Mackenna's Gold (1969)

Film Summary
"Mackenna's Gold" is a 1969 western experience film directed by J. Lee Thompson, based on the novel by Will Henry. The movie boasts a remarkable cast consisting of Gregory Peck as Marshal Sam Mackenna and Omar Sharif as outlaw John Colorado, with significant appearances by Telly Savalas, Burgess Meredith, Edward G. Robinson, and Julie Newmar.

Plot
The story starts when Mackenna, a frontier marshal, accidentally kills an old prospector who has stumbled across a massive gold vein within the Apache canyons. Right before his death, the prospector exposes the gold's location on a map, which Mackenna seriously remembers prior to the map's damage. The news of the discovery quickly spreads attracting Colorado, the leader of a band of callous criminals, who catches Mackenna in hopes of extracting the precious details.

Dispute
The film revolves around the complexity of human greed in the pursuit of wealth. Colorado's gang and Mackenna are compelled to work together to reach the legendary gold vein, browsing a naughty old Apache witch and an Apache warrior, and an intensifying wave of greedy townsfolk and U.S. cavalry soldiers who have gotten wind of the gold.

Resolution
The climax of the motion picture is a violent conflict where members of Colorado's gang, the cavalry, and townsfolk turn on each other in a bloody carnage, triggered by the sight of the legendary treasure. On the other hand, an Apache prediction about the canyon's rage in case of disruption, becomes a reality. An earthquake strikes, swallowing the gold and the majority of the fortune seekers. Mackenna, Colorado, and a couple of others manage to escape.

Ending
In the end, Colorado dies from wounds sustained throughout the dispute, while Mackenna, in spite of knowing the location of the gold, selects an easier life with Inga Bergmann, a kidnapped female he saved throughout the course of the motion picture. The film concludes with Mackenna's Gold remaining a legend, lost to the Apache canyons.

Review and Reception
"Mackenna's Gold", though boasting an all-star cast and a promising story, was consulted with mixed reviews. The movie's graphic violence and its inclusion of supernatural components divert from the conventional Western were viewed as downsides. However, it is frequently praised for its cinematography, including sweeping views of the American West, its ensemble cast, and unforgettable score.

Top Cast