Secret+of+the+Incas+Movie

=**//Secret of the Incas // Movie **=

** Machu Picchu **
The //Secret of the Incas // is an adventure film produced in 1954 that took place in Cusco, Peru about discovering the riches of the Incas at Machu Picchu. While the storyline does not follow exact events in history, it depicts archeological investigations, a key part in the discovery of Machu Picchu. Much of the movie is filmed in the city of Cuzco and at Machu Picchu, making the scenery beautiful. Native Peruvians are also portrayed in the film performing many ancient rituals and traditions, so there is some insight to what the native people of Peru are like as well.

Harry Stele, the protagonist of the movie portrayed by Charlton Hesston is a tourist guide in Cusco Peru. When he hears about the Sunburst, a lost Incan artifact, hidden somewhere in the ruins of Machu Picchu, he is determined to find it for himself, and before his greedy associate Ed Morgan.

According  Inca legend says the Inca Empire was destroyed by the gods when a gold and jeweled star burst was stolen from the Temple of the Sun centuries ago, and the ancient civilization will spring anew when the treasure is returned.

Harry has the advantage over others in search because he possesses an ancient carved stone that reveals the location of the Inca Sunburst. He is eager to find it, but so is his associate Ed Morgan who wants to find the treasure for his own gain. Unfortunately Harry has no way to travel to Machu Picchu to search for the ancient artifact, that is until Elena Antonescu arrives. Elena, a Romanian refugee, comes to Cusco seeking transport to America after escaping her home land. Elena’s arrival gives Harry the opportunity he needed. When a Romanian official arrives looking for Elena, she and Harry steal the plane he arrived on to get to Machu Picchu. Elena would help Harry find the artifact and then together they would depart to Mexico, eventually making it to safety in America. Together the two steal a plane and head to Machu Picchu.

When they arrive there is an archeological expedition taking place led by Dr. Moorehead. The archeologists too are in search of the ancient Sunburst, but aren’t having the best luck. Many native Peruvians are also there, longing to be reunited with their long lost sacred artifact. They are at first wary of Elena and Harry, but when Moorehead develops romantic feelings toward Elena, the two are invited to stay at the camp. Then Ed Morgan arrives at the site adamant to find the artifact and take it for himself, for it is has rich value. In the middle of the night Harry sneaks into the tomb himself to search for the Sunburst in secret, using the stone map. His has intentions of his own for the artifact at first, but he keeps them to himself and goes off in private to find it. Then Morgan discovers Harry’s secret plan and joins him in the tomb, just after Harry acquires the Sunburst. Intent on getting the Sunburst, Morgan shoots at Harry, who drops the artifact. Morgan snatches the Sunburst and gets away. Meanwhile the archeologists, and local Peruvians hear the commotion and spot Morgan with the Sunburst. The locals chase him until Morgan runs off a cliff and dies. The Sunburst is then returned to the temple, which is a big deal to the native people. The film ends in celebration by the native Peruvians with singing and sacred dancing. Harry and Elena then set out on their journey to America.

The //Secret of the Incas // inspired the well known Indiana Jones’ movie the //Raiders of the Lost Ark//. The character Indiana Jones has many similarities to Harry Stele. They both wear a fedora, leather jacket, khakis and carry around a revolver. Both characters are always seeking fortune and adventure, whatever the costs. There are many other correspondences between the two movies which leads us to believe that the //Secret of the Incas// movie influenced the //Raiders of the Lost Ark //.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #252525; font-family: Quicksand; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">By: Hannah Jackson