To me, this movie is perfection.

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

They spent a lot of money on this movie, with a star-studded cast and a long running time. When it was first released it didn't live up to expectations and didn't do that well in the US box office. However in some export markets it did rather well and was one of the most popular films for about twenty years. I guess the tale of long-lost gold, perhaps protected by native Indian spirits, pursued by an unlikely alliance of people, bound together only by their mutual greed, is one that resonates with many different cultures. In a way it reminds me of 'Kelly's Heroes' a bit, but without the laughs. I first saw this film as an impressionable teenager, on a slightly fuzzy 625 line TV set. I didn't notice the weird editing then; at times the action jumps in a crazy way from location shooting to studio close-up and model shot, all with different lighting. If you are watching on an HD TV or better, at times this approach is rather distracting. At other times one can only marvel at the cinematography; the images of the canyons in the desert, shot in glorious colour on 65mm film stock, still look fantastic. The device of using narrator at times is considered a mark of a bad film by many; however in this type of film, I don't mind it in the slightest; is it really any worse than those lame bits of 'dialogue' that are forced into scripts just to keep the audience abreast of the plot? I don't think so; it just gives more room for action, scenery and characterisation, if used correctly. Anyway, quibble as one might over details, the fact remains that overall, this is a rollicking tale with some fine actors in it, hamming it up fit to bust. Arguably almost perfect cinema.

This oater is not your typical western. There are so many well known and famous actors and actresses in this movie that I am surprised they got all of them to appear in it. Gregory Peck gets top billing as the no name, judge appointed marshal, of some nameless town. Omar Sharif is very campy as a bad ass outlaw who I guess is suppose to be Mexican. He portrays a totally venal, amoral, character His accent makes it hard to tell at times. The white's playing the Apache's in this movie are a little outre to say the least. It is refreshing now days to see actual indians playing indians. Julie Newmar as an Apache woman who has a history with Peck is decent since she doesn't speak. There is some humor in this movie from time to time, but overall it is a fairly serious movie.

I saw this movie on release in 1969 with my parents and was absolutely captivated by it. I had already seen quite a few classic Westerns but this had an extra ingredient - the kind of plot we are now so used to in the Indiana Jones movies. In fact I am certain that Raiders Of The Lost Ark owes at least one debt to Mackenna's Gold.Visually the film is stunning. Henry Ford's classics spring to mind but again there is more much more. All the principal characters are well drawn and it moves along at just the right pace. The conclusion is a tour de force that sends shivers down my spine. The use of special effects may have offended traditionalists but I think they work brilliantly. A much overlooked adventure that bears repeated viewing.

Marshall Mackenna (Gregory Peck) becomes the recipient of the location of a legendary hidden valley of gold. This makes him of considerable interest to assorted individuals who believe the legend to be true (Mackenna doesn't), chief among whom is outlaw Colorado (Omar Sharif).This 1969 western is a curious mix of extremes - when it's good, it is very good, and when it's bad it is truly awful. The workmanlike story is perfectly serviceable (if a little overburdened with sidetracks), but the script is abominable. The extensive cast is peppered with high profile names, but most of them have little to do while the obscure and uninspired Camilla Sparv is on screen through the latter two thirds of the film. The scenery is eye-catching and spectacular, but there are big chunks which are heavily (and obviously) studio-bound. The action is mostly pretty good, but the special effects are lamentable (poor rear projection, standard ratio shots unsqueezed, out of focus model work etc.).Peck is his usual upright self, and Sharif has fun chewing the scenery. Most of the support cast is OK, and Julie (Catwoman) Newmar as a moody Apache woman with her own agenda, puts in sterling service with a nekkid dip in a mountain pool.