MacKenna's Gold
starring: Gregory Peck, Omar Sharif, Telly Savalas, Camilla Sparv, Keenan Wynn
directed by: J. Lee Thompson
directed by: J. Lee Thompson
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Product Description:
Lawman gregory peck is forced to lead outlaw omar sharif and a greedy all-star cast of cutthroats and thieves to a legendary canyon of gold. Special features: subtitles in english spanish portuguese chinese korean and thai talent files bonus trailers interactive menus production notes and much more.Studio: Sony Pictures Home EntRelease Date: 04/22/2008Starring: Gregory Peck Omar SharifRun time: 123 minutesRating: NrDirector: J Lee Thompson
Amazon.com:
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
Lawman gregory peck is forced to lead outlaw omar sharif and a greedy all-star cast of cutthroats and thieves to a legendary canyon of gold. Special features: subtitles in english spanish portuguese chinese korean and thai talent files bonus trailers interactive menus production notes and much more.Studio: Sony Pictures Home EntRelease Date: 04/22/2008Starring: Gregory Peck Omar SharifRun time: 123 minutesRating: NrDirector: J Lee Thompson
Amazon.com:
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
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- Another Sony Reissue Scam
Three stars for the film, NO stars for Sony.
Columbia Pictures released many of its classic films on DVD in double-sided, widescreen & pan-and-scan format. However, after Sony bought out the Columbia film library, it then proceeded to reissue them in SINGLE-SIDE, PAN and SCAN ONLY format WITHOUT CHANGING THE UPC CODE OR FRONT COVER ARTWORK. Mackenna's Gold is only one example of this.
So because online DVD sellers cannot separate the two versions by UPC code (and some list the ... Read More
Rating: - A film pregnant of good intentions!
The main factor that one should remark around this movie resides in the best intentions to work out as a deserved homage to Erik von Stroheim's Greed (1924).
The ambition for gold as symbol of power and emblematic icon, permeates a good part of myths, tales and transcendental works (Wagner's masterpiece, for instance) when we have Alberich stating that he would change the possession of gold instead love.
But the best intentions (at least in this case) really fell down when ... Read More
Rating: - Over-the-top crazy western with huge cast
Mackenna's Gold is a western that has a lot going for it, but it's a movie that never really figures out how to put it all together.Out on the trail, Mackenna, a marshal in the town of Hadleyburg, is ambushed by an old Apache man and has to kill him.But before the old man dies, he tells Mackenna of the location of the "canyon del oro," the canyon of gold.The marshal's wary, but before he can get away he's captured by a bandit named Colorado and his gang who've been tracking the Apache.Using ... Read More
Rating: 
- Lack of Widescreen -- Utter dissappointment!!
A great movie with half the scenery gone. Save your money for a widescreen version.
Rating: - 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.
- Another Sony Reissue ScamThree stars for the film, NO stars for Sony.
Columbia Pictures released many of its classic films on DVD in double-sided, widescreen & pan-and-scan format. However, after Sony bought out the Columbia film library, it then proceeded to reissue them in SINGLE-SIDE, PAN and SCAN ONLY format WITHOUT CHANGING THE UPC CODE OR FRONT COVER ARTWORK. Mackenna's Gold is only one example of this.
So because online DVD sellers cannot separate the two versions by UPC code (and some list the ... Read More
- A film pregnant of good intentions!The main factor that one should remark around this movie resides in the best intentions to work out as a deserved homage to Erik von Stroheim's Greed (1924).
The ambition for gold as symbol of power and emblematic icon, permeates a good part of myths, tales and transcendental works (Wagner's masterpiece, for instance) when we have Alberich stating that he would change the possession of gold instead love.
But the best intentions (at least in this case) really fell down when ... Read More
- Over-the-top crazy western with huge castMackenna's Gold is a western that has a lot going for it, but it's a movie that never really figures out how to put it all together.Out on the trail, Mackenna, a marshal in the town of Hadleyburg, is ambushed by an old Apache man and has to kill him.But before the old man dies, he tells Mackenna of the location of the "canyon del oro," the canyon of gold.The marshal's wary, but before he can get away he's captured by a bandit named Colorado and his gang who've been tracking the Apache.Using ... Read More
- Lack of Widescreen -- Utter dissappointment!!A great movie with half the scenery gone. Save your money for a widescreen version.
- McKenna's GoldAs 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.
