The Magnificent Seven (Steve McQueen, Yul Brenner)
Directed by John Sturges
Writing credits William Roberts (screenplay)
Brand
New
Authentic U.S. Region 1
U.S. Factory Sealed
Free Shipping
Genre:Western /
Adventure / Drama
Tagline: They were seven - And they fought like seven hundred!
Plot Outline: An oppressed Mexican peasant village assembles seven
gunfighters to help defend their homes. A remake of ''The Seven Samurai'', this American
version star Yul Brenner, Charles Bronson, Steve McQueen, and Robert Vaughn, just to
name a few. They are picked to guard a Mexican village from Banditos that come every now
and then to take whatever the town has grown since their last visit. When they are
hired, they go to the town and teach the villagers how to defend themselves. When the
leader of the bandits come ,they fight him and his men off. the second time he comes the
villagers give the seven to them, due to a heated argument. The leader of the bandits
take their guns and throw them out of town he gives them horses and gives their guns
back to them when they are far out of town. The seven decide that they aren't going to
run, and head back to the village for a final showdown.
Trivia:Robert Vaughn played the role
of Lee in the film. He later came back to star in the TV series
"The Magnificent Seven" (1998) playing Judge Oren Travis.
Goofs: Continuity: After Britt throws the knife into the cowboy in the
rail yard, two train engineers are seen leaning out of the engine's window observing the
scene. In the next shot, one of the engineers has moved to the platform between the
engine and the tender car.
Quotes: Harry Luck: [ Dying words]
Well, I'll be damned. Chris Adams: Maybe not...
Awards: Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win & 2 nominations
User Comments: Top drawer production, 25 April 2003
Author: Poseidon-3 from
Cincinnati, OH
What could have been a fairly routine western is lifted into the realm of classic
thanks to some smart casting, sturdy direction and a rousing music score. A reworking of
Akira Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai", the story concerns a Mexican village which is
constantly pillaged by bandit Wallach and his small army of followers. Three of the
villagers hire a mix of gunslingers to come back to protect and defend the town and rid
it of the oppressors. Brynner leads the group (seven in total, hence the title) as they
teach the farmers how to use a gun and prepare the town for the eventual onslaught from
Wallach. The already tough odds are lengthened when some of the villagers begin to lose
faith in the power of the seven. Brynner is solid in the lead role (though,
unfortunately, his later role in "Westworld" adds an odd shading to his character here.)
He, McQueen and Coburn define the word cool as they go about their various exploits
before and after they join forces. McQueen and Coburn are men of few words, but of
fierce actions when necessary. Bronson (rather young and handsome, though still a little
craggy looking) does his best with a pretty mushy storyline involving the youth of the
village. Buchholz overacts feverishly as a determined, but inexperienced youth. Vaughn
seems a tad out of place and has one major ham moment during a nightmare. Dexter (easily
the most often forgotten member of the group) has a few moments, but his character is
not particularly defined. Wallach excels in the showy role of the chief bandit. His
brash performance is a great counterpoint to the more steely and solemn title gunmen.
The villagers come off as hapless and pitiful, for the most part. Along the way, there
are several memorable vignettes that showcase the charm of the actors involved. The
casting director did an almost miraculous job of using known stars and picking
supporting actors who would soon be just as big so that the film now has virtually an
all-star cast. The biggest shot in the arm of all is the monumental score by Elmer
Bernstein. The instantly recognizable title music is just one of the many great pieces
he created for the film. The sometimes laconic story is carried a long way by his score.
The concept of disparate characters being brought together for a common cause has been
done many times, but rarely with this level of quality. It's sometimes hard to believe
that the film was made in 1960 as its look, content and cast make it seem like a later
film. It was definitely a touchstone in the development of the western film.
