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Actors: Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Magnificent Seven |
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Tired of being victimized by a gang of bandits, the Mexican-Indian families of a small Texas village decide to fight their tormenters with guns. The trio who go to town in search of weapons manage by happenstance to collect a team of gunfighters instead, who agree to defend the hamlet and rid it of the bandits in exchange for four to six weeks of room, board, and 20 bucks. This 1960 Western classic openly acknowledges its debt to the far superior Japanese masterpiece, Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai." The basic plot situation and many specific incidents closely parallel the original; other elements, from the unique way in which the farmers luck into their first two heroes, to the odd, effete character of Lee (Vaughn, with an indefinable accent), are new. This was an era of film when a Brooklyn Jew (Wallach, who gets some great lines but overacts) could play a bandido, and a German youth (Horst Buchholz, looking a bit like Christian Slater and Johnny Depp, but not as distinctive as either) could be a Hispanic love interest named Chico. The story is uneven, the acting and dialogue spotty, but the action and the Elmer Bernstein score are exhilarating, and the handsome young stars on their way up (McQueen, Bronson, Vaughn, and Coburn) as well as the stalwart and wise Brynner are a joy to behold.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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Certainly a Western for all ages, “The Magnificent Seven” is a film that shows the dedication of seven cowboys who ride into Mexico to protect a local village from
marauding bandits (led by Eli Wallach). Starring Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen (both are magical to watch!), the film captures well the local atmosphere and tonal integrity of the region. Aiding in this effort are James Coburn, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughan, Brad Dexter, and introducing a young German, Horst Buchholz. It is based upon a Japanese tale (“The Seven Samurai” fimed by Akira Kurosawa) and it certainly transcends the culture. It's the traditional tale of good guys versus very, very bad guys, but still lots of action, lots of depth to a film that is one of the milestones in the genre. Music is
so aptly composed by Elmer Bernstein.
--Bill Hobbs, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of The Magnificent Seven |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 30%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
Time/Era of Movie:
- 19th century
Western
Yes
Kind of western:
- hunting down outlaws
- rescue
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- cowboy
Age:
- 20's-30's
- 40's-50's
Hair color?
- bald
Hair style
- bald (man)
Body type
- average (man)
Events of movie makes character more...
- sad
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- blonde
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- average build (man)
How much in movie?
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Profession/status:
- accused criminal
- killer
Eccentric:
Yes
- emotionally unstable
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 40%
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard wavey
Ethnicity/Nationality
- Hispanic/Latinoa
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Sense of humor
- Cynical sense of humor
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Texas
The Americas (not US):
Yes
The Americas:
- Mexico
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- moderately messy visuals of dead
Movie makes you feel...
- very happy
- encouraged
How many deaths in film?
- dozens
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- kissing
Kind of violence:
- land battles
- mission to rescue
- mission to protect something
- mental battles
- hand to hand
- guns
- knives
Unusual forms of death
- perforation--bullets
- perforation--swords/knives
- blunt clubbing (like seals)
Any profanity?
- None
If Soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Orchestra/classical
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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