The Ecstasy Of Gold: The Treasure Of Jesse James (2024)

Andrea Zirio is Colt, a man who’s made a deal with a sheriff to get an early release from jail.

He’s tipped off the law about the next job planned by his three former partners in return for his freedom.

And as a bonus, he’s lifted a map to Jesse James’ buried treasure off one of his fellow inmates.

Map in hand and visions of a much better future in mind, Colt returns home to his wife Annie for a long overdue reunion.

He needs to lay low for a while. annie encourages him to hang around a while longer.

After all, Jesse’s gold’s been buried for years. It isn’t going anywhere.

But Colt winds up waiting too long.

He and Annie get three unwelcome visitors — his fellow gang members, Jake Johnson, Crow and Zeb.

Feeling betrayed by Colt, they’re in a pretty nasty mood. They’ve also heard about the gold.

Andrea Zirio as Colt, surprised by unexpected visitors while shaving in The Ecstacy of Gold — The Treasure of Jesse James (2024)

Woody Almazan as Jake Johnson, ready to forget about going straight and chase lost gold in The Ecstasy of Gold — The Treasure of Jesse James (2024)

Review:

Take some fine performances, stylish cinematography, some Spaghetti Western flourishes, and this ranks a solid notch above most low-budget Westerns.

The opening chapter, featuring Colt’s reunion with Annie, is especially well done. Even with a sparcity of dialogue, it gives us two characters to root for.

Unfortunately, the script takes some odd twists midway through the film as the gang desperately searches for the buried gold and flashback sequences don’t fit quite as nicely as they should.

The film’s low budget also causes some cracks. The vengeance-seeking Colt is forced to pursue his fellow gang members on foot. And the jail he was freed from looks so flimsy, inmates could likely shake it down.

Still, this is worth a watch for fans of Westerns and comes complete with some scenes that are clearly an homage to the master of Spaghetti Westerns, Sergio Leone.

Kataraina Rigoni as Annie, surprised to see Colt returning home from jail in The Ecstasy of Gold — The Treasure of Jesse James (2024)

Andrea Zirio as Colt with his brother Mateo (Andy Barreca), who’s been stabbed and beaten by Colt’s former gang in The Ecstasy of Gold — The Treasure of Jesse James (2024)

Directed by:
Federico Aloto

Cast:
Andrea Zirio … Colt
Woody Almazan … Jake Johnson
Katarina Rigoni … Annie
Billy Alexander … Billy
Andy Barreca … Mateo
Byron Franco … The Crow
Matthew Goebel … Zeb
Lydia Pilot … Jenny
Alessia Pratolongo … Francesca
Tod Preece … Peter
Peter Shine … Sheriff McCarthy
Martin Skeen … Clive

Runtime: 92 min.

Songs:
“Kaly (Uly’s Theme) sang by Anna Forloni
“Daddy’s Daughter” by Emma Lee Millard and Tyler Millard

Byron Franco as The Crow, encouraging gang members Jake and Zeb to focus on what’s important, finding the gold in The Ecstasy of Gold — The Treasure of Jesse James (2024)

Matthew Goebel as Zeb, one of the gang membes Colt double crosses to get out of jail in The Ecstasy of Gold — The Treasure of Jesse James (2024)

Memorable lines:

Annie, trying to convince Colt to stay with her longer: “That gold’s been buried for so long, Colt. Ain’t like it’s going away.”

Jake Johnson, about Annie: “Woman like this make a man think all kinds of crazy thoughts. Make him forget who he’s supposed to be loyal to.”

Jake Johnson, trying to get information from Mateo, Colt’s brother: “It’s about to get very, very evil around here.”

Crow, when Jake announces his intention to settle down with one of the girls from the bordello: “Jake, ain’t no whore worth givin’ up all that gold for.”
Jake Johnson: “You might be right. But I gotta try, don’t I?”

Colt: “I should torture you, just like you did with my brother.”
Crow: “It weren’t personal.”
Colt: “What I’m about to do to you is very personal.”

Andrea Zirio as Colt, on edge after his early release from prison, at his former colleagues’ expense, in The Ecstasy of Gold — The Treasure of Jesse James (2024)

Alessia Pratolongo as Francesca, warning Annie that good men are very hard to find in The Ecstasy of Gold — The Treasure of Jesse James (2024)

Lydia Pilot as Jenny, the girl Jake Johnson left behind in The Ecstasy of Gold — The Treasure of Jesse James (2024)

Peter Shine as Sheriff McCarthy, the lawman Colt makes a deal with in The Ecstasy of Gold — The Treasure of Jesse James (2024)

Billy Alexander as Billy, the inmate who tells Colt about the map to the buried gold in The Ecstasy of Gold — The Treasure of Jesse James (2024)

Woody Almazan as Jake Johnson, threatening Annie (Katarina Rigoni) to get the information he wants in The Ecstasy of Gold — The Treasure of Jesse James (2024)