The Gold Bug

1980 0h 45m EN

😐

6.3

MID

★6.3TMDB · 3

AdventureDramaFamilyFantasyTV Movie

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Shortly after the Civil War, while exploring the long deserted and reputedly haunted Sullivan's Island off Charleston S.C., a boy encounters two obsessed eccentrics living there. These men chase him away and warn him never to return or to tell anyone about them. Soon, however, they locate him and summon him back, because he has unknowingly given them a clue vital to their quest and they need his help to unravel the rest of the mystery. If he can do so, they will find buried pirate treasure and all become rich. But in joining the search, he falls under the same obsession and curse -- an ominous fate suggested by the unearthly electronic music which contributes to the film's atmosphere.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Roberts Blossom
Mr. LeGrand
Geoffrey Holder
Jupiter
Anthony Michael Hall
The Boy
Robert Moberly
Uncle
Sudie Bond
Agnes
Anne Haney
Jessica Bessop
Alix Elias
Barmaid
Philip Bruns
Tattoo

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Robert Fuest
Writers: Edgar Allan Poe
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Tight 45-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

46 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Robert Fuest, shot by Alex Thomson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Charles Gross. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Dennis M. O'Connor shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Roberts Blossom and Geoffrey Holder and Anthony Michael Hall carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt0082458 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 3 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Robert Fuest directs. Alex Thomson behind the camera. Charles Gross scores. Dennis M. O'Connor cuts. Runs lean at under 100 minutes. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Tight 45-minute runtime — shorter than most television pilots.
246 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Directed by Robert Fuest, shot by Alex Thomson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Charles Gross. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Dennis M. O'Connor shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Roberts Blossom and Geoffrey Holder and Anthony Michael Hall carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt0082458 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 3 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.