Mackenna's Gold [Region 2] | ![Mackenna's Gold [Region 2]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QgpKMpsoL._SL500_.jpg)
| Director: J. Lee Thompson
Actors: Gregory Peck, Omar Sharif, Telly Savalas, Camilla Sparv, Keenan Wynn
Category: DVD
Buy Used: $30.52
Rating:  41 reviews
Format: Pal
Languages: French (Original Language), English (Original Language), Spanish (Original Language), Italian (Original Language), German (Original Language), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), Portuguese (Subtitled), Italian (Subtitled), German (Subtitled), Arabic (Subtitled), Dutch (Subtitled), Polish (Subtitled), Czech (Subtitled), Hungarian (Subtitled), Hindi (Subtitled), Turkish (Subtitled), Danish (Subtitled), Bulgarian (Subtitled), Swedish (Subtitled), Finnish (Subtitled), Icelandic (Subtitled), Hebrew (Subtitled)
Region: 2
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Running Time: 128 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5 x 0.6
EAN: 3333297500418
ASIN: B00005MEIT
Theatrical Release Date: May 10, 1969
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
| |
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
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 ingenue 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 Jose Feliciano's theme song, and you'll be in zany Western heaven. --Jeff Shannon
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 36 more reviews...
 Another Sony Reissue Scam March 14, 2009
dougt55 (Minnesota)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Three stars for the film, NO stars for Sony.
Columbia Pictures released many of its classic films on DVD in double-sided, widescreen & pan-and-scan format. However, after Sony bought out the Columbia film library, it then proceeded to reissue them in SINGLE-SIDE, PAN and SCAN ONLY format WITHOUT CHANGING THE UPC CODE OR FRONT COVER ARTWORK. Mackenna's Gold is only one example of this.
So because online DVD sellers cannot separate the two versions by UPC code (and some list the wrong aspect ratio or none at all), people who buy these titles for the widescreen content are cheated. The only way to tell the difference is looking at the back cover AFTER receiving the DVD (and sometimes that's wrong too) or by playing it. This is deceptive practice at its worst.
If you're a widescreen fan, beware of any Columbia title released by Sony.
A film pregnant of good intentions! February 17, 2009
Hiram Gomez Pardo (Valencia, Venezuela)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The main factor that one should remark around this movie resides in the best intentions to work out as a deserved homage to Erik von Stroheim's Greed (1924).
The ambition for gold as symbol of power and emblematic icon, permeates a good part of myths, tales and transcendental works (Wagner's masterpiece, for instance) when we have Alberich stating that he would change the possession of gold instead love.
But the best intentions (at least in this case) really fell down when an uninspired script and a very weak direction, twisted the story into simple fragments. The anecdote of the bad guy and the good guy who knows where the gold is supported by common places and untied episodes that seemed to serve as a huge introduction for the final sequence of the holy earthquake, as a clear warning the gold is part of the earth and so no man deserves to acquire it.
And so, we will watch an actor of the stature of Gregory Peck visibly disgusted with a script that simply doesn't resist the implicit transcendence of the portrait.
A majuscule disappointment.
Over-the-top crazy western with huge cast January 15, 2009
T O'Brien (Chicago, Il United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Mackenna's Gold is a western that has a lot going for it, but it's a movie that never really figures out how to put it all together. Out on the trail, Mackenna, a marshal in the town of Hadleyburg, is ambushed by an old Apache man and has to kill him. But before the old man dies, he tells Mackenna of the location of the "canyon del oro," the canyon of gold. The marshal's wary, but before he can get away he's captured by a bandit named Colorado and his gang who've been tracking the Apache. Using Mackenna as their guide, the gang heads for the mythical gold canyon, on the way encountering cavalry, an Apache war party, and a do-good posse out of Hadleyburg. Even at 128 minutes, all these storylines don't blend well together. It's like the producers and directors just threw it all together and hoped it would work. There is enough to recommend, great cast if somewhat mishandled and great locations, but don't go in thinking this is a great western.
Leading a huge cast, Gregory Peck is Mackenna, the straight-laced marshal roped into helping a bandit find the gold canyon. Peck is good, if somewhat out of place because he's so serious throughout. Omar Sharif is the high point of the movie as Colorado, a mysterious but cutthroat bandit, who's still likable, completely driven by the thought of millions in gold. An underused Telly Savalas plays Sgt. Tibbs, a cavalryman who'll turn on anyone. Colorado's gang includes Keenan Wynn, Ted Cassidy, Rudy Diaz, Robert Phillips, and Dick Peabody. Julie Newmar and Camilla Sparv are there for eye-candy, with Newmar doing a memorable nude swimming scene. The posse out of Hadleyburg is a crazy list of great actors including Eli Wallach, Lee J. Cobb, Burgess Meredith, Anthony Quayle, Raymond Massey, and Edward G. Robinson among others. But don't blink, these cameos are quick which is a shame as characters are wiped out left and right.
The DVD is a bit of a disappointment with the standard presentation of the movie, and not that great of a pan-n-scan movie with some fairly obvious scratches. The special features are a let down as well with some talent files in menu-form for cast and crew, a theatrical poster (not a trailer, just a small picture of a poster), and trailers for The Guns of Navarone and Lawrence of Arabia, but not Mackenna's Gold. By no means a classic western, but still an entertaining one, I'd recommend renting this one, or at least looking for a cheap copy.
 Lack of Widescreen -- Utter dissappointment!! September 26, 2008
J. Tinkess (Ottawa)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
A great movie with half the scenery gone. Save your money for a widescreen version.
McKenna's Gold August 21, 2007
Elizabeth Rogers (Santa Clarita county, California)
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
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.
|
|
|
