Mackenna's Gold (1969)

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  • MACKENNA'S GOLD


    DIRECTED BY J. LEE THOMPSON
    PRODUCED BY CARL FOREMAN/ DIMITRI TIOMKIN
    COLUMBIA PICTURES CORPORATION


    Photo with the courtesy of lasbugas

    Information From IMDb


    Plot Summary
    The gangster Colorado kidnaps Marshal McKenna. He believes that McKenna has seen a map which leads to a rich vein of gold in the mountains and forces him to show him the way. But they're not the only ones who're after the gold; soon they meet a group of "honorable" citizens and the cavalry crosses their way too - and that is even before they enter Indian territory.
    Written by Tom Zoerner


    Full Cast
    Gregory Peck ... MacKenna
    Omar Sharif ... Colorado
    Telly Savalas ... Sgt. Tibbs
    Camilla Sparv ... Inga Bergmann
    Keenan Wynn ... Sanchez
    Julie Newmar ... Hesh-Ke
    Ted Cassidy ... Hachita
    Lee J. Cobb ... The Editor
    Raymond Massey ... The Preacher
    Burgess Meredith ... The Storekeeper
    Anthony Quayle ... Older Englishman
    Edward G. Robinson ... Old Adams
    Eli Wallach ... Ben Baker
    Eduardo Ciannelli ... Prairie Dog
    Dick Peabody ... Avifa
    Rudy Diaz ... Besh
    Robert Phillips ... Monkey
    Shelley Morrison ... Pima Squaw
    Robert Porter ... Young Englishman (as J. Robert Porter)
    David Garfield ... Adams' Boy (as John Garfield Jr.)
    Pepe Callahan ... Laguna
    Madeleine Taylor Holmes ... Old Apache woman
    Duke Hobbie ... Lieutenant
    Victor Jory ... Narrator
    Trevor Bardette ... (uncredited)


    Writing Credits
    Heck Allen (novel) (as Will Henry)
    Carl Foreman (screenplay)


    Original Music
    Quincy Jones


    Cinematography
    Joseph MacDonald


    Trivia
    The canyon was purchased as unsafe by the movie company, and actually destroyed on film.


    One of George Lucas's projects while a student in film school was documenting the making of this film. While he was on set, he actually made suggestions (which were used) on how to rehearse and shoot some scenes.


    Acording to a 1996 biography, Clint Eastwood was first offered the lead role, but turned it down to make Hang 'Em High (1968) instead.


    The pool and waterfall where part of the action takes place was man-made and the water had to be hauled in by tanker truck.


    During the swimming scene at the pool Julie Newmar's character was supposed to be topless with a loincloth. In an interview Ms. Newmar stated that at the last minute she decided to do the scene nude and no-one, especially the male actors and crew, argued with her about the decision.


    The film was originally planned to be shown in single lens Cinerama with reserved seat roadshow engagements, but Columbia execs changed their minds and pulled the plug on that idea. The film was drastically cut down from nearly three hours plus an intermission to just over two hours. Although most of the film was photographed on 65mm stock, to save a buck, a handful of scenes were filmed in 35mm anamorphic and then optically blown up with disastrous results. The blown-up scenes are exceedingly grainy and have bad color.


    Goofs
    Factual errors: Shadows should point away from the sun, not towards it.


    Crew or equipment visible: During the chase toward the river, camera-vehicle tire tracks are visible in a shot of the Indians.


    Continuity: The cloud formation while jumping the earthquake chasm.


    Factual errors: As the sun rises, the shadow of shaking rock grows longer. In reality the shadow should become shorter as the sun rises higher.


    Continuity: The shadows on Prairie Dog change depending upon whether it is a long shot (he is in full sun) or close shot (his face is in part shadow).


    Factual errors: In a key scene, a lengthening shadow at sunrise points to the destination location. As the sun rises, shadows get shorter, not longer.


    Memorable Quote
    The Preacher: It can work for the lord as well as the devil!
    Colorado: Ai chihuahua.


    Filming Locations
    Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Chinle, Arizona, USA
    Chinle, Arizona, USA
    Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    Glen Canyon, Utah, USA
    Johnson Canyon, Kanab, Utah, USA
    Kanab Movie Ranch - 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah, USA
    Kanab, Utah, USA
    Monument Valley, Arizona, USA
    Monument Valley, Utah, USA
    Oregon, USA
    Paria, Utah, USA
    Rogue River, Oregon, USA
    Snow Canyon State Park - 1002 Snow Canyon Drive, Ivins, Utah, USA


    Trailer


    [extendedmedia]

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    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 3 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • Mackenna's Gold is a 1969 American western film directed by J. Lee Thompson,
    starring an ensemble cast featuring Gregory Peck, Omar Sharif, Telly Savalas,
    Ted Cassidy, Camilla Sparv and Julie Newmar in lead roles.
    It was photographed in Super Panavision 70 and Technicolor by Joseph MacDonald,
    with original music by Quincy Jones.


    Mackenna's Gold is based on the novel of the same name by Heck Allen
    using the penname Will Henry, telling the story of how the lure of gold
    corrupts a diverse group of people.
    The novel was loosely based on the legend of the Lost Adams Diggings
    crediting the Frank Dobie account of the legend
    (Apache Gold and Yaqui Silver) in the author's note.



    A great movie, with an unusual storyline and plot.
    Many top stars came together with talented character actors,
    to make this an enjoyable film.
    The pace of the film added to the story


    With a wonderful score by Quincy Jones,
    and cinematography in some of the iconic western locations,
    this is a memorable classic.

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 4 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • I completely agree with Stumpy on this one. The obvious matte lines and rear projection take you right out of the story. Camilla Sparv and Omar Sharif are laughable, and nobody ever left the theater whistling "Old Turkey Buzzard".


    This is one which should be remade and stick to the novel.




    We deal in lead, friend.

  • The big disappoint for me was the shadow of the pencil-shaped rock was moving totally in the wrong direction. Since the sun was just rising, the shadow would be longest at the start and get shorter with time.

    Cheers - Jay:beer:
    "Not hardly!!!"

  • A great cast totally wasted. Not enough to do for most of them, and terrible effects. I only recently caught this on cable, and considering how much must have been spent on it, it still has a very cheap look.