Called by its creator, the Hungarian-American actor and director Cornel Wilde “a very down-to-earth treasure hunting story of today,” Sharks’ Treasure is a 1975 adventure film starring Wilde himself alongside Yaphet Kotto. The story takes us just off the coast of Honduras, where a crew led by not-your-everyday charter skipper fights sharks and bandits on the mission of recovering a sunken treasure. A rather conventional gold-finding, sea-faring adventure in its core, Sharks’ Treasure is distinguished not only by some impressive underwater footage and an altogether praiseworthy effort from Wilde, who directed, wrote, produced and led the cast, but also by its indisputable old-fashioned charm.
Wilde came up with the idea for the film back in 1969, but couldn’t secure financing until Jaws, which was not a situation the author was exactly ecstatic about. “I would rather have had the field to ourselves,” he later commented, still satisfied with the experience of making it. “It was the most dangerous picture I’ve ever worked on. Working 70 feet underwater, surrounded by sharks, you’re pressured by all sorts of possible hazards… but I was much more excited than I was afraid.” If you love traditional hidden-treasure adventures, don’t let this gem remain buried.
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