Mackenna's Gold
Mackenna's Gold

Mackenna's Gold

1969Movie128 minEnglish

A bandit kidnaps a Marshal who has seen a map showing a gold vein on Indian lands, but other groups are looking for it too, while the Apache try to keep the secret location undisturbed.

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Insights

IMDb6.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes40%
Google Users65%
Director: J. Lee ThompsonGenres: Western, Adventure, Action

Plot Summary

In the heart of the Wild West, a notorious outlaw named Colorado is on the hunt for a legendary Spanish gold mine, the "Serpent's Eye," rumored to be hidden in the canyons of Arizona. A tough but honorable Sheriff, MacKenna, is deputized by the town's corrupt judge to escort a beautiful young woman, Inga, who holds a vital map to the mine. MacKenna finds himself caught between Colorado's ruthless gang and the greedy townspeople, all vying for the immense riches.

Critical Reception

Mackenna's Gold was a commercial success upon its release, grossing over $20 million at the box office. However, critical reception was largely mixed to negative, with many critics finding the plot convoluted and the action sequences excessive. Despite this, its star-studded cast and sweeping cinematography were often noted. It has since gained a cult following among Western enthusiasts.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its epic scope and star power.
  • Criticized for an overly complicated plot and excessive violence.
  • Appreciated by some for its classic Western elements and scenery.

Google audience: Audiences generally found the film to be an entertaining, albeit flawed, Western with good action sequences and strong performances from its leads. Some viewers found the story engaging, while others felt it was too long and convoluted.

Fun Fact

Although the film was shot in the scenic landscapes of Monument Valley and the American Southwest, the production faced significant challenges, including a harsh desert environment and logistical difficulties due to the remote locations.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
Wuchak

Wuchak

***Entertaining, but comic booky 1969 Western with a superlative cast*** "MacKenna's Gold" (1969) deals with the insanity of ‘gold fever’ and builds-up a good amount of anticipation concerning the secret gold canyon. Does it exist or d...
John Chard

John Chard

How to succeed by failing big? Mackenna's Gold is directed by J. Lee Thompson and adapted for the screen by Carl Foreman from a novel of the same name written by Henry Wilson Allen (AKA: Heck Allen, Henry Allen & Will Henry!), which in t...