L'Or de Mackenna

This movie has just about as much wrong with it as right. While the plot involving greed and a search for gold is excellent and there was a good movie underneath it all, several things help to derail the production and keep this from being a better film--despite its wonderful cast. First, the beginning and ending song by Jose Feliciano is very dated and very annoying. I hated it thoroughly. Second, a lot of really fine character actors enter the film and unfortunately, in most cases, they die so quickly and without making much of an impact on the film, it's a real waste. Third, the ending is great if you have a strong ability to suspend disbelief AND you believe in a lot of spiritual mumbo jumbo. I didn't and so I thought the ending was pretty dopey. Gregory Peck is fine in the film, as always, but I thought it very odd that they cast Omar Sharif as a Mexican and Ted Cassidy and Julie Newmar as American Indians but this is only a minor quibble.

This movie is one of the greatest films ever made. Don't look on it as a typical western. It just happens to be set in a western setting. This movie is centered around GREED. The character interaction between MacKenn a(Peck) and Colorado (Sharif) is classic.

If you want a very enjoyable evening this is definitely a winner.

Have to say this movie must have been a nightmare to make and work on..it's got a massive all top notch cast..and I'm sure top crew and technical ..for1969... it's entertaining but..it switches all the way through from actual location footage..in the desert etc..to studio matched and what I assume is/ was back projection stuff..! Sets to location..back to location and sets..in the edit I suppose.. so editors must have had a hard job.. plus the actors.. all the close ups are back projection..mainly..and long shots in the real location..I wouldn't be surprised if they used standings..as long shots are hard to tell who's who...and obviously stunts are all stunt people.. maybe it's just1969 or the director who cut it like this..but by modern standards it's a bit ropey".. but..it still stands up as a good action movie..seeking the gold etc.. I was surprised all the big stars got shot in the cavalry ambush..but.I suppose it saved the massive budget a bit... bits of saucy nudity in bits in the watering hole.. but the way it's shot ..results in a slightly surreal" experience! It also cuts between lots of not too bad model shots.. the horse on the rope bridge..and the watering hole mountains..obviously we are used to cgi these days.. this is reminiscent of thunderbirds".. luckily they edited it so quick you hardly notice..ha.. watering hole was definitely a studio tank..undercut maybe with a real waterhole... I wrote this because it struck me as so disjointed and rather strange I figured others must have picked up on it.. it's not bad for a 60s biggish budget movie.. Saturday afternoon tv movie.. anyone like to comment??. I think I'll leave it there!.. good old Gregory peck..he holds it all together with his charisma. Aplomb..grit and understated acting.. a true star... sadly no more.....

Human nature's bad side is amply on display in this greed motivated Western. Gregory Peck is the only non believer in a lost canyon of gold, with everyone else in the fantastic cast blinded by gold fever. Rarely do you get such an ensemble of wonderful actors in the same film, but MacKenna's Gold certainly does. The film is magnificently photographed, taking full advantage of the wide Southwest vistas. One intriguing photographic technique is the horses eye view as they gallop down the canyon. There are some excellent miniatures used to good advantage, without any cartoon like C.G.I. to get in the way. The story is a straight forward search for treasure with everyone's share getting bigger as competitors are killed off. Special mention must be made of Julie Newmar as the sexiest Indian ever on film. Her nude scene is surprising and a definite highlight. - MERK

Its got everything! Two fisted action! Gorgeous females! Catfights! Gregory Peck! Camilla Sparve! a Whos Who of yesterdays character actors! Hokey dialog! Excellent Special Effects! Great scenery! Ultra-Panavision™! Directed by the guy who did Bridge Over River Kwai! ah well, according to several sources this movie was supposed to be over 3 hours long, and was going to come out as a Cinerama-type Road Show...but the days of that were dying and Columbia got cold feet, so it was cut to a little over 2 hours; There are some minor differences between 35 and 70mm prints; This movie is a hoot-see it!