Review of Gold Is Where You Find It

One of the serious potential environmental costs of most mining operations is pollution of downstream streams, rivers and lakes with excess sediments and toxins. One of the most serious examples in 19th century USA of excess river sedimentation was caused by hydraulic mining of gold-bearing gravely hills on the sides of the Sacramento Valley in the period from the 1850s to the early 1880s. This process involved directing a high pressure jet of water onto the hillside, causing the material to wash downhill, where the gold could be separated from the gravel and sediment. The sediment then collected in a ditch or stream and most found its way to the Sacramento River or its tributaries. The sediment that stayed in the river bed increased the likelihood of floods in the downstream agricultural fields and towns and created permanent marshes in some areas. Some of the sediment spilled over onto the agricultural fields, where it might cover a standing crop or cover more desirable soil or make plowing difficult. Thus, the conflicting interests of the companies that used hydraulic mining and of the downstream farmers adversely affected by these operations is the subject of this nearly forgotten 1938 color film by Warner. 2018 REVISION: When I initially saw this movie, about 10 years ago, I was put off by the rather poor quality of this early 3-strip Technicolor. Several other reviewers also mentioned this. In contrast, when I recently rewatched this on TCM, the color was just as vibrant as that of "The Adventures of Robin Hood" released later the same year! Thus, I assume it has undergone some enhancement process, or a better copy was found. It's actually quite a good and unorthodox western, for the most part, although the first half is a bit talky. Claude Rains is very good as the leader of the victimized farmers. Olivia de Haviland is as sweet as in her next film, with Errol Flynn, although she doesn't have a lot to do, other than drool over George Brent, the cast hero. He has affinities with both the farmers and miners, thus would seem to be in the best position to try to settle their differences. He played a pivotal role in diffusing the war-apparent between a large bunch of farmers and miners. However, realistically, his solution was draconian: Using dynamite, he blew up the log dam above the mining camp, destroying the camp and drowning some miners, including straw boss Barton MacLane, as well as some farmers. Not considered is the probability that the resulting flood swamped some farms downstream. I just wonder how that segment was staged? Several reviewers complain about Brent's blandness for his role. pining for Errol Flynn. Yes, Flynn would have made a more colorful hero, but Brent was adequate........ Finally, there is the matter of the inane title. Surely, Warner could have come up with a catchy or more appropriate title. "Gold or Grain" is short and to the point. Incidentally, I understand there is still plenty of gold in 'them thar hills', waiting to be extracted by means other than hydraulic mining.