Well, the basic premise is sort of like 1963s "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World". Remember in that one, with his last breath a dying man reveals to a random group of motorists where a fortune in stolen cash is hidden, sending the drivers on a wild race to see who can claim the loot first!
In the case of "Mackenna's Gold", a map carried by a dying Indian reveals how to find a lost canyon full of gold, sending a random group of western characters, lawmen, outlaws, townsmen, apaches and cavalry on a wild race to get the loot.
However "Mad, Mad World" was a deliberate comedy while "Mackenna's Gold" turned out to be more of an unintentional one.
When it was first released one critic called it, "... the most expensive, star-studded B-movie ever made, a gargantuan dud of absolutely stunning dreadfulness".
But au contraire, I think the film is far more fun than that. If you are in the mood it's very watchable, maybe even a guilty pleasure.
Apparently the "Lost Adams" canyon in the movie is pretty closely based on the real legend and director, J Lee Thompson, showed he could handle a western. Except for a few dull spots shot in the studio, the film is spectacular, following in John Ford's footsteps through Monument Valley.
Thompson even goes one better than Ford, who never had a skinny dip in any of his westerns. "Mackenna's Gold" doesn't make that mistake with Omar Sharif and Julie Newmar providing the skin in the dip; a surprise as I sat with the family packed into our Ford sedan at the drive-in around 1970.
Gregory Peck as Marshal Mackenna is his monolithic self, but who ever wanted an over-emotive Greg. Omar Sharif as Colorado, the leader of the outlaws, gets the best lines, it's as though he got the over-the-top vibe and didn't take it too seriously.
Finally, few survive flying tomahawks, knives, bullets and falling rocks. Mackenna, the only one not bitten by the gold bug, gets the girl and rides off with a saddle bag full of gold nuggets he doesn't know is there until, presumably, he reaches in for a handful of trail mix.
"Mackenna's Gold" is the perfect movie to "Gogglebox"; you just can't help talking back to the screen. Its far more enjoyable than the critics of the day would allow.
In the case of "Mackenna's Gold", a map carried by a dying Indian reveals how to find a lost canyon full of gold, sending a random group of western characters, lawmen, outlaws, townsmen, apaches and cavalry on a wild race to get the loot.
However "Mad, Mad World" was a deliberate comedy while "Mackenna's Gold" turned out to be more of an unintentional one.
When it was first released one critic called it, "... the most expensive, star-studded B-movie ever made, a gargantuan dud of absolutely stunning dreadfulness".
But au contraire, I think the film is far more fun than that. If you are in the mood it's very watchable, maybe even a guilty pleasure.
Apparently the "Lost Adams" canyon in the movie is pretty closely based on the real legend and director, J Lee Thompson, showed he could handle a western. Except for a few dull spots shot in the studio, the film is spectacular, following in John Ford's footsteps through Monument Valley.
Thompson even goes one better than Ford, who never had a skinny dip in any of his westerns. "Mackenna's Gold" doesn't make that mistake with Omar Sharif and Julie Newmar providing the skin in the dip; a surprise as I sat with the family packed into our Ford sedan at the drive-in around 1970.
Gregory Peck as Marshal Mackenna is his monolithic self, but who ever wanted an over-emotive Greg. Omar Sharif as Colorado, the leader of the outlaws, gets the best lines, it's as though he got the over-the-top vibe and didn't take it too seriously.
Finally, few survive flying tomahawks, knives, bullets and falling rocks. Mackenna, the only one not bitten by the gold bug, gets the girl and rides off with a saddle bag full of gold nuggets he doesn't know is there until, presumably, he reaches in for a handful of trail mix.
"Mackenna's Gold" is the perfect movie to "Gogglebox"; you just can't help talking back to the screen. Its far more enjoyable than the critics of the day would allow.