(by Nazi_Fighter_David on 17 July 2005)

The film opens with a narration by Victor Jory about an Apache legend: a hidden canyon, guarded by the Apache gods and rich with gold? As long as the Apaches kept the canyon a secret and never touched the gold, they would be strong and powerful?
Marshal Mackenna (Gregory Peck) wasted three years chasing that wild goose? He immediately knew the place and identified it as 'Shaking Rock' but insisted to the old Apache dying chief who was keeping the map that there is no gold around there: "The only dust I found was prairie dust!"
Before the chief dies, Mackenna destroys the map, confident it is a myth?
When the ludicrous Mexican bandit Colorado (Omar Sharif) appears on the scene with his gang, and discovers the useless burned map, he took Mackenna?his living map?to his hideout in a little box canyon and forced him to lead him to the legendary canyon?
Colorado's gang includes Hesh-Ke (Julie Newmar), an attractively jealous Apache woman who was once involved with Mackenna, Hachita (Ted Cassidy), a strong and deadly Apache warrior, and a captive girl called Inga (Camilla Sparv), daughter of a murdered judge who put a price on Colorado's head?
Along the way, the group is joined by 'good' citizens, dirty scheming ambitious men, a lot of bronco Apaches on the prowl, and the U.S. Cavalry after anybody and everybody? Probably after the gold too?
"Mackenna's Gold" remains a curious serial-like Western melodrama packed with stars and pretensions above its situation? The script completely wastes the fine cast? On a lower level, it is quite enjoyable? Julie Newmar is a delight, a natural beauty and a distinct "presence" that immediately captivates the audience? There are scenic location shots of the vastness of the desert, exciting action scenes, pretty spectacular scenes of danger but all hampered by frustrating special effects