Seven Cities of Gold (1955)

Very well executed

Nice effects though.

n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

In the 16th , 17th , 18th centuries, the Spaniards in New Spain (now Mexico) began to hear rumours of "Seven Cities of Gold" called "Cíbola" located across the desert, hundreds of miles to the north . The stories may have their root in an earlier Portuguese legend about seven cities founded on the island of Antillia by a Catholic expedition in the 8th century . The later Spanish tales were largely caused by reports given by the four shipwrecked survivors of the failed Narváez expedition, which included Álvar Núñez Cabeza De Vaca . This is the story of the making...and the forging...of California...when men chose gold or God...the sword or the Cross! . As the adventurers said they had heard stories from natives about cities with great and limitless riches . As the film deals with an expedition of Spanish conquistadors led by Capt. Gaspar De Portola (Anthony Quinn) who along with military and missionaries descend in 18th century California looking for secret Indian caches of gold . Along the way they suffer attacks , pains , and sacrifices , due the strong opposition of the aborigines . Meanwhile , roughnecks and Indians (Jeffrey Hunter , Rita Moreno) learn ways of God , thanks to Father Junipero Serra (Michael Rennie) . While traveling on foot from Vera Cruz in search for the seven fabled wealthy cities of gold , he injured his leg in such a way that he suffered from it throughout , though he continued to make his journeys on foot whenever possible , and he efforts to establish missions . As when in 1769 the party reached San Diego on July 1, Father Serra stayed behind to start the Mission San Diego De Alcalá, the first of the 21 California missions .Regular semi-lavish costume epic based on historic facts about conquistadors and missionaries in search for fabled Indian treasure in Western US , California . This colorful picture contains thrills , emotion , religious feeling , and wonderful outdoors from Mexico . Interesting , though a little boring screenplay by John Higgins based on the novel "The Nine Days of Father Serra" written by Isabelle Gibson . Main cast gives passable interpretation such as as Richard Egan , Michael Rennie and Anthony Quinn . Being accompanied by a notorious support cast as Rita Moreno , Jeffrey Hunter , John Doucette , and Mexican actors as Eduardo Noriega . Thrilling as well as sensitive musical score by Hugo Friedhofer . Luxurious cinematography by Lucien Ballard in CinemaScope and shot in Mexico : Guadalajara, Jalisco and Manzanillo . The motion picture was middlingly directed by Robert D. Webb. The flick was based on actual deeds about a famous Father , Fray Junipero Serra . He was born (November 24, 1713 – August 28, 1784) in Petra , Majorca . He was a Spanish Franciscan friar who founded a mission in Baja California and the first nine of 21 Spanish missions in California from San Diego to San Francisco, which at the time were in Alta California in the Province of Las Californias in New Spain. The Franciscans took over the administration of the missions on the Baja California Peninsula from the Jesuits after King Carlos III ordered them forcibly expelled from New Spain on February 3, 1768. Serra became the "Father Presidente." On March 12, 1768, Serra embarked from the Pacific port of San Blas on his way to the Californias. He began in San Diego on July 16, 1769, and established his headquarters near Monterey, California, at Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo. The missions were primarily designed to convert the natives. Other aims were to integrate the neophytes into Spanish society, and to train them to take over ownership and management of the land. As head of the order in California, Serra not only dealt with church officials, but also with Spanish officials in Mexico City and with the local military officers who commanded the nearby Presidios (garrisons). Serra was beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 25, 1988 and Pope Francis expects to canonize him in September 2015 during his first visit to the United States.

If you want to know about the founding of the city I consider the most beautiful in America, San Diego, than Seven Cities Of Gold is the film for you. It's a reverential account from a historical novel with the central figures Gaspar DePortola the soldier/conquistador who took care of the military end of things and Father Junipero Serra who handled the spiritual details. His mission which became the center of San Diego was the first of many he would found in the conquest of California.Anthony Quinn is Portola and he's certainly my idea of a Spanish conquistador. He's a believer, but has more faith in his ammunition and artillery than in the maxim of the Lord will provide. The figure of Father Junipero Serra is a controversial one in terms of the damage he did to the Indian culture. But the Catholic church in the Spanish and Portugese conquests also had a role in blunting somewhat the impact of the gold hungry conquistadors, it did shield their converts from the seamier depredations of European society. Serra who is played by Michael Rennie is done in the same saintly manner that Rennie played St. Peter in The Robe and Demetrius And The Gladiators. By all accounts Serra was a spartan figure for a priest.Jeffrey Hunter plays a new young Indian chief who is not crazy about these people invading his neighborhood. That concern is heightened exponentially after his sister Rita Moreno is despoiled by one of the Spanish soldiers looking for a little action. In fact it throws the fate of the whole expedition in doubt. Richard Egan is the despoiler who has some big decisions to make. Egan who was a serious Catholic in real life makes a decision commensurate with his real faith.Real historians might have trouble with Seven Cities Of Gold. But as entertainment, especially if one is Catholic, this should please you.

