Main Cast: Richard Egan, Anthony Quinn, Michael Rennie, Jeffrey Hunter, Rita Moreno
Release Year: 1955
Country: US
Run Time: 103 minutes
Plot
Seven Cities of Gold is the story of Father Junipero Serra (Michael Rennie), the 18th century Jesuit priest who founded the first missions in California. Based on the novel by Isabelle Gibson Ziegler, the film adds a dash of intrigue and adventure to the story in the person of a Spanish military commander (Anthony Quinn) who clashes with the altrustic, peace-loving Father Serra. The tenuous relationship between the Spaniards and the local Indians is endangered when one of the military officers (Richard Egan) betrays an Indian girl (Rita Moreno). To avoid wholesale bloodshed, the errant officer willingly submits to tribal tortures to make amends for his misdeeds. Too melodramatic for some tastes, Seven Cities of Gold is redeemed by the breathtakingly beautiful color cinematography of Lucien Ballard. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Eduardo Noriega - Sergeant; Leslie E. Bradley - Galves; John Doucette - Juan Coronel; Victor Junco - Lt. Faces; Julio Villareal - Pilot Vila; Miguel Inclan - Schrichak; Pedro Galvan - Father Vizcaino; Fernando Wagner - Blacksmith; Jack Mower - Father; Kathleen Crowley - Mother; Yerye Beirut - Atanuk; Carlos Muzquiz - Dr. Pratt; Eduardo Gonzalez Pliego - Axajui; Jaime Gonzalez Quinones - Indian Boy
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 novel The Nine Days of Father Serra (1951) 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, Portola’s (Anthony Quinn) expedition to California is in search of fabled cities of gold. Meanwhile, peace loving missionary Father Serra (Michael Rennie), wishes to establish good relations with the local natives. These relations become strained when one of the military officers, Jose Mendoza (Richard Egan), betrays an Indian girl (Rita Moreno). To avoid conflict, Mendoza willingly submits to tribal torture to make amends for his misdeeds.
