Seven Cities of Gold (film)
| Seven Cities of Gold | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Robert D. Webb |
| Screenplay by | Richard L. Breen |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Lucien Ballard |
| Edited by | Hugh S. Fowler |
| Music by | Hugo Friedhofer |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 103 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1.5 million[1] |
Seven Cities Of Gold is a 1955 historical adventure film directed by Robert D. Webb and starring Anthony Quinn, Richard Egan and Michael Rennie. It tells the story of the 18th. Century Franciscan priest, Father Junípero Serra and the founding of the first missions in what is now present day California. The screenplay is based on the 1951 novel The Nine Days of Father Serra by Isabelle Gibson Ziegler. The tag line of the film was “This is the story of the making ...and the forging...of California...when men chose gold or God...the sword or the Cross”.
Plot synopsis
In 1769, the expedition of Captain Gaspar de Portolà (Anthony Quinn) to California is in search of fabled cities of gold. Its religious advisor, peace-loving missionary Father Junipero Serra (Michael Rennie), wishes to establish good relations with the local natives and to build a string of missions, beginning at San Diego Bay. He is unexpectedly aided when Portola's prideful second in command, Lt. Jose Mendoza (Richard Egan), saves the life of Matuwir (Jeffrey Hunter), the son of the local chief. But when a supply ship fails to appear and the expedition prepares to return to Mexico a failure, Mendoza betrays Matuwir's sister Ula (Rita Moreno), whom he has seduced, resulting in her accidental death by a fall from a cliff. Threatened with annihilation by Matuwir's warriors when both Portola and Father Serra refuse to turn him over, Mendoza prevents war by surrendering himself to Matuwir for torture and execution. As the Spaniards begin to leave, the supply ship appears in the bay as if by a miracle.
Cast
- Anthony Quinn - Capt. Gaspar de Portola
- Richard Egan - Jose Mendoza
- Michael Rennie - Father Junipero Serra
- Jeffrey Hunter - Matuwir
- Rita Moreno - Ula
- Eduardo Noriega - Sergeant
- Lesley Bradley - Galves
- John Doucette - Juan Coronel
See also
References
- ^ Aubrey Solomon, Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History, Scarecrow Press, 1989 p249
