MacKenna's Gold (1969)

Attempting to do for Westerns what his Guns of Navarone had done for World War II action epics, director J. Lee Thompson crafted Mackenna's Gold as a lavish, absurdly ambitious variation on Erich Von Stroheim's Greed, resulting in a last-gasp Western so eager to encompass the genre's traditions that it turns into a big, silly, wildly entertaining mess. Gregory Peck surely had more serious intentions when he signed on, and he brings prestigious gravitas to his glum role as Marshall Mackenna, who gets shanghaied into searching for the gold-filled canyon of an elusive Apache legend. The rest of the 1969 film labors to undermine Peck's respectable demeanor; how else to explain Omar Sharif as a Mexican villain, Julie Newmar as a hot-blooded Apache temptress (with underwater nude scenes that were celebrated in Playboy magazine), and a jaw-dropping finale that's so ridiculous it's impressive in spite of itself?

Formerly blacklisted screenwriter Carl Foreman and composer Dimitri Tiomkin joined up to coproduce the film, and one can only imagine how Anthony Mann or Howard Hawks might've handled Foreman's sensible script. Thompson goes for scenic splendor, heavy action, and heavier emotions, casting everything at a fever pitch that's wildly enjoyable without betraying his "serious" intentions. A stable of Hollywood veterans (Eli Wallach, Raymond Massey, Edward G. Robinson, and others) appear in lively supporting roles--they're all dispatched in a garish Apache ambush--and Camilla Sparv is an ingénue with plenty of fighting attitude. Gold fever reaches its peak, along with some awesome special effects, and divine intervention reaches new heights of intensity. Top it off with José Feliciano's theme song, and you'll be in zany Western heaven. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

Only if you are truly desperate

This has to rank as one of the worst westerns ever. Dumb plot, and actors who clearly didn't know what they were getting into until too late. Don't say no one warned you. March 25, 2008

review for this movie

this movie has got to be one of the most exciting westerns out there, with over 25 stars including edward g robinson ted cassidy julie nemar and a host of others...
this movie has one great opening theme that david letterman would poke fun of. old turkey buzzard. also the
scenery is absolutley breathtaking with the destruction of gold filled canyon being destroyed by a eathquake very scary stuff. i forgot gregory peck who is one fine actor.
for the price they are charging this movie i'd highly recomend buying it.
ira..... March 15, 2008

McKenna's Gold

As a long time loyal fan of Gregory Peck, this movie does not stand up to his others. The acting is sluggish, the plot predictable, the ending is
sadly "corny". Peck does the best of all the actors and actresses. Camilla Sparv gives a very lukewarm performance. This is definately NOT a family film.
Peck fans will find "Big Country" as real Western Classic, with all the wonderful music, scenery and excellent story western fans look for. August 22, 2007

Round up at central casting or How to end your career with Lurch.

This was harder to take than spam on hardtack, scarier than Omen, a sand duster beyond belief. No wonder Eastwood rode off with spaghetti westerns by himself. This crew was trapped in a blind canyon trying to avoid every John Wayne cliche and remain serious. Forget it. Even Frank, Sammy and Dean couldn't save this one. The apaches snuck up at the 4th campfire meeting,and made off with the real script.When the likes of Raymond Massey, Lee J. Cobb and Edward G. Robinson ask to be killed off before they reach Montana and the director agrees, there's no reason to continue. The best thing about this yarn of no similarity to the legend of "Adams Diggings," is the gorgeous rocky landscape. But still J. Lee Thompson insists on adding "Garden of Evil" matte shots here and there that add seconds of excitement to its crawling pace.Then Eli Wallach shows up and you hope he ropes you out of the audience or executes you along with the senior citizens of central casting.Not to happen. There's no escaping the depressing Sodom and Gamorrah finale that hopes to bury any memory of watching this. From the outset of this mess, every time the diminutive Omar Sharif looks up to the towering Gregory Peck and threatens him with desert eyes and Cisco Kid ridiculousness,it portends disaster ahead. You best skip this and just google the real "Adams Diggings." If you believe apache gold is found like cheese slices on a canyon wall, then you might like this before seeing your army recruiter. July 16, 2007

A western that could only be made in the 60's

Psychedelic camerawork, panoramic vistas, a Quincy Jones avant garde western score, Atticus Finch himself, Gregory Peck, Dr. Zhivago-Omar Sharif passing himself off as a Mexican bandito, Lurch-Ted Cassidy as an Indian, a pre-Kojak Telly Savalas, and "My Living Doll/Catwoman" Julie Newmar make for one of the strangely cast westerns of all time. Add to that the inspired casting of some of the best character actors to ever grace the silver screen (Eli Wallach, Burgess Meredith, Edward G. Robinson, Anthony Gayle, Raymond Massey, Keenan Wynn, Lee J. Cobb, to cite a few, and you have one GROOVY western...long on credits, short on plot, but still worth a look! July 15, 2007

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