“If God didn’t want them sheared, He would not have made them sheep.” —Calvera
Today’s quick review: The Magnificent Seven. After years of paying tribute to Calvera (Eli Wallach) and his bandits, the farmers of a rural Mexican village hire Chris Adams (Yul Brynner) and a band of American gunfighters (Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter, James Coburn, and Horst Buchholz) to take care of the problem. However, in spite of the Americans’ skill, Calvera proves to be a challenging opponent.
The Magnificent Seven is a classic Western adventure and an adaptation of the film Seven Samurai. Yul Brynner leads an ensemble cast of gunfighters who risk their lives to defend a Mexican farming village. The film hits a sweet spot for the Western genre, blending flashy action with a serious story and efficient character work. The Magnificent Seven has a straightforward conflict but executes it with true skill, earning its place as a classic.
The Magnificent Seven has an excellent cast and knows how to use it. The nature of the story means that few of the characters get much screen time, but every minute of it counts. Even their short introductions and limited lines of dialogue are enough to make the Seven a memorable bunch, thanks to the sense of presence that the actors bring to their scenes. Special mention goes to Yul Brynner and Eli Wallach for leading an already talented cast.
Apart from its cast, The Magnificent Seven delivers an earnest conflict that hits just the right emotional notes. The heart of the film is the question of whether the Seven are fighting for the money, as usual, or to defend the farmers. The film does not delve too deeply into this theme, but it gives the fighting an emotional layer that helps hold everything together. The subplots are similar: short on detail, but rewarding to follow.
The Magnificent Seven will appeal to fans of the bold, confident side of the Western genre. The Seven strike a perfect balance between self-interested guns for hire and classic heroes, and their world feels alive and vibrant. Anyone who enjoys a good shootout will get something out of the film, while the right kind of Western fan will find it thoroughly enjoyable. Give it a shot.
For a somewhat more cynical Western about American mercenaries on a job in Mexico, check out Vera Cruz. For a classic Western about a wandering gunfighter who intervenes in a rural conflict, try Shane. For a less polished Western starring Yul Brynner as a gun for hire, try Invitation to a Gunfighter. For a Western comedy with a loosely similar premise, try Three Amigos.
[7.7 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054047/). I give it a 7.5 to 8.0 for a great cast and an adventurous story.