The Magnificent 7 (1960)

[Zone Fighter]

The Magnificent 7 (1960)

Directed by John Sturges

Yul Brynner - Chris
Eli Wallach - Calvera
Steve McQueen - Vin
Brad Dexter - Harry Luck
Charles Bronson - Fernardo O'Reilly
Robert Vaughn - Lee
Horst Buchholz - Chico
James Coburn - Britt
Rosenda Monteros - Petra
Vladimir Sokoloff - Old man
Jorge Martinez de Hoyas - Hilario
Rico Alaniz - Sotero
Natividad Vacío - Tomas

A westernized version of The Seven Samurai. Not intially popular in the US but now considered a western classic. Spawned 3 movie sequels and a TV series. Also remaded in Italy as The Seven Magnificent Gladiators.

Mexican villagers tired of being raided by Calvera's bandits hire 7 men to help them defeat the bandits.

Yul Brynner was originally to direct the film but was given the lead role instead.

This was the first western for Yul Brynner and Eli Wallach. Steve McQueen had his own western TV series "Wanted Dead or Alive" and to get the time to do the film he faked a car crash. While he was supposed to be recovering he made the film instead of episodes of the tv series. Charles Bronson had previously apppeared in episodes of "Gunsmoke". Robert Vaughn went on to star in "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." tv series. Robert Vaughn (Lee) is the only one of the 7 still living.

Vin: You know the first time I took a job as a hired gun, fellow told me, "Vin, you can't afford to care." There's your problem.
Chris: One thing I don't need is somebody telling me my problem.
Vin: Like I said before, that's your problem. You got involved in this village and the people in it.
Chris: Do you ever get tired of hearing yourself talk?
Vin: The reason I understand your problem so well is that I walked in the same trap myself. Yeah. First day we got here, I started thinking: Maybe I could put my gun away, settle down, get a little land, raise some cattle. Things that these people know about me be to my credit - wouldn't work against me. I just didn't want you to think you were the only sucker in town.

[Xenorama ™]

it's really quite a good movie, with lots of action and everything. THE SEVEN SAMURAI has been remade SO many times, starting with this and counting:
THE SAVAGE FIVE (Shaw Movie)
BEACH OF THE WAR GODS
BATTLE IN BEYOND THE STARS
A BUGS LIFE
the gladiator movie
and i'm sure i've missed some more.
this is a way fun movie, great score, too!

[Gwangi]

There are so many stories involved with this great movie. Brynner not particularly liking McQueen trying to upstage him, when McQueen was using various hand gestures to grab the attention.

Brynner was set to direct while his good friend Anthony Quinn was to star. But then Quinn was eventually squeezed out of the project all together.

James Coburn, thanks to his good friend Robert Vaughn, lucked out in getting the role he really wanted - the equivalent of Kyuzo from “Seven Samurai”.

My favorite line:

Coburn’s Britt: 'Nobody takes my guns and tells me to run, nobody!”

Of course there is this recent talk about remaking “Seven Samurai” with Chinese beauty Ziyi Zhang. If they want to take the basis of Kurosawa’s story and rework it, I have no problems with that. (As David pointed out, it’s been done numerous times). But remaking it as a straight samurai movie – not a good idea.

[Zone Fighter]

They all tried to upstage Yul Brynner. When they were crossing the stream they were supposed to quickly ride through but all stopped to drag the scene out. Leaving Yul Brynner to wonder what was going on. Chico's "bull fight" was an adlib on Horst Buchholz's part. The director thought it was great and left it in.

[Gwangi]

Exactly. Those are funny story as well.

But it was Bynner who singled out McQueen in particular, because the two shared many scenes together. I think the most amusing one was the scene where both are in the hearst ready to take the casket on to Boot Hill. As Yul is lighting up his cigar, you see McQueen shaking the rifle cartridges close to his ear. And when he’s done with that, he then oddly removes his hat, as if he’s checking the wind velocity (!), before they get ready to move. Steve did his job, because, I only notice him and do not realize that Brynner is right there with him!

[Zone Fighter]

McQueen was jealous of Buchholz. McQueen thought he was the young, good looking up and coming actor and then the better looking young Buchholz was cast.

Brynner got married on the set. I bet McQueen hated all the attention Brynner got from that.

Brad Dexter who played Harry Luck, supposed to be a good gambler frequently lost in cards to Brynner.

[Gwangi]

Yes, when Buchholz stated he couldn't stand McQueen's guts, that took me by surprise!

The other amusing story involves Eli Wallach's "gang", the actors playing the bandits. They they took care of him and he was in essence, their patriarch. They were all just about staying in character.

[Xenorama ™]

what a great movie. i'm watching it again right now, and there's so much going on i see something new every time.