The Guns of the Magnificent Seven

Tim O'Brien started his review by saying, “Now this may just be me, but George Kennedy doesn’t resemble Yul Brynner too much. After two “Magnificent Seven” movies with Brynner as the star, the third movie starred a new ‘Chris’ leading a new seven. Of course, the posters for “The Guns of the Magnificent Seven” have to nail this down. So is he the same character? A different guy named Chris? Did he undergo extensive plastic surgery? Okay, maybe not that last one, but you get the idea. So, before loyalists chap their hides over Denzel Washington leading a new Magnificent Seven, let’s take a look at the first actor to replace Brynner.” Three years after “Return of the Magnificent Seven” comes director Paul Wendko for the next sequel, “Guns of the Magnificent Seven,” released in 1969. This is different from the first two movies with Kennedy, a year after he earned the Best Supporting Actor Oscar from “Cool Hand Luke,” entering in the franchise. However, the second movie was basically a repeat of the original film, the third gets credit for originality both in story and casting. Also, Elmer Bernstein’s score is a plus, especially with some new music scores.

Deep in Mexico, a revolutionary leader, Quintero (Fernando Rey) is captured by an evil Mexican colonel, Diego (Michael Ansara), who runs a prison that looks like a fortress more than anything else. One of Quintero’s most loyal followers, Maximilliano, played by Reni Santoni, travel north to look for help in getting Quintero out of prison before it’s too late. In a border town, Max finds a man named Chris Adams (George Kennedy) who is trying to save another man, Keno (Monte Markham), from a lynch mob. Chris agrees to help out and form a group of soldiers to help him in the prison break. They find help from a local bandit Lobero (Frank Silvera) and his gang – this is a change of pace since the original film, but the odds still seem impossible.

O’Brien said, “The Seven: Kennedy is more than capable of handling the lead role, and while he doesn’t look like Brynner at all, he brings the same characteristics to the part: loyal, honest, and always willing to stand up for the downtrodden. He’s also chomping in a stogie throughout, a trademark made recognizable with Brynner.” As for the other six, this is by far the most unique group when comparing the three sequels. Markham as Keno, the Steven McQueen right hand man role, isn’t given so much to do after he’s introduced, but as a right-hand man, he does what he's supposed to. Look cool while helping the leader. Santoni’s Max is a young person with little fighting experience but who wants nothing more than to join the fight.

Adding a character of color, dynamite expert Cassie (Bernie Casey) the range of range is added and even more so with another member of the seven, Slater (Joe Don Baker), a one-armed Confederate gunslinger. Cassie and Slater would seem to have nothing in common, but a friendship develops when they realize how similar they really are. James Whitmore, as great as ever, plays Levi, an old knife fighter who’s settle with a family but takes the job for money. Adding some depth to the character, Levi bonds with Emil, played by Tony Davis, a young Mexican boy looking for his father. Unfortunately, the seventh member, P.J., played by Scott Thomas, receives little development which is sad because an expert gunfighter/rope throwing dying of tuberculosis has some potential.

O’Brien said, “The villain is a definite step-up here after Emilio Fernandez’s part in “Return”. Ansara plays Diego as a sadistic commandant trying to snuff out the revolution in his district no matter what the cost, especially when it comes to torturing his prisoners. One torture scene midway through the movie shows a creative way to take care of prisoners – bury them in sand up to their throats and then trample and suffocate them with horses walking all around them.” Ansara’s Diego may not be as developed as Calvera or Lorca in the previous two movies, but he’s a complete villain and sometimes that’s all you need.

Some critics said this movie is too slow and to be fair, there isn’t a lot of action. However, none of these movies are really action-packed. Characters are introduced, we get to know them, and then insert the action so that when some of the seven do eventually die, their deaths mean something emotionally. The finale in the movie is on par with the shootout at the end of the original. O’Brien said, “Finally ready for their assault, Chris leads the seven and a small group of farmers in an attack on Diego’s prison, dubbed the ‘Cave of the Rats,’ and his two-hundred-man garrison.”

The movie is loud, messy, and violent, and completely different from the rest of the series. First, the seven go on the attack instead of waiting to be attacked against the larger crowd. Second, two characters are killed almost at the start of the battle, and for a while it looks like the plan might actually fail. The attack is a great action scene from start to finish and the prison set also looks really nice. There’s even some surprises as to who survives and who doesn’t keep you guessing.

This is a worthy sequel to the original. O’Brien credited, “It does justice in every way while still putting its own spin on a familiar story.” Good casting and a strong script that really develops the new members of the “Magnificent Seven” with a great, action-packed finale.

This is a good sequel, even though it is not as good as the original. It is better than the last sequel, I can tell you that. Check it out on Tubi and see for yourself.

Look out next week when I look at the next sequel in “The Magnificent Seven Month.”

Return of the Seven

The first sequel to the 1960 western, “Return of the Seven,” released in 1966, only has one cast member of the original film, Yul Brynner as Chris Adams.

Emanuel Levy said in his review, “It was dismissed by most critics as unsatisfactory, repetitive, and cliché-ridden, compared to the first picture.”

Robert Fuller replaces Steve McQueen of Vin and Julian Mateos replaces Horst Buchholz as Chico.

Levy noted, “The film was written by Larry Cohen and directed by a second-tier helmer, Burt Kennedy, who made some Western with John Wayne (all mediocre).”

The cast includes Warren Oates, Claude Akins, Jordan Christopher, Virgilio Teixeira. Emilio Fernández is the villain, and famous Spanish actor Fernando Rey plays a priest.

Fernando Rey was also in the next film, “Guns of the Magnificent Seven,” but playing a different character.

Gunmen force the men in a small Mexican village to go with them to the desert. Among the kidnapped farmers is Chico, played by Julián Mateos, who was one of the seven hired gunslingers responsible for eliminated the village of the oppressive bandit, Calvera.

Chico’s wife, Petra, played by Elisa Montés, goes to find the other members of the group – only two, Chris and Vin, survived – begged them to save the village again. To replace the group’s murdered members, Chris buys the release of Frank (Akins) and Luis (Teixeira, a famous bandit) from jail, and recruits Colbee (Oates), a ladies’ man, and the young Manuel (Christopher).

The missing villagers are used as slave labor to rebuild a desert village and church as a memorial to the dead sons of wealthy rancher Lorca, played by Fernández. In a surprise attack, they force Lorca’s men to leave, and prepare for a counterattack. The farmers do