“Mackenna’s Gold” is a 1969 Western film directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring an ensemble cast including Gregory Peck, Omar Sharif, and Telly Savalas. The film is set in the American Southwest during the 1870s and follows a group of adventurers who go in search of a legendary canyon that is said to be filled with gold. The film’s plot, action, and performances are memorable, but the breathtaking scenery of the Southwest is perhaps its most outstanding feature.
The movie was shot on location in several national parks and other scenic areas, showcasing some of the most spectacular and awe-inspiring landscapes in the United States. The scenery in “Mackenna’s Gold” is not just a background but a character in the story, adding to the film’s sense of adventure, wonder, and danger.
Monument Valley, Arizona and Utah
Monument Valley, situated on the border of Arizona and Utah, is one of the most iconic and photographed landscapes in the world. Its towering red rock formations and mesas have been featured in numerous Western movies and TV shows, including John Ford’s “Stagecoach” and “The Searchers.”
In “Mackenna’s Gold,” Monument Valley serves as the film’s primary location, representing the vast and mysterious canyon that holds the treasure of the Apache legend. The imposing buttes and cliffs of Monument Valley provide a stunning and unforgettable backdrop to the film’s action, especially in the scenes where Mackenna and his party ride through the canyon, pursued by bandits and Indians.
Zion National Park, Utah
Zion National Park, located in southwestern Utah, is renowned for its towering sandstone cliffs, lush vegetation, and winding canyons. In “Mackenna’s Gold,” Zion serves as the location of the oasis where Mackenna and his group rest and resupply on their way to the canyon. The scenes set in the oasis showcase the park’s natural beauty, including the sparkling waterfalls, the verdant trees and bushes, and the colorful rock formations. The oasis scenes provide a striking contrast to the desolate and hostile landscape of the rest of the movie, highlighting the importance of nature and refreshment in the journey of the adventurers.
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona
The Grand Canyon, one of the world’s most famous natural wonders, is a vast and spectacular chasm carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. In “Mackenna’s Gold,” the Grand Canyon serves as the location of the climactic showdown between the treasure hunters, the Apache warriors, and the US cavalry. The scenes set in the Grand Canyon showcase the dizzying heights, the rugged terrain, and the awe-inspiring vistas of the park, underscoring the epic and monumental scale of the film’s finale.
The Grand Canyon scenes also provide a symbolic resonance to the film’s themes of greed, power, and redemption, as the characters confront the depths of their own motivations and morals in the face of nature’s grandeur.
Death Valley National Park, California
Death Valley, located in eastern California, is one of the hottest and driest places in the world, with temperatures that can reach over 130 degrees Fahrenheit. In “Mackenna’s Gold,” Death Valley serves as the location of the film’s opening scenes, where Mackenna is ambushed by the Apache and forced to reveal the location of the canyon.
The stark and barren landscape of Death Valley provides a harsh and unforgiving setting to the film’s first act, emphasizing the brutal and violent nature of the conflict between the Apache and the white settlers.
