed it, But I was in hospital, (with cancer)and very scared, And seeing this film cheered me up and that it why I think have never forgotten it, I too always remembered the theme song, and when I found a DVD of the film, I was fearful that I would spoil the fond memories that I had, I am happy to say that this is still a fun little treasure movie, with lot's of underwater action, good performance's from all the cast , France Nuyen has always been a favorite of mine ,I also like Ricardo Montalban, and seeing this film again, I would say that this is my favorite performance by Bradford Dillman, only trouble with his character is, Why did someone so "Camp" Have a Girlfried ? (I loved the conversation he had with his Mother)

One thing I did not remember was what an attractive girl Lana Wood was.

Out doing a little illegal sample gathering, scuba diver Ray Sandage (Aron Kincaid) witnesses two men murdered in the water just above. Returning to shore, he's delighted and shocked to find a gold coin among the items he collected. Sandage recruits some help to discover the resting place of a Spanish galleon. Sandage's group is in a race to find the treasure with a team that has already proved it will commit murder.

While the lure of Black Water Gold might be the promise of a treasure hunt. the thing that I found the most entertaining was Bradford Dillman. Dillman was a fairly competent, but ultimately bland, actor who showed-up in just about every TV program or made- for-TV movie produced in the 70s. He's just always there, but not often the standout. His character, Lyle Fawcett, adds a lot to Black Water Gold. He's a spoiled, rich Mama's boy who is accustomed to getting what he wants. And if he wants the treasure, he'll kill to get it. I loved the scene where he speaks with his mother on the phone. It says volumes about the character. Really good stuff. Beyond Dillman, Black Water Gold benefits from snappy direction, nice underwater intrigue, and a surprisingly strong cast, including the great Ricardo Montalban, France Nuyen, and the stunningly beautiful Lana Wood. It's not the kind of movie that will knock your socks off, but it is an decent way to spend just over an hour.

I have always liked Treasure Hunting movies shot on location. Here several groups of divers are in Nassau, Bahamas where fun and sun are usually the order of the day. They even state in the movie that "very little happens around here" Amidst the usual eating and drinking it becomes known that a Sunken Spanish Galion, "The Huldalgo" has been found. It seems like everyone knew about it but just didn't know exactly where it was located. Well, one of the adventures did find it and the other groups want to steal it. They battle underwater and some die. Aaron Kincaid, who originally discovered it ends up with 5 million dollars and an offer from Lana Wood to help spend it. The fool turns her down.