Le secret des sept cités

Although coming from a different stable (Twentieth Century Fox as opposed to Universal), this historical epic is in the same vein as the contemporaneous KISS OF FIRE (released just a fortnight after this one and my review of which can be accessed elsewhere) but emerges a decidedly more satisfactory movie. For one thing, to the common Spaniards vs. Indians scenario this adds both mythical and mystical elements that render the mixture a thought-provoking one. The former is represented by the ultimately fruitless search for the legendary titular golden kingdoms while the latter applies to Michael Rennie's fine portrayal of crippled but single-minded Jesuit missionary, Fr. Junipero Serra – a real-life figure who was recently beatified by The Vatican and is on his way to becoming a saint!

Despite boasting a notable cast and being a major Hollywood studio 'A' production, this offbeat and worthwhile adventure seems to have literally fallen through the cracks of time because, 14 years into the format, there is still no sign of it ever getting released as a legitimate Widescreen DVD nor, apparently, has it ever been shown on the "Fox Movie Channel" because the copy I landed was sourced from a serviceable but washed-out pan-and-scan VHS! This state of events does not do justice to Lucien Ballard's De Luxe cinematography but, on the other hand, neither exactly does the pedestrian direction from Robert D. Webb – also a previous winner of the Best Assistant Director Oscar for IN OLD CHICAGO (1937) – to its colorful subject; nowhere is this more evident than during a fanciful and thoroughly unexpected sequence (a Bunuelian moment if ever I saw one!) in which The Holy Family unaccountably offer hospitality to Rennie and Richard Egan when they are dispersed in a desert storm!

That the film still remains a superior product (despite bogging down somewhat during the indigenous scenes) is down to the cast: apart from Rennie's monk, as already mentioned, there is top-billed Egan as the hot-headed but, ultimately, self-sacrificing lieutenant of the Spanish conquistador heading the expedition led by Anthony Quinn; the latter, then, is remarkably restrained but undeniably commanding, and well on his way to acquiring star status for himself (which he had mostly enjoyed abroad up to that time!), and also on hand are Jeffrey Hunter (making a belated entry – completely covered in paint, and wigged- out, at that! – as the new Indian chief) and Rita Moreno (as Hunter's sister and Egan's tragic love interest). Incidentally, not only had director Webb already worked with Hunter on a fine Western WHITE FEATHER (1955; where he also portrayed an Indian!) and would soon do so again on the even better THE PROUD ONES (1956)...but, given this film's religious overtones, it is telling that all 4 leads here had been or would subsequently be involved in Biblical epics! Interestingly, Edward Dmytryk was originally announced as director on this one with Cameron Mitchell in the lead; besides, the actual crew members included assistant cameraman Jorge Stahl Jr. (he would be Luis Bunuel's cinematographer on his delightful jungle adventure DEATH IN THE GARDEN the following year) and co-director(!) Rene' Cardona (best-known as the prolific exploitation film-maker behind such infamous fare as SANTA CLAUS {1959} and NIGHT OF THE BLOODY APES {1969})!

The principals of the film are actually Michael Rennie as the priest who wants to evangelize the country and Richard Egan as a greedy officer ;Anthony Quinn ,although at the top of the bill , is almost supporting.

The umpteenth search for the city of gold ( and it would not be the last , some contemporary movies still deal with it;the best in the field is perhaps " Aguirre der Zorn Gottes "by Werner Herzog) is not the meat of the movie ; Quinn 's quest is not even shown on the screen.

The religious side ,the church as a sanctuary (since the Middle Ages) ,the spirit of sacrifice make the movie a little more than a routine adventures movie. The (premonitory?) strange dream of Egan lost in the desert may puzzle the viewer who will understand its meaning only towards the end of the movie.

In the 16th , 17th , 18th centuries, the Spaniards in New Spain (now Mexico) began to hear rumours of "Seven Cities of Gold" called "Cíbola" located across the desert, hundreds of miles to the north . The stories may have their root in an earlier Portuguese legend about seven cities founded on the island of Antillia by a Catholic expedition in the 8th century . The later Spanish tales were largely caused by reports given by the four shipwrecked survivors of the failed Narváez expedition, which included Álvar Núñez Cabeza De Vaca . This is the story of the making...and the forging...of California...when men chose gold or God...the sword or the Cross! . As the adventurers said they had heard stories from natives about cities with great and limitless riches . As the film deals with an expedition of Spanish conquistadors led by Capt. Gaspar De Portola (Anthony Quinn) who along with military and missionaries descend in 18th century California looking for secret Indian caches of gold . Along the way they suffer attacks , pains , and sacrifices , due the strong opposition of the aborigines . Meanwhile , roughnecks and Indians (Jeffrey Hunter , Rita Moreno) learn ways of God , thanks to Father Junipero Serra (Michael Rennie) . While traveling on foot from Vera Cruz in search for the seven fabled wealthy cities of gold , he injured his leg in such a way that he suffered from it throughout , though he continued to make his journeys on foot whenever possible , and he efforts to establish missions . As when in 1769 the party reached San Diego on July 1, Father Serra stayed behind to start the Mission San Diego De Alcalá, the first of the 21 California missions .

