The Man Who Invented Gold (1957)

'A demented fable of alchemical inquisition. Ridiculed by his neighbours, a madman works in isolation on a chemical formula for making gold. He finally succeeds after being told the secret in a dream, but his conceit drives him to get back at his sceptical friends, turning one neighbour into gold before he is punished by being turned to gold himself.' -Mark Webber