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"MacKenna's Gold" (1969)
Starring Gregory Peck and Omar Sherif
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, Amazon.com
DVD edition of MacKenna's Gold . Studio: Sony Pictures. DVD format. Release Date: July 11, 2000. Run Time: 128 minutes.
Poster from Mackenna's Gold - Movie Poster -
11 x 17. This poster measures approx. 11 x 17. Rolled and shipped in a
sturdy tube. This poster is from the movie Mackenna's Gold (1969).
Printed book edition of Mackenna's Gold
A Five-time Spur Award-winning Author. Somewhere in 100,000 square
miles of wilderness was the fabled Lost Canyon of Gold. With his dying
breath, an ancient Apache warrior entrusted Glen Mackenna with the
location of the lode that would make any man - or woman - rich beyond
their wildest dreams. Halfbreed renegade and captive girl, mercenary
soldier and thieving scout - brave or beaten, innocent or evil, they'd
sell their very souls to possess Mackenna's gold. --This text refers to
the Hardcover edition. Avon Books (Mm) (June 1988).
Watch video on-demand from Amazon.com of MacKenna's Gold .
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The Mine with the Iron Door: A Romance (1936)
Movie Poster from the 1936 film The Mine with the Iron Door - Movie Poster - 11 x 17
Poster for the Mine with the Iron Door movie. Stars Richard Arlen,
Ceclia Parker and Henry B. Walthall. Poster measures approx. 11 x 17.
Rolled and shipped in a sturdy tube. This poster is from The Mine with
the Iron Door (1936).
Printed Edition of The Mine with the Iron Door.
(The Collected Works of Harold Bell Wright - 18 Volumes) (Library
Binding) Library Binding: 338 pages. Publisher: Classic Publishers,
Language: English. ISBN: 158201891X.
Digital CD Edition of Mine with the Iron Door: A Romance, The (CD-ROM Edition) . The CD-ROM contains 338 pages. Publisher: Classic Books; 1923 edition (December 15, 2007).
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