MacKenna's Gold
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Movie Reviews of MacKenna's Gold
Movie Review: Mackenna's Garbage
Summary: 1 Stars
I'd heard so much about this movie over the years, that when I finally got the chance to watch it recently I was really looking forward to it. Moreover, THE GUNS OF NAVARONE was one of my favorites and MACKENNA'S GOLD reunited the star (Peck), the director (Thompson), the screenwriter (Foreman), and the composer (Tomkin) of that film. Perhaps these factors created too high of expectations, but my God... what a weird, crappy movie!!!
Jose Feliciano's psychedelic-folk tune about a vulture [what???], which plays during the opening credits [and alas intermittently throught the rest of the film] was an omen for things to come. By the way, no wonder this guy is best known for his version of Feliz Navidad. Anyhow, Gregory Peck's Marshall Mackenna is tracking his nemesis Colorado (Sharif) when a dying Indian tells him about the location of a famed horde of gold. This revelation sets the stage of an unintentionally campy adventure about greed, revenge, race, and vultures [well not really, but Jose Feliciano seemed to think so].
There are so many great actors in this film, but many [cough.. Omar Sharif.. cough] turn in performances that make Adam West & William Shatner seem like nuanced thespians. On top of that you have some horrible performances by a couple of actors in key Indian parts. Few things in westerns irritate me more than non-Indian actors playing Indian roles as if they are Lurch from the Adams Family in Indian garb! Oh wait, one of these guys actually was Lurch on the Adams Family!!! Only Eli Wallach [this guy rocks in westerns!] and Telly Savalas breath any life, albeit briefly, into the big-budget buffoonery. The finale is so awful. THE GUNS of NAVARONE had great special effects, but the much touted-effects of this film that was made 8 years later are comical. Wow, MGM purchased a Canyon and destroyed it for the film. If the cinematography doesn't capture this well on film its all for naught!!!
Gregory Peck in the lead role makes this incredibly long nonsense somewhat watchable, but 1969 was not a good year for Gregory Peck westerns - a year in which he also made Stalking Moon [another potboiler with Anglos giving crappy performances as Indians, but no vulture songs]. 1958, however, was a much better year for Gregory Peck westerns as both the BIG COUNTRY [what a great theme] and the underated BRAVADOS were released during that time. I guess in this instance the idealization of the 1950s does hold up.
Movie Review: "Old Turkey Buzzard," Indeed!
Summary: 1 Stars
The people who brought you "The Guns of Navarone" reunite for a remarkably absurd Western adventure. From the opening strains of José Feliciano's "Old Turkey Buzzard" (which became a running gag on "Late Show with David Letterman") to the ridiculous climax, director J. Lee Thompson's "Mackenna's Gold" remains stunning in its ineptitude. Gregory Peck delivers his best Adam West imitation while an all-star cast appears stranded. One of the worst big-budget Westerns ever made.Movie Review: McKenna's Gold
Summary: 1 Stars
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.
Movie Review: Terrible, worse than terrible.
Summary: 1 Stars
I love westerns, westerns with great scenery and westerns with a great cast. All that and Gregory Peck couldn't save this disaster. My wife said it was the worst western she's ever seen. No only that, it is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. It has to be in my bottom five movies of all time. I nominate this "film" as the biggest waste of talent in Hollywood history. The scenery was beautiful, but I'd have given it a 0 if I could.Movie Review: ONLY FULLSCREEN VERSION AVAILABLE?
Summary: 1 Stars
This is a brilliant movie. However, be aware, that the version that I was shipped (February 2005) from Amazon.ca, is NOT the version described here. THERE IS NO WIDESCREED VERSION on side 2. There is no side 2. I would check before ordering.