Le sette città d'oro

There's a mixture of interesting drama and camp in this story of Spanish conquest over California Native Americans. Egan and Quinn play Spanish officers who are on the lookout for the title cities, but who are saddled with priest Rennie who is along for the ride to build a mission. The men don't see eye to eye on how to handle the "Indian problem" and this lends itself to some nice discussion of and demonstration of the tactics used to control them. Eventually, the human elements of both the "whites" and the Indians begin to blend, but not without difficulty and eventually with great sacrifice. Contemporary audiences will be surprised that Egan is top-billed over Quinn and has the more substantial role. Even though Quinn is the authority figure in charge, the story is more about Egan. Quinn is believable as a Spaniard (as he was as so many other nationalities in his career!), but Egan is about as Spanish as William Bendix!! His flat American accent and obviously non-Latin coloring create a sensory paradox when he is onscreen. Rennie is also far from Spanish, but manages to pull it off better with a less distinct accent. All three male leads do a decent enough job acting-wise, but never really catch fire. The only other performers of note are Hunter and Moreno as natives. Hunter gives his usual impassioned performance (unfortunately covered in war paint most of the time) in one of many roles that were beneath his ability. Moreno gets very little to do, but tries to inject some emotion into the proceedings. While the Cinemascope lens captures some awesomely beautiful scenery, it also keeps the actors at a distance. Time and again, dramatic and emotional moments are played in practically long shots! There are very few close-ups in the movie. The two most beautiful cast members (Hunter and Moreno) get nothing closer than a two-shot. This puts a sort of wall up that detracts from the emotional investment in the story. Then there's the camp factor. It begins immediately with a hilarious voice-over that exclaims how accurate the story is and that the only change that was made is that the "words will be set in English." PLEASE! Moreno and Hunter, while compelling performers, are given ridiculous wigs and clothing to wear. Attempts at humor, handled adeptly by Hunter, seem to add a corny aspect to the otherwise serious film. There's a bizarre interlude with Egan and Rennie finding shelter in a sandstorm. The sword-and-sandal crowd may find themselves trying to spot Egan's winky as it veers to the left in his clingy green trousers (with oh-so-festive red cummerbund.) In all, it's a pretty, sometimes engaging movie, but rather silly at times and lacking any real emotional resonance.

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.

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

On the face of it, this ought to have been a decent adventure film. Anthony Quinn ("Gaspar") commands a troop of Spanish soldiers travelling through 18th century California seeking treasure. Alongside him is his deputy "Mendoza" (Richard Egan) and their spiritual needs are cared for by "Fr. Serra" (Michael Rennie). Once they land, however, they realise that the terrain is hostile and the natives likewise. It takes time, bullets and some persuasion from the priest to convince "Matuwir" (Jeffrey Hunter) that they mean no harm as they explore. Of course, though, they do. They are there to convert and to plunder - and in so doing, apply the rather cyclical methods used by the church to indoctrinate the perfectly contented pagan population. As an adventure film it falls short on just about every level. Quinn doesn't really feature much as the film progresses into the sort that makes you squirm a bit with a sense of "just leave these people alone and go home". If you are expecting a lively swashbuckling affair, then look elsewhere - this is a confused and confusing history lesson that shows the visitors - however well meaning in the case of "Serra" - as ignorant and piously thoughtless of a culture that simply did not require their ribbons, bells nor intervention. The production is adequate, but the pacing of the story is rather erratic leaving a feeling of dissatisfaction - even disgust - with the whole enterprise.

This is a rather rare film produced by 20th Century Fox and never aired on French channels during the seventies. At least, I don't remember it. Never released on DVD or either VHS in France; and only VHS in certain European - Spain - countries. No DVD release in the UK nor USA. Very strange for a 104 mn Twentieth Century Fox production, starring Anthony Quinn. A true mystery, why such a film is so rare? Why? Because of a rights owner issue? It doesn't make sense and doesn't deserve it. I first thought it was a Conquistadore film, as were for instance AGUIRRE - twenty years later, I know - or even Carlos Saura's ELDORADO. But no, it concerns Spanish in California during the eghteenth century searching gold. Good film, in the pure Hollywoodian tradition. Robert D Webb was a director for Fox and was involved with many good westerns and adventure movies with much budgets and strangely B films castings. Very strange.