Mackenna's Gold
Directed by	J. Lee Thompson
Produced by	Carl Foreman Dimitri Tiomkin
Written by	Heck Allen (novel) Carl Foreman
Starring	Gregory Peck Omar Sharif Camilla Sparv Julie Newmar Lee J. Cobb
Music by	Quincy Jones
Running time	128 min.
Country	US
Language	English
IMDb profile

Mackenna's Gold is a 1969 western film directed by J. Lee Thompson, starring Gregory Peck, Omar Sharif and Camilla Sparv. It tells the story of how the lure of gold corrupts a diverse group of people. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... J. Lee Thompson in the 1970s John Lee-Thompson (1 August 1914 - 30 August 2002), better known as J. Lee Thompson, was an English film director, active in England and Hollywood. ... Carl Foreman Carl Foreman (July 23, 1914 – June 26, 1984) was an American screenwriter and film producer who was blacklisted by the Hollywood movie studio bosses in the 1950s. ... Dimitri Zinovievich Tiomkin (Russian: , Dmitrij Zinovevič Tëmkin, somtimes translated as Dmitri Tiomkin) (May 10, 1894 – November 11, 1979) was a film composer and conductor. ... Henry Wilson Allen (September 12, 1912-October 16, 1991), was an American author and screenwriter. ... Carl Foreman Carl Foreman (July 23, 1914 – June 26, 1984) was an American screenwriter and film producer who was blacklisted by the Hollywood movie studio bosses in the 1950s. ... Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) was an Academy Award-winning American film actor. ... For the Pakistani actor of the same name, see Umer Sharif. ... Julie Newmar (born Julie Chalene Newmeyer on August 16, 1933) is an American actress, dancer and singer. ... Lee J. Cobb Lee J. Cobb (December 8, 1911 – February 11, 1976) was an American actor. ... This article is about the producer and songwriter. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... // Cannes Film Festival opens, but closes in support of a French general strike without awarding any prizes. ... Justus D. Barnes, from The Great Train Robbery The Western is one of the classic American literary and film genres. ... J. Lee Thompson in the 1970s John Lee-Thompson (1 August 1914 - 30 August 2002), better known as J. Lee Thompson, was an English film director, active in England and Hollywood. ... Gregory Peck (April 5, 1916 – June 12, 2003) was an Academy Award-winning American film actor. ... For the Pakistani actor of the same name, see Umer Sharif. ...

The film was photographed in Super Panavision 70 by Joseph MacDonald, with original music by Quincy Jones. The story is very loosely based around the legend of the Lost adams diggings. Super Panavision 70 was the marketing brand used to identify movies photographed with Panavision 65mm cameras and spherical optics between 1959 and 1970. ... This article is about the producer and songwriter. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Plot

An old legend talks about a fortune in gold hidden in the 'Canyon del Oro', guarded by the Apache gods. A man named Adams found it, only to have the Indians capture and blind him and kill all his companions. Years later, Marshal Mackenna (Gregory Peck) kills an Indian chief who tried to bushwhack him and comes into possession of a map that supposedly shows the way to the treasure. Though sceptical, he memorizes the directions before burning the map. This article is about the Native American tribe, for other uses of the word see Apache (disambiguation). ...

Meanwhile, notorious Mexican outlaw Colorado (Omar Sharif) and his gang had been tracking the old man for two weeks to get the map, all while being chased by the U.S. army. He takes shelter in the house of the old judge of the town of Blaskburg, stealing horses, mules and food for his journey. He kills the judge and kidnaps his daughter, Inga Bergmann (Camilla Sparv), as a hostage in case the cavalry catches up with him.

When he finds that MacKenna has destroyed the map, he threatens Inga in order to force the lawman into leading them to the canyon. Colorado and one of his companions have a past history with Mackenna. Colorado was driven out of the state by Mackenna, while a fiery Indian woman, Hesh-ke (Julie Newmar, better known for her role as Catwoman on the TV show Batman), had been his girl. Colorado's main henchman is a hulking Indian warrior, Hachita (Ted Cassidy, Lurch on The Addams Family). Julie Newmar (born Julie Chalene Newmeyer on August 16, 1933) is an American actress, dancer and singer. ... This article is about the 1960s television series. ... Theodore Crawford Ted Cassidy (born July 31, 1932 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - January 16, 1979 in Los Angeles, California) was an American actor who played Lurch (in which role he was able to demonstrate his genuine skill on the harpsichord) and Thing on The Addams Family. ... The Addams Family is an American television series based on the characters in Charles Addams New Yorker cartoons. ...

On their trek, they are joined by a posse of townsmen who become infected by gold fever, among them a newspaper editor, a storekeeper, a priest and old Adams himself. They are trailed by the cavalry, under the leadership of Sergeant Tibbs (Telly Savalas). Almost everyone in the gang, (execpt for Mackenna, Colorado, Inga, Hesh-ke, and Hachita), are killed in an ambush by the cavalary or by other Apaches, (who are trying to protect the gold from outsiders). Tibbs periodically sends messengers back to his commanding officer, supposedly to keep him informed. Eventually, the patrol is whittled down to just a couple of men. At that point, Tibbs kills them and joins the outlaws. Aristotelis Telly Savalas (January 21, 1922 – January 22, 1994) was a prominent Emmy Award-winning American film and television actor whose career spanned four decades. ...

Finally they reach the place specified in the map, where a tall rock tower, 'The Shaking Rock', stands. As the sun rises on the specified day, the shadow of the pinnacle points to the hidden entrance to the canyon. Seeing this, MacKenna, who had been skeptical until then, begins to believe in the legend.

When they enter the canyon, they find that the sides are interlaced with rich veins of pure gold. The jealous Hesh-ke tries to kill Inga and falls to her death. Then, while the rest are celebrating their great fortune, MacKenna escapes with Inga to an Indian dwelling high up the canyon wall. Meanwhile, Colorado and Hachita kill Tibbs. Then the Indian turns on Colorado; he is one of the treasure's guardians and has summoned a band of Apaches. However, Colorado manages to kill him and pursues Mackenna. The Apaches attack, and because of their incessant firing, the rocks start to shake. Soon, the whole canyon begins crashing down around their ears. The Indians flee, allowing Colorado, MacKenna and Inga to escape as well. Colorado leaves in disgust, believing the gold has been buried beyond reach. In the final scene, a saddlebag on the horse Mackenna took in the mad scramble is shown to be full of gold.

Theme song

The opening song, Old Turkey Buzzard, is a recurring background theme. It was sung by José Feliciano and was composed by Quincy Jones with lyrics by Freddie Douglas. The theme has also been used on the Late Show with David Letterman in recent months, a 19 second clip is played after Dave throws his cue card through the glass window behind his desk. While Letterman has shown irritation with the sound clip, he has also at the same time called it both "amazing and inspirational". Feliciano made a guest appearance on the Late Show on October 16, 2007, singing a longer excerpt of the song. José Montserrate Feliciano García (born September 10, 1945) is a Puerto Rican singer and guitarist. ... Åœ “Late Show” redirects here. ... is the 289th day of the year (290th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

External links

• Mackenna's Gold at the Internet Movie Database