GREAT GOD GOLD

Cinemavixion Review

Arthur Lubin's 1935 melodrama, "Great God Gold," plunges into the murky depths of Wall Street ambition, offering a cautionary tale as relevant today as it was nearly a century ago. Sidney Blackmer delivers a compelling performance as John Hart, a New York stockbroker whose insatiable lust for wealth and power propels him into a web of deceit and crooked dealings. The film adeptly portrays the corrosive effects of greed, showing how Hart's ruthless ascent leaves a trail of ruined lives in his wake. As Hart's empire is built on the ashes of others, the narrative wisely foreshadows the inevitable reckoning. The plot, enriched by the external data's detail of a reporter, Phil Stuart, and a wronged man's son seeking vengeance, promises a gripping confrontation. While the external data notes a 5.7 rating on IMDb, suggesting a mixed reception, the film's exploration of ambition and its consequences remains its strongest asset. "Great God Gold" serves as a potent reminder that the pursuit of riches can lead to moral compromise, and that vengeance, however delayed, often finds its mark. It's a solid entry in the pre-Code era's examination of financial corruption and personal downfall.