Seven Cities of Gold ** (1955, Richard Egan, Anthony Quinn, Michael Rennie, Jeffrey Hunter, Rita Moreno) – Classic Movie Review 12,204

Seven Cities of Gold (1955, Jeffrey Hunter).

‘This is the story of the making and the forging of California when men chose gold or God the sword or the Cross’

Director Robert D Webb’s 1955 historical adventure DeLuxe Color and CinemaScope film Seven Cities of Gold boasts a very nice star cast in Richard Egan, Anthony Quinn, Michael Rennie, Jeffrey Hunter and Rita Moreno. However, New Orleans all-American boy Hunter and Puerto Rican girl Moreno are unwisely cast as Native Americans.

A grand, sparky cast is gathered for an ambitious and handsome but rather weak and routine costume adventure about the 1769 Spanish Conquistadors’ expedition from Mexico under Captain Gaspar de Portolà (Anthony Quinn) to seize California and discover the legendary seven cities of the title. It also focuses on Franciscan priest Father Junípero Serra, religious advisor to the expedition, and the founding of the first missions in today’s California.

The script offers interesting bits of everything – history, geography, religious instruction, Western lore – but the sum of the parts isn’t as special as the 20th Century Fox studio must have hoped.

Richard Egan stars as Lieutenant Jose Mendoza, Anthony Quinn stars as Captain Gaspar de Portolà, and Michael Rennie stars as Father Junípero Serra, along with Jeffrey Hunter as local chief’s son Matuwir, and Rita Moreno as his sister Ula. Also in the cast are Eduardo Noriega, John Doucette, Leslie Bradley, Victor Junces, Kathleen Crowley, and Carlos Muzquiz.

Richard L Breen’s screenplay is based on the 1951 novel The Nine Days of Father Serra by Isabella Gibson Ziegler.

Jeffrey Hunter is cast as a Native American after playing a Native American in White Feather for director Robert D Webb.

Filming took place from 15 March to 20 June 1955, included location shooting in Mexico.

The film was premiered in San Diego and was released on 8 September 1955.

The cast are Richard Egan as Lieutenant Jose Mendoza, Anthony Quinn as Captain Gaspar de Portolà, Michael Rennie as Father Junípero Serra, Jeffrey Hunter as Matuwir, Rita Moreno as Ula, Eduardo Noriega as Sergeant, Leslie Bradley as Galves, John Doucette as Juan Coronel, Julio Villarreal as Pilot Vila, Jack Mower as Father, Victor Junces, Kathleen Crowley, and Carlos Muzquiz.

© Derek Winnert 2022 Classic Movie Review 12,204

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