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Seven Cities of Gold (film)

January 01, 1970

Seven Cities of Gold is a 1955 American historical adventure film directed by Robert D. Webb and starring Richard Egan, Anthony Quinn and Michael Rennie, filmed in DeLuxe Color and CinemaScope. It tells the story of the eighteenth-century Franciscan priest, Father Junípero Serra and the founding of the first missions in what is now 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".

Seven Cities of Gold
Directed byRobert D. Webb
Screenplay byRichard L. Breen
Based onThe Nine Days of Father Serra
1951 novel
by Isabelle Gibson Ziegler
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyLucien Ballard
Edited byHugh S. Fowler
Music byHugo Friedhofer
Production
company
Distributed by20th Century Fox
Release date
  • September 8, 1955 (1955-09-08)
Running time
103 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1.5 million[1]

Plot edit

In 1769, the expedition of Captain Gaspar de Portolà to California is in search of fabled cities of gold. Its religious advisor, peace-loving missionary Father Junípero Serra, 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, saves the life of Matuwir, the grandson 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, 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 edit

Production edit

The film was based on the book The Nine Days of Father Sierra which was published in 1951.[2] The New York Times called it a "brief, tender, impressive novel."[3] Film rights were bought by 20th Century Fox who in June 1952 announced Charles Brackett would produce and John C Higgins would write the script.[4]

In April 1953 Fox announced the film would be made in CinemaScope and that Richard Breen was working on the script.

In October 1954, it was reported Joseph Petracca was writing the script and that the film would star James Mason.[5]

By January 1955 the film was titled Seven Cities of Gold. Brackett was out as producer, replaced by the husband and wife team of Barbara McLean, normally an editor, and Robert D. Webb, who would direct. The stars would be Richard Egan, Michael Rennie, Rita Moreno and Cameron Mitchell.[6] Jeffrey Hunter was cast as a Native American on the basis of his success as a Native American in White Feather, which he had just made for Webb.[7] Mitchell was eventually replaced by Anthony Quinn.[8]

Filming began 15 March 1955 and included location filming in Mexico.[9] It finished by 20 June.[10]

Release edit

The film was premiered in San Diego.[11]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Aubrey Solomon, Twentieth Century Fox: A Corporate and Financial History, Scarecrow Press, 1989 p249
  2. ^ "Books--Authors". New York Times. Mar 29, 1951. p. 23.
  3. ^ "Hero-Priest of Old California: Photograph by Josef Muench in "West Coast Portrait."". New York Times. Apr 22, 1951. p. 216.
  4. ^ "REPUBLIC TO MAKE FILM ON GABRESKI: Flying Ace May Play Himself in Picture Based on Story by Richard Tregaskis". THE NEW YORK TIMES. 30 July 1952. p. 19.
  5. ^ Hopper, Hedda (Oct 2, 1954). "Story of Pioneer Missionary in West to Be Told in Film". Chicago Daily Tribune. p. 16.
  6. ^ Hopper, Hedda (Jan 18, 1955). "'Seven Cities of Gold' to Star Richard Egan". Los Angeles Times. p. A6.
  7. ^ Schallert, Edwin (Feb 21, 1955). "Las Vegas Story Looms for Gable; Unique Navy Subject Put on Program". Los Angeles Times. p. B9.
  8. ^ THOMAS M. PRYOR (Mar 7, 1955). "THEODORA PLANS ITS SECOND MOVIE: Independent Firm of Cornel Wilde and Wife to Make 'Storm Fear' for U. A.". New York Times. p. 23.
  9. ^ Schallert, Edwin (Mar 9, 1955). "'Othello' Big Ring Event". Los Angeles Times. p. 17.
  10. ^ "Film Completed". Los Angeles Times. June 20, 1955. p. b8.
  11. ^ Schallert, Edwin (Sep 9, 1955). "'Seven Cities of Gold' Premiered in San Diego". Los Angeles Times. p. b8.

