US Release date: 10 June 1949
First Melbourne Saturday Suburban: 21 January 1950
Genre: Adventure
Country: USA
Running time: 90 minutes.
Director: S. Sylvan Simon
Cast: Glenn Ford, Ida Lupino & Gig Young
Australian Distributor: Columbia
Melbourne Premiere Venue: Union’s Majestic Theatre for three weeks from 18 November 1949 with Law of the Barbary Coast as support.
Suburban Release Type: Union 5-W-1
Rankings
| Rank | ||
| EF Points | 308 | 59 |
| EF PPE | 7.33 | 36 |
| Metres Travelled | 535,746 | 74 |
| Average MT | 12,756 | 6 |
| Engagements | 42 | 212 |
| Slots | 65 | 79 |
| Weeks | 23 | 63 |
| Weeks as % of engagements | 54.76% | 79 |
| Saturdays | 18 | 135 |
| Sats as % of engagements | 42.86% | 147 |
| Tuesdays | 1 | 337 |
| Tues as % of engagements | 2.38% | 345 |
| First billed | 40 | 98 |
| Second billed | 2 | 248 |
| Feature only | 0 | 34* |
Independent Ratios
| Engagements weeks 1-10 | 38 |
| Ratio | 90.48% |
| Difference to chain ratio | 3.81% |
| Eng weeks 11-26 | 3 |
| Ratio | 7.14% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -0.48% |
| Eng weeks 27-52 | 1 |
| Ratio | 2.38% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -3.33% |
| Hoyts eng | 0 |
| Ratio | 0.00% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -0.84% |
| Independent eng | 34 |
| Ratio | 80.95% |
| Difference to chain ratio | 3.84% |
| Suburban eng | 8 |
| Ratio | 19.05% |
| Difference to chain ratio | -3.00% |
Notes: An exceptional performer for Columbia and ranked 6th for Average metres travelled per engagement. A high proportion of full weeks, Saturdays and top-billings point to this film being a highly popular adventure yarn. Law of the Barbary Coast followed from the city to be its regular suburban support partner.
Lust for Gold engagements
| SUBURB | VENUE | CHAIN | DATE | W | D | B | CO-FEATURE |
| North Carlton | Adelphi | Independent | 21/1/50 | 1 | S | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Burnley | Burnley | Independent | 21/1/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Richmond | National | Independent | 21/1/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| St.Kilda | Astor | Independent | 21/1/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| St.Kilda | Palais | Suburban | 21/1/50 | 1 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Elsternwick | Esquire | Independent | 28/1/50 | 2 | S | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Brunswick | Empire | Independent | 28/1/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Caulfield | Camden | Independent | 28/1/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Malvern | Embassy | Independent | 28/1/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Moonee Ponds | Moonee | Independent | 28/1/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| West Brunswick | Western | Independent | 28/1/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Westgarth | Westgarth | Independent | 28/1/50 | 2 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| East Malvern | Waverley | Independent | 4/2/50 | 3 | S | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Essendon | Regal | Independent | 4/2/50 | 3 | S | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Preston East | Gowerville | Independent | 4/2/50 | 3 | S | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Balwyn | Balwyn | Suburban | 4/2/50 | 3 | S | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| East Brunswick | Liberty | Independent | 4/2/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Glenferrie | Glen | Independent | 4/2/50 | 3 | W | 1 | I Didn’t Do It |
| Hawthorn | Vogue | Independent | 4/2/50 | 3 | W | 1 | I Didn’t Do It |
| Camberwell | Rivoli | Suburban | 4/2/50 | 3 | W | 2 | The Lost One |
| Ormond | Plaza | Suburban | 4/2/50 | 3 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| North Brighton | Gardenvale | Independent | 11/2/50 | 4 | S | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| North Melbourne | Central | Independent | 11/2/50 | 4 | S | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Sandringham | Roxy | Independent | 11/2/50 | 4 | S | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Middle Brighton | Dendy | Independent | 11/2/50 | 4 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Footscray | Grand | Independent | 11/2/50 | 4 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Newport | Plaza | Independent | 18/2/50 | 5 | S | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Williamstown | Empress | Independent | 18/2/50 | 5 | S | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Box Hill | Rialto | Suburban | 18/2/50 | 5 | S | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Coburg | Plaza | Independent | 18/2/50 | 5 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Heidelberg | Orient | Independent | 18/2/50 | 5 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Yarraville | Sun | Independent | 18/2/50 | 5 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Ashburton | Civic | Independent | 25/2/50 | 6 | S | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Preston West | Rivoli | Independent | 25/2/50 | 6 | S | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Port Melbourne | Port | Independent | 25/2/50 | 6 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| South Melbourne | Empire | Suburban | 11/3/50 | 8 | S | 1 | Cherokee Strip |
| Oakleigh | Paramount | Independent | 18/3/50 | 9 | S | 1 | Leather Gloves |
| Reservoir | Plaza | Independent | 18/3/50 | 9 | T | 1 | Embraceable You |
| Preston | Planet | Suburban | 8/4/50 | 12 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Preston | St. James | Suburban | 15/4/50 | 13 | W | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Surrey Hills | Surrey | Independent | 29/4/50 | 15 | S | 1 | Law of the Barbary Coast |
| Coburg West | Progress | Independent | 29/7/50 | 28 | S | 2 | Ma and Pa Kettle |
The 1950 Project 