See it – This is "Indiana Jones" disguised as a western. It is overflowing with action and adventure as a group of outlaws, Indians, soldiers, townspeople, and a sheriff played by Gregory Peck search for fabled treasure in the old west. The impressive cast also includes Omar Sharif, Telly Savalas, Eli Wallach, Edward G. Robinson, and Lee Cobb. Although most movies during this time period were very family friendly, be aware that in addition to some violence, this movie has one of the first female nude scenes in a western. So keep it in mind before watching it with the kiddos. But if you are looking for a movie with non-stop action, this is one of the most action-packed, epic westerns you'll ever see. You've got Indian fights, cavalry fights, gunfights, knife fights, tomahawk fights, and…belt fights? No joke.

I have very fond memories of seeing Columbia's "MacKenna's Gold" before it was even released, as a sneak preview in Washington, DC. It was a glorious throwback even then. Critics at the time (as well as other commentators on this page) have noted the cheesy insertion of phony "exteriors" and I did too at the time, as well as scenes like a conversation between Gregory Peck and someone where actual location medium shots were inter-cut with studio ones against a rear projection screen. OK. But we must remember that some of the craftsmen involved here cut their teeth on large-scale color features of the 40s and 50s, and this is how they made the big ones then (examples: the second unit cameraman's first credit dates back to 1931; Art Director Cary Odell had been working at this studio, and no other, since 1942).

As for the continuity and motivational problems, I didn't notice any of them; perhaps I saw a version before trimming. But even I, at the age of 18, winced at the hokey Turkey Buzzard title song, Omar Shariff looked and sounded funny and out-of-place in a Western, and Italian character actor Eduardo Ciannelli, as the dying Indian Peck finds in the wilderness (who passes along his plot-motivating secret), was comically miscast, but once again, this is how such things were done in those days. This was indeed twilight time for the old Hollywood. The same year, "Once Upon A Time In The West" and "The Wild Bunch" would change the Western forever.

But bad special effects? "MacKenna's Gold" was supposed to be exhibited in Cinerama, but the studio executives abandoned that idea in favor of a general release, which would still be in…..

SUPER PANAVISION 70...!

You had to be there, in that old movie palace in downtown Washington, on that day to see those "cheesy" special effects through those young eyes on that ultra wide screen. The desperate ride down the sides of the canyon wall, seen from the riders' points of view, (with the two competing women fighting it out, until Julie Newmar takes the Big Fall) and the climactic collapse of the canyon itself, was thunderously, unexpectedly, thrillingly vivid! I left the darkness vibrating with excitement. Of course my preview comment card reflected my youthful approval! Corny? Over-the-top? Hammily written and acted? Sure, but like I said, you had to be there….