Regular semi-lavish costume epic based on historic facts about conquistadors and missionaries in search for fabled Indian treasure in Western US , California . This colorful picture contains thrills , emotion , religious feeling , and wonderful outdoors from Mexico . Interesting , though a little boring screenplay by John Higgins based on the novel "The Nine Days of Father Serra" written by Isabelle Gibson . Main cast gives passable interpretation such as as Richard Egan , Michael Rennie and Anthony Quinn . Being accompanied by a notorious support cast as Rita Moreno , Jeffrey Hunter , John Doucette , and Mexican actors as Eduardo Noriega . Thrilling as well as sensitive musical score by Hugo Friedhofer . Luxurious cinematography by Lucien Ballard in CinemaScope and shot in Mexico : Guadalajara, Jalisco and Manzanillo . The motion picture was middlingly directed by Robert D. Webb.

The flick was based on actual deeds about a famous Father , Fray Junipero Serra . He was born (November 24, 1713 – August 28, 1784) in Petra , Majorca . He was a Spanish Franciscan friar who founded a mission in Baja California and the first nine of 21 Spanish missions in California from San Diego to San Francisco, which at the time were in Alta California in the Province of Las Californias in New Spain. The Franciscans took over the administration of the missions on the Baja California Peninsula from the Jesuits after King Carlos III ordered them forcibly expelled from New Spain on February 3, 1768. Serra became the "Father Presidente." On March 12, 1768, Serra embarked from the Pacific port of San Blas on his way to the Californias. He began in San Diego on July 16, 1769, and established his headquarters near Monterey, California, at Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo. The missions were primarily designed to convert the natives. Other aims were to integrate the neophytes into Spanish society, and to train them to take over ownership and management of the land. As head of the order in California, Serra not only dealt with church officials, but also with Spanish officials in Mexico City and with the local military officers who commanded the nearby Presidios (garrisons). Serra was beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 25, 1988 and Pope Francis expects to canonize him in September 2015 during his first visit to the United States.

It's an inaccurate story of the Franciscan missionary Father Junipero Serra (Michael Rennie) toward to California, self-titled as New Spain at its time in charge of famous Captain Gaspar de Portolá (Anthony Quinn), at behest of Viceroy of Spain, both must pioneering such place starting by San Diego Bay, aiming for stablish Christian settlements at baja California and aftermaths reaches in northernmost San Francisco, the picture focuses this first leg only, exposing the unavoidable conflict with the native along the journey.

Meanwhile Captain Gaspar ought locates the legendary Seven Cities of Gold as overriding task, thus Father Junipero keep in San Diego with the Lieutenant Mendoza (Richard Egan), in the meantime the Father tries interacts with reluctant natives just getting smallest strides with the upcoming Chief Matuwir (Jeffrey Hunter), although the love affair between Lieut. Mendoza and Matuwir's sister Ula (Rita Moreno) on tragic outcome, just throw it all away, shuddering the still flimsy interplay among so differing ethnicities.

For dramatic purposes the picture points out a probable holiness of Father Junipero at least in four occasions, also his endurance when all hopes already running out, he still believing in something will coming from the sky, nicknamed by the natives a Grey Robe, Michael Rennie delivers all he could to portraits nearly perfect the famous Father Junipero Serra, that has been beatified in last Century, aside some flaws it has plenty enjoyable, sadly it never came out officially in Brazil.

Thanks for reading.

Resume:

First watch: 1985 / How many: 3 / Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7.5.

A trite melodrama with far too many moralistic and religious themes.

However, sappy old movie lover that I am, I enjoyed it.

It held a lot of potential with the dashing Young Anthony Quinn, Richard Egan and a cute little Indian girl in a very young Rita Moreno that I didn't even recognize.

And this movie was 1955 and Rita Moreno is still around--67 years later in a TV series. Check her out!

This movie held out quite a bit of potential, but bogged down and ended up being more like a two act play: the journey from Mexico City and then troubles with the Indian at their first coastal port of San Diego.

But the ending was poorly conceived and even possibly holding back the movie from major release by 20th century Fox.

There are plenty of long reviews much more descriptive and cheerie than mine, I just wanted to point out some different observations.