Blood & Gold

In the spring of 1945, the Allied armies invade Nazi Germany as the end of World War II draws near. Heinrich, a decorated Wehrmacht veteran, is captured and hanged by Waffen-SS led by a fanatical lieutenant colonel, after a desertion attempt. He is rescued by Elsa, who brings him to her farm home that she shares with her brother, Paule. In the nearby village, the SS arrive and begin to search a destroyed home previously occupied by Jews as they seek a large amount of hidden gold.

A squad of SS soldiers plunder the village for supplies, coming upon Elsa's farmhouse. As Heinrich hides in the attic, the SS abuse Paule, who has Down syndrome, and attempt to rape Elsa. They are rescued by Heinrich; the squad of SS are killed but the sergeant escapes. Heinrich, Elsa, and Paule leave the farmhouse and hide in the forest. However, Paule, unable to part with his dairy cow, returns overnight and is captured by the remaining SS the following morning.

The SS bring Paule to the local church and abuse him in front of the villagers. He is marched to the top of the church steeple as two SS soldiers prepare to hang him. However, Paule pushes one from the tower and shoots the other. Paule takes an MP40 from one of the dead men and begins to fire on the SS in the plaza. Heinrich and Elsa arrive as Paule is killed by the lieutenant colonel. A battle ensues and Elsa surrenders herself. The SS are unable to find the gold, and a local priest reveals to Heinrich that he had witnessed four townspeople, including the mayor, steal the gold from the rightful owners during the events of Kristallnacht and burn down their home. He, in turn, stole it from them and hid it in the church. Heinrich plans to use the gold to draw the SS in and to free Elsa.

Elsa kills the lieutenant colonel and a battle between the villagers and remaining SS ensues. However, Nazi sympathizer Sonja betrays the villagers and steals the gold. With the SS defeated, Heinrich and Elsa leave the village. Meanwhile, as Sonja attempts to flee in a German staff car, an American Sherman tank crew destroys her vehicle. As she lies dying, the soldiers discover the gold, and while at first consider reporting in the discovery, their sergeant tells them not to, so the group can split it among themselves instead. Later Heinrich and Elsa are seen arriving at the city of Hagen, where Heinrich has an emotional reunion with his daughter.

• Blood & Gold at IMDb

Notes

References

• Felperin, Leslie (24 May 2023). "Blood and Gold Review – Second World War Spaghetti Western Is Good Pulpy Fun". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 May 2023.