Being produced in 1955, this film used a number of stereotypes to justify the Spanish "invasion" of what became southern California. Today, as we look much differently at how conquerors treated indigenous peoples, our view of this film is much different than it probably would have been in 1955...more than half a century later.
This was not a film that was very good for the key actors. Worst of all was what I looked at as an almost silly role for actor Jeffrey Hunter...as the son of the chief and then the chief of the local Indians. I laughed out loud, something that shouldn't happen in a period drama. But the man was handsome! And then there was Anthony Quinn. Quinn was already hitting his stride when this film was made, but this film only scraped the surface of his talent. And then there's Richard Egan. I've never warmed up to Egan as an actor; the most I can say here is that he was pleasant on screen. The actor that comes off the best here is Michael Rennie. I remembered Rennie from his iconic role in "The Day The Earth Stood Still" and "Les Misérables", and he does a nice job here as the historical figure Father Junipero Serra.
I would be overstating it to say that the plot plods along, but I also didn't find myself sitting on the edge of my chair. And I found the ending disappointing because it never really brings in the greater context of how important the role of this mission (both military and religious) had on the history of California for decades to come. It was an opportunity lost.
Of interest here, however, is the role played by a young Rita Moreno.
This is one of those films I was glad to have watched...once. I would never be tempted to watch it again.
This was not a film that was very good for the key actors. Worst of all was what I looked at as an almost silly role for actor Jeffrey Hunter...as the son of the chief and then the chief of the local Indians. I laughed out loud, something that shouldn't happen in a period drama. But the man was handsome! And then there was Anthony Quinn. Quinn was already hitting his stride when this film was made, but this film only scraped the surface of his talent. And then there's Richard Egan. I've never warmed up to Egan as an actor; the most I can say here is that he was pleasant on screen. The actor that comes off the best here is Michael Rennie. I remembered Rennie from his iconic role in "The Day The Earth Stood Still" and "Les Misérables", and he does a nice job here as the historical figure Father Junipero Serra.
I would be overstating it to say that the plot plods along, but I also didn't find myself sitting on the edge of my chair. And I found the ending disappointing because it never really brings in the greater context of how important the role of this mission (both military and religious) had on the history of California for decades to come. It was an opportunity lost.
Of interest here, however, is the role played by a young Rita Moreno.
This is one of those films I was glad to have watched...once. I would never be tempted to watch it again.