National Treasure, the recent blockbuster movie starring Nicolas Cage, is a fast-paced, action-adventure yarn, revolving around sometimes erroneous references to, and often fictional history of, Freemasonry in America. Called by some the “Indiana Jones of the New Millennium,” it is great entertainment; and although not entirely accurate, it does portray Freemasonry in a positive light.

Opening November 19, 2004 in theaters across the country, National Treasure quickly rose to be the highest grossing film of that weekend, and it has generated wide public awareness of Freemasonry. Although much of the movie is pure fiction, it offers a favorable impression of the fraternity, highlighting Masonic principles and values throughout the film.

As it turns out, two of the movie’s screenwriters, Marianne and Cormac Wibberley, are local residents of the Beach Cities area. The lodge to which they refer in a California Freemason magazine article may very well be our own, or that of nearby brethren.

The following links provide related information, details, and viewpoints of the movie.

• National Treasure Movie Website
• Ageless Treasure (Beach Reporter)
• Writing Treasures (Beach Reporter)
• History in the Movies
• Freemasonry’s True National Treasures (Scottish Rite Journal)
• The Real National Treasure Exposed (American Mason)
• Masonry: The Real National Treasure ( California Freemason)