| Director | Jerry Hopper |
|---|---|
| Genre | adventure film |
| Runtime | 98 min |
| Country | United States |
| Box office | $1.4 million |
American adventurer Harry Steele makes a living as a tour guide in Cusco, Peru, but plans to earn his fortune by finding the legendary gold and jeweled "sunburst", a lost Inca treasure, at the ancient capital of Machu Picchu. He possesses a fragment of a carved stone block which gives the location of the sunburst when placed on a stone map of the ancient tomb complex, housed at a local museum. Bar owner Ed Morgan, has been searching for the treasure for fourteen years and hires a sniper to frighten off Harry. Harry survives an attempted hit, threatens Morgan, and refuses to sell him the stone. Morgan vows revenge.
Through Morgan, Harry learns that Elena Antonescu, a Romanian defector, may want his services. With little money and the police on her trail, she plays on Harry's sympathy by claiming Anton Marcu, a Romanian official with a small plane, is pursuing her. Harry informs Marcu of Elena's whereabouts then ostensibly agrees to help her flee to Mexico and eventually America: if she helps steal Marcu's plane. Harry gets Marcu drunk, Elena steals his keys, and the pair fly off. Elena objects when Harry detours to Machu Picchu but he seduces her into cooperating.
An archaeological expedition in Macchu Picchu headed by Dr. Stanley Moorehead is preparing to enter the tomb where the sunburst is presumed to be located. Harry tells Moorehead their plane needs gas, then disables the expedition's radio to block news of pursuit by the authorities. Elena disapproves of Harry's plan to steal the sunburst. Morgan arrives and informs Harry that Marcu was too embarrasssed to reported the plane stolen and thus the authorities aren't searching for him. Morgan coerces Harry into helping him find the treasure, and Harry feigns cooperation. Harry refuses Elena's request to abandon his plan and leave with her, and solicits her to watch Moorehead. The infatuated Moorehead asks her to marry him and return to America together. She gives no clear answer, but informs Harry of the proposal.
The expedition opens a wall of Manco's tomb and is disappointed to find only a carved stone sunburst. Harry gives Morgan the bad news. Harry returns to the tomb alone and uses a reflection of light on an artifact to highlight where the sunburst is hidden inside a hollow pillar. Morgan, having followed him, emerges, takes the sunburst at gunpoint, and is chased off by natives. Harry finds Morgan on a cliff edge, they wrestle for the treasure, and Morgan falls to his death.
Harry gives the sunburst back to the natives, who return it to the Temple of the Sun. A legend states that when it is placed there, the glory of the Incas will be restored. To the authorities, Harry asserts that he only found the sunburst. Morgan stole it and Harry got it back. Harry tells Elena that unless Colonel Cardoza is "real friendly", they may have a long engagement. In the meantime, Harry gives Elena an ancient gold pin that "fell into his pocket."