MACKENNA'S GOLD
DIRECTED BY J. LEE THOMPSON
PRODUCED BY CARL FOREMAN/ DIMITRI TIOMKIN
COLUMBIA PICTURES CORPORATION
Photo with the courtesy of lasbugas
Information From IMDb
Plot Summary
The gangster Colorado kidnaps Marshal McKenna. He believes that McKenna has seen a map which leads to a rich vein of gold in the mountains and forces him to show him the way. But they're not the only ones who're after the gold; soon they meet a group of "honorable" citizens and the cavalry crosses their way too - and that is even before they enter Indian territory.
Written by Tom Zoerner
Full Cast
Gregory Peck ... MacKenna
Omar Sharif ... Colorado
Telly Savalas ... Sgt. Tibbs
Camilla Sparv ... Inga Bergmann
Keenan Wynn ... Sanchez
Julie Newmar ... Hesh-Ke
Ted Cassidy ... Hachita
Lee J. Cobb ... The Editor
Raymond Massey ... The Preacher
Burgess Meredith ... The Storekeeper
Anthony Quayle ... Older Englishman
Edward G. Robinson ... Old Adams
Eli Wallach ... Ben Baker
Eduardo Ciannelli ... Prairie Dog
Dick Peabody ... Avifa
Rudy Diaz ... Besh
Robert Phillips ... Monkey
Shelley Morrison ... Pima Squaw
Robert Porter ... Young Englishman (as J. Robert Porter)
David Garfield ... Adams' Boy (as John Garfield Jr.)
Pepe Callahan ... Laguna
Madeleine Taylor Holmes ... Old Apache woman
Duke Hobbie ... Lieutenant
Victor Jory ... Narrator
Trevor Bardette ... (uncredited)
Writing Credits
Heck Allen (novel) (as Will Henry)
Carl Foreman (screenplay)
Original Music
Quincy Jones
Cinematography
Joseph MacDonald
Trivia
The canyon was purchased as unsafe by the movie company, and actually destroyed on film.
One of George Lucas's projects while a student in film school was documenting the making of this film. While he was on set, he actually made suggestions (which were used) on how to rehearse and shoot some scenes.
Acording to a 1996 biography, Clint Eastwood was first offered the lead role, but turned it down to make Hang 'Em High (1968) instead.
The pool and waterfall where part of the action takes place was man-made and the water had to be hauled in by tanker truck.
During the swimming scene at the pool Julie Newmar's character was supposed to be topless with a loincloth. In an interview Ms. Newmar stated that at the last minute she decided to do the scene nude and no-one, especially the male actors and crew, argued with her about the decision.
The film was originally planned to be shown in single lens Cinerama with reserved seat roadshow engagements, but Columbia execs changed their minds and pulled the plug on that idea. The film was drastically cut down from nearly three hours plus an intermission to just over two hours. Although most of the film was photographed on 65mm stock, to save a buck, a handful of scenes were filmed in 35mm anamorphic and then optically blown up with disastrous results. The blown-up scenes are exceedingly grainy and have bad color.
Goofs
Factual errors: Shadows should point away from the sun, not towards it.
Crew or equipment visible: During the chase toward the river, camera-vehicle tire tracks are visible in a shot of the Indians.
Continuity: The cloud formation while jumping the earthquake chasm.
Factual errors: As the sun rises, the shadow of shaking rock grows longer. In reality the shadow should become shorter as the sun rises higher.
Continuity: The shadows on Prairie Dog change depending upon whether it is a long shot (he is in full sun) or close shot (his face is in part shadow).
Factual errors: In a key scene, a lengthening shadow at sunrise points to the destination location. As the sun rises, shadows get shorter, not longer.
Memorable Quote
The Preacher: It can work for the lord as well as the devil!
Colorado: Ai chihuahua.
Filming Locations
Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Chinle, Arizona, USA
Chinle, Arizona, USA
Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
Glen Canyon, Utah, USA
Johnson Canyon, Kanab, Utah, USA
Kanab Movie Ranch - 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, Utah, USA
Kanab, Utah, USA
Monument Valley, Arizona, USA
Monument Valley, Utah, USA
Oregon, USA
Paria, Utah, USA
Rogue River, Oregon, USA
Snow Canyon State Park - 1002 Snow Canyon Drive, Ivins, Utah, USA
Trailer
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