Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-24

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threats bdAt upon keeping honest
pioneers from inventing Cali
fornia. They may be pictured
here as being as susceptible as
anyone else to the lure Of loot,
but they take the church along
on their journeys Of conquest.
And they would rather make
friends with the Indians than
shoot them
The narrative in Seven Cities
Of Gold" Is solidiy based on the
actual life Of Father Juniperc
Sierra, who founded string of
missions up the California coast
back in the 18th Century
Whether the incidents setting
forth this story stay as close to
the truth Is something you won't
find answered here, but this is
not important. Seven Cities OF
Gold" does have q ring Of au-
thenticity.
$50
This Is q first EFFORT OF the
husband-wife producing team OF
Robert D. Webb and Barbara
Mclean and they can be well
coined to the fold. They filmed
their picture with webb doing
the directing as well) In Mexico
and Fra Serra's battle to convert
the Indians Is carried on before
some ruggedly impressive scenic
Backgrounds.
The f1lm concerns itself with
one expedition and the founding
Of one mission. the one at San
Diego. It manages to be dra-
matte about 1t. too. as it details
the trek from Mexico City, the
troubles with the Indians and the
fight the padre puts up to keep
the military party from pulling
out when the supply ship be-
comes overdue.
There are some moments, 1t
must be noted, when you could
doze on briefly. to return and
discover that the drama on the
screen had not progressed be-
yond your reach. or even pro-
crossed noticeably. Mr.. Webb Is
not the crispest movie director
and he does dawdle now and
again.
This Is . fault that keeps
"seven Cities Of Gold" from be-
ing Is impressive as 1t might
have been. 1t is not such a fault
Is to overbalance the engrossing
aspects Of the film.
4 4 -
Credit for much Of the solid
credibility Of the Capitol's new
screen attraction must 10 To
Michael Rennie and Anthony
Quinn. Rennie plays the Grip
pied ascetic Fra Sierra. whose
faith In Providence is unbounded
He happily circumvents the mill
tary to prove that the Indians
win be friendly II the invaders
Will only be friendly first. To-
ward the end he stands implac-
able, knowing full well that the
delayed supply ship will turn ur
within the nine days Of q novena
no matter what Capt. Portols
thinks.
Rennie Is most effective in th,
role. 1t ID q warmly human
thoroughly belieyable Fra Ser,
he creates rs . sort Of stroni
center pole for Seven Citiel
Of Gold"
Quinn plays Capt. Portola, VII,
Is the priests chief opponen
when the advisability of hcldin,
out 1T San Diego Bay become
debatable. The captain, as Quiw
portrayS him with understand
ing. II . hard and practical mill
tary man. but not o ruthless one
He Is. In fact, q credit to I'll
Of SPANS explorers and Quinn
may win himself q Spanish
speaking Oscar for this perform.
ance.
In general, Seven Cities o
Gold" sticks to the point an,
does not overdramatize or over
ronianticize in aiming for popu
lar appeal. The conflicts be
tween the priest and the expe
dition's leader are not real, no
large. but concerned with prac
ticability.
Even the slight romantic toucl
introduced does not follow tn
set pattern. A young Office
played by Richard Egan woos al
Indian lass played by Rita Mo
reno with no serious intent
not with malice aforethohgh,
She dies in a fall from a clii
and his conscience finally make
him turn himself over to tn
Indians for retribution, fata
type. Miss Moreno and Egar
incidentally, give these roles tn