The Treasure of San Teresa (1959)

Former World War II OSS operative Eddie Constantine ventures to what we now call Czechia in search of Nazi jewels. Dawn Addams plays Constantine’s German former lover and daughter of the General who previously owned the jewels. Also giving Constantine an assist is the General’s aide (Marius Goring). Christopher Lee and Walter Gotell turn up as German cops, whilst Georgina Cookson plays a ‘nightclub owner’ (wink, wink) with Leslie ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson as her piano player.


A diverting B-movie with a C-grade leading man, this 1959 British-German co-production has just enough to get it over the line. Directed by Alvin Rakoff (who made the excellent “The Comedy Man” with Kenneth More), the standouts here are the supporting cast and noirish B&W cinematography by Wilkie Cooper (“Green for Danger”, “Stage Fright”, “Jason and the Argonauts”). Although his casting is far too obvious, a slippery Marius Goring runs off with the entire film in quite a large role for him. Leading lady Dawn Addams is good too, and although very tardy Christopher Lee is also good. Playing a Hamburg policeman (or so he claims) he’s very dapper if also typically very serious in the part. It’s just a shame that the fourth-billed actor doesn’t show up until nearly an hour in. Addams meanwhile really has something, whether it’s charisma or star quality or a combination of both. Seriously lacking in either department is sadly our leading man Eddie Constantine who is a stone-faced black hole of charisma. He’s a poor man’s Dana Andrews, which is being charitable. Fun little turn by singer and piano player Leslie ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson as unsurprisingly a piano player. Look out for Tsai Chin getting into a bar fight (!) early on in the film. I didn’t have that on my bingo card. Quite an exciting climax at a train station as well. 


Nicely shot, the Nazi treasure plot is a durable one, and the support cast is pretty terrific. It just needs a better leading man. Scripted by Jack Andrews (“Johnny Holiday”) from a story by Jeffrey Dell (1960’s “Suspect”), it’s at least worthy of a soft recommendation.


Rating: B-

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