Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.0

Secret of the Incas Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov September 10, 2022

Jerry Hopper's "Secret of the Incas" (1954) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new program with critic Chris Poggiali; exclusive new audio commentary by critic Phillipa Berry; archival Lux Radio adaptation of the film; and vintage promotional materials. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

This is your story? The real one?

It is perfectly safe to admit that Steven Spielberg borrowed a lot from Jerry Hopper’s Secret of the Incas when he began working on Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Or was it George Lucas that did most of the borrowing? Well, it is actually irrelevant whether it was the former or the latter that did the bulk of the borrowing so long as it is acknowledged that Secret of the Incas provided a lot of ideas, concepts, and even particular events that were carefully incorporated into Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Spielberg and Lucas borrowed quite a bit from other films as well, but Secret of the Incas was their main source of visual inspiration.

Consider for instance Charlton Heston’s character, Harry Steele. He is an American opportunist making ends meet in Peru while dreaming of finding a legendary starburst worth millions of dollars. Steele has never taught archeology at a prestigious university, but he has done enough research and acquired credible evidence to conclude that the starburst is real and was forcefully removed from the Temple of the Sun where the Incas worshiped their gods. Steele wears a durable brown leather jacket and has an aged fedora to go along with it. He is a cynic but not the type that inspires his targets to detest him. When he speaks, he easily makes them appreciate the wit of his words. If he does not shave, Steele even looks like a distant relative of Indy.

How about actual thematic similarities? There are quite a few, but here’s a quick summation of the most obvious one. Soon after Steele agrees to help Elena Antonescu (Nicole Maurey), a Romanian beauty dreaming of illegally entering the United States, get rid of a communist bureaucrat from the Romanian embassy in Peru and exit the country, he ends up at the Temple of the Sun searching for the sunburst. At the right moment, a ray of light reveals to him the exact location where the sunburst is hidden. Do you recall the sequence where Indy discovers where the ark is? Of course, you do. Well, the sequence with Steele is the blueprint for it.

Then there is the tone of Secret of the Incas and the specific manner in which Hopper controls its period action. The tone is defined by Steele’s cynicism which is largely what keeps Secrets of the Incas looking fresh and its characters appear authentic. (For what it’s worth, J. Lee Thompson’s King Solomon's Mines, which is another film that has plenty in common with Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, looks incredibly dated precisely because there isn’t even a whiff of cynicism in it). The period action makes the Secret of the Incas attractive but remains realistic enough not to insult an adult viewer’s IQ. Also, most of Secret of the Incas was shot on location in Peru, so the grandiose presence of Machu Picchu and the surrounding areas has a tremendously positive effect on the action, too.

The most obvious and admittedly unavoidable flaw of Secret of the Incas is Yma Sumac’s act. It is something of a masterclass in singing proving that Sumac’s vocal range was quite simply extraordinary, but as it is staged and shot it is problematic. It feels out of sync and entirely artificial, like an odd promo piece for Sumac that had to be included because of a contractual requirement.

Ultimately, Secret of the Incas will always be sought and evaluated for its undeniable relationship to Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. This is a bit unfortunate because it is a film that would have been perfectly fine without it. Heston is really good in it, Maurey meets the expectations, and Hopper’s camera produces plenty of memorable visuals. It is not a masterpiece, but it delivers the thrills its creators expected from it.

Secret of the Incas Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Secret of the Incas arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Via Vision Entertainment.

The release is sourced from an older and quite rough master that was supplied by Paramount Pictures. Indeed, while there are plenty of visuals that look rather decent, Secret of the Incas will have to be properly restored so that the glory of its Technicolor visuals becomes undeniable and easy to appreciate. At the moment, color registration isn't convincing and as a result plenty of panoramic shots quite simply do not look as they should. Generally speaking, lose-ups are fine, but in certain areas even they struggle with registration inconsistencies that affect delineation, depth, clarity, and of course proper color reproduction. Unsurprisingly, there are basic color saturation and stability fluctuations as well. The best news is that there are no traces of problematic digital corrections. As a result, even though the visuals look dared, they still have basic organic qualities. Image stability is good. However, some transitions are a bit shaky. Tiny nicks and blemishes can be spotted, but I would say that the surface of the visuals isn't problematic. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Secret of the Incas Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The dialog is clear, sharp, and easy to follow. However, if the audio is fully remastered there will be numerous meaningful improvements in terms of dynamic balance and stability. The current lossless track has quite a few uneven spots where minor fluctuations and thinning are rather easy to notice. There are no distracting distortions or audio dropouts to report.

Secret of the Incas Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Raiders of the Incas" - in this exclusive new program, critic Chris Poggiali discusses the conception and production of Secret of the Incas and its obvious relationship to Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Also, there are some quite interesting comments about other classic films that apparently influenced Steven Spielberg and George Lucas as they created Indiana Jones and his exotic world. In English, not subtitled. (11 min).

• "Lux Radio Theater: Secret of the Incas" - this archival radio adaptation of Secret of the Incas features Charlton Heston and Nicole Maurey. It was produced in 1945. In English, not subtitled. (50 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critic Phillipa Berry.

• Photo Gallery - a collection of vintage promotional materials for Secret of the Incas. Presented with music. (1 min).

Secret of the Incas Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

It is a bit unfortunate that since the early 1980s every single discussion of Secret of the Incas has featured some words about its relationship to Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Of course, it is impossible not to link these films, but Secret of the Incas is now doomed to exist in the shadow of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Charlton Heston is really good as the cynical opportunist Harry Steele and I absolutely think that he was the original and complete cinematic model for Harrison Ford's legendary archeologist. Via Vision Entertainment's release is sourced from an older and pretty rough master that was supplied by Paramount Pictures. This master has not been digitally manipulated, which is why it is still easy to enjoy Secret of the Incas, but the film needs to be fully restored so that it looks as it should. RECOMMENDED, but only until a better release emerges.