20th Century Fox's SEVEN CITIES OF GOLD (1955) is a handsome looking colourful adventure story set in early California in 1769. Yet it has been pilloried by some for not being more than it is. A pity really, for it is quite an enjoyable picture with great atmosphere nicely played by a committed cast and directed with good attention to detail by Robert D. Webb. This was another elaborate fifties Fox production photographed in beautiful Cinemascope and Delux color by the brilliant Lucian Ballard. It was produced for the studio by Robert Webb & Barbara McLean and was expertly written for the screen by Richard L. Breen and John C. Higgins from a novel by Isabelle Ziegler.A marvellous sense of time and place is established from the beginning as we follow the procession of the mighty Spanish Conquistators under Captain Portola (Anthony Quinn) in the quest for the famous seven deposits of gold the Indians had left behind. Accompanying the army is Father Junipero Serra (Michael Rennie) the revered Jesuit monk who founded the missions of San Diego and was responsible for making peace with the Diegueno Indians. One of Portola's young officers Jose Mendoza (Richard Egan) falls for the charms of a beautiful Indian girl Ula (Rita Moreno) and begins an affair with her. But when he tells her he cannot take her back with him she becomes offended, flees from him in a rage and accidentally falls to her death from a cliff top. The erstwhile peaceful Indians now want blood and vow to attack the Spanish stronghold unless Jose is handed over to them. At first Captain Portola will not adhere to the Indian demand but later Jose (just like Jeff Chandler's character in TWO FLAGS WEST) to allay any fear of an attack, sacrifices himself and to the ominous and incessant beat of the Indian war drums walks out of the fort gates to his preordained fate. The sequence is deeply moving and heartfelt!Performances are generally good throughout with Rennie being a standout in his best role since "The Day The Earth Stood Still" (1951). As the zealous Father Serra he is sincere and convincing. Good too is Richard Egan as the ill-fated Jose. A likable actor - Egan never got his fair dues for his screen efforts (He stole the acting honours from everyone around him in "Untamed" the same year). But the most disappointing bit of casting in SEVEN CITIES OF GOLD has to be Anthony Quinn. For an actor who has second billing in such a big production his part is not only poorly written but it is under written. He is hardly in the picture at all and when he does make an appearance his presence is merely perfunctory. Any of a dozen Hollywood bit players could well have played his part.One of the most stirring aspects of the picture is the extraordinary music by Hugo Friedhofer. A vital and arresting score full of appropriate Spanish, Mexican and Latin rhythms. The composer's vast knowledge of this music shines through. The main title is a broad passionate Granada-like Spanish cue with blazing trumpet that points up the all-conquering Conquistadors and is heard in different guises (including a spirited march variation) as the picture progresses. There is a religious theme for Father Serra as well as some wonderful mariachi cues and indigenous folk songs. One such song 'Senorita Carmelita' is sung by the troopers (including Egan) at an open-air feast. It is infectious and totally irresistible! SEVEN CITIES OF GOLD is Friedhofer's best and most enjoyable adventure score!SEVEN CITIES OF GOLD is a much better movie than its reputation reveals and deserves reappraisal for (1) Its authentic historical setting (How many movies besides "Captain From Castile" can you think of that covers the same period in American history?). (2) Its fine performances. (3) Its splendid Cinemascope/Color cinematography and (4) its rollicking musical score.

There's a mixture of interesting drama and camp in this story of Spanish conquest over California Native Americans. Egan and Quinn play Spanish officers who are on the lookout for the title cities, but who are saddled with priest Rennie who is along for the ride to build a mission. The men don't see eye to eye on how to handle the "Indian problem" and this lends itself to some nice discussion of and demonstration of the tactics used to control them. Eventually, the human elements of both the "whites" and the Indians begin to blend, but not without difficulty and eventually with great sacrifice. Contemporary audiences will be surprised that Egan is top-billed over Quinn and has the more substantial role. Even though Quinn is the authority figure in charge, the story is more about Egan. Quinn is believable as a Spaniard (as he was as so many other nationalities in his career!), but Egan is about as Spanish as William Bendix!! His flat American accent and obviously non-Latin coloring create a sensory paradox when he is onscreen. Rennie is also far from Spanish, but manages to pull it off better with a less distinct accent. All three male leads do a decent enough job acting-wise, but never really catch fire. The only other performers of note are Hunter and Moreno as natives. Hunter gives his usual impassioned performance (unfortunately covered in war paint most of the time) in one of many roles that were beneath his ability. Moreno gets very little to do, but tries to inject some emotion into the proceedings. While the Cinemascope lens captures some awesomely beautiful scenery, it also keeps the actors at a distance. Time and again, dramatic and emotional moments are played in practically long shots! There are very few close-ups in the movie. The two most beautiful cast members (Hunter and Moreno) get nothing closer than a two-shot. This puts a sort of wall up that detracts from the emotional investment in the story. Then there's the camp factor. It begins immediately with a hilarious voice-over that exclaims how accurate the story is and that the only change that was made is that the "words will be set in English." PLEASE! Moreno and Hunter, while compelling performers, are given ridiculous wigs and clothing to wear. Attempts at humor, handled adeptly by Hunter, seem to add a corny aspect to the otherwise serious film. There's a bizarre interlude with Egan and Rennie finding shelter in a sandstorm. The sword-and-sandal crowd may find themselves trying to spot Egan's winky as it veers to the left in his clingy green trousers (with oh-so-festive red cummerbund.) In all, it's a pretty, sometimes engaging movie, but rather silly at times and lacking any real emotional resonance.