Cinema: Stupefyin' Dross

Gregory Peck in an underwater love scene? The notion is only improbable; the picture is impossible.

Conceived as a classic western about the pursuit of one of those bitch goddesses, Mackenna's Gold is manned by an honor roll of movie stars of the '40s: Lee J. Cobb, Raymond Massev, Eduardo Ciannelli, Burgess Meredith, Edward G. Robinson, Keenan Wynn. Together they pick the hambone clean in a search for the usual lost gold cache —before they get wiped out in the customary massacre. Left over are a Mexican villain (Omar Sharif), leathery Marshal Mackenna (Gregory Peck), one surly, burly Apache and two obligatory...

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