External links edit

January 01, 1970
seven, cities, gold, film, seven, cities, gold, 1955, american, historical, adventure, film, directed, robert, webb, starring, richard, egan, anthony, quinn, michael, rennie, filmed, deluxe, color, cinemascope, tells, story, eighteenth, century, franciscan, pr. Seven Cities of Gold is a 1955 American historical adventure film directed by Robert D Webb and starring Richard Egan Anthony Quinn and Michael Rennie filmed in DeLuxe Color and CinemaScope It tells the story of the eighteenth century Franciscan priest Father Junipero Serra and the founding of the first missions in what is now 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 Seven Cities of GoldDirected byRobert D WebbScreenplay byRichard L BreenBased onThe Nine Days of Father Serra1951 novelby Isabelle Gibson ZieglerProduced byBarbara McLeanRobert D WebbStarringAnthony QuinnRichard EganMichael RennieJeffrey HunterRita MorenoCinematographyLucien BallardEdited byHugh S FowlerMusic byHugo FriedhoferProductioncompany20th Century FoxDistributed by20th Century FoxRelease dateSeptember 8 1955 1955 09 08 Running time103 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget 1 5 million 1 Contents 1 Plot 2 Cast 3 Production 4 Release 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksPlot editIn 1769 the expedition of Captain Gaspar de Portola to California is in search of fabled cities of gold Its religious advisor peace loving missionary Father Junipero Serra 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 saves the life of Matuwir the grandson 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 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 editRichard Egan as Lt Jose Mendoza Anthony Quinn as Capt Gaspar de Portola Michael Rennie as Father Junipero 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 uncredited Production editThe film was based on the book The Nine Days of Father Sierra which was published in 1951 2 The New York Times called it a brief tender impressive novel 3 Film rights were bought by 20th Century Fox who in June 1952 announced Charles Brackett would produce and John C Higgins would write the script 4 In April 1953 Fox announced the film would be made in CinemaScope and that Richard Breen was working on the script In October 1954 it was reported Joseph Petracca was writing the script and that the film would star James Mason 5 By January 1955 the film was titled Seven Cities of Gold Brackett was out as producer replaced by the husband and wife team of Barbara McLean normally an editor and Robert D Webb who would direct The stars would be Richard Egan Michael Rennie Rita Moreno and Cameron Mitchell 6 Jeffrey Hunter was cast as a Native American on the basis of his success as a Native American in White Feather which he had just made for Webb 7 Mitchell was eventually replaced by Anthony Quinn 8 Filming began 15 March 1955 and included location filming in Mexico 9 It finished by 20 June 10 Release editThe film was premiered in San Diego 11 See also editList of American films of 1955References edit Aubrey Solomon Twentieth Century Fox A Corporate and Financial History Scarecrow Press 1989 p249 Books Authors New York Times Mar 29 1951 p 23 Hero Priest of Old California Photograph by Josef Muench in West Coast Portrait New York Times Apr 22 1951 p 216 REPUBLIC TO MAKE FILM ON GABRESKI Flying Ace May Play Himself in Picture Based on Story by Richard Tregaskis THE NEW YORK TIMES 30 July 1952 p 19 Hopper Hedda Oct 2 1954 Story of Pioneer Missionary in West to Be Told in Film Chicago Daily Tribune p 16 Hopper Hedda Jan 18 1955 Seven Cities of Gold to Star Richard Egan Los Angeles Times p A6 Schallert Edwin Feb 21 1955 Las Vegas Story Looms for Gable Unique Navy Subject Put on Program Los Angeles Times p B9 THOMAS M PRYOR Mar 7 1955 THEODORA PLANS ITS SECOND MOVIE Independent Firm of Cornel Wilde and Wife to Make Storm Fear for U A New York Times p 23 Schallert Edwin Mar 9 1955 Othello Big Ring Event Los Angeles Times p 17 Film Completed Los Angeles Times June 20 1955 p b8 Schallert Edwin Sep 9 1955 Seven Cities of Gold Premiered in San Diego Los Angeles Times p b8 External links editSeven Cities of Gold at IMDb nbsp Seven Cities of Gold at AllMovie nbsp Seven Cities of Gold at the TCM Movie Database nbsp Seven Cities of Gold at the American Film Institute Catalog nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Seven Cities of Gold film amp oldid 1201121382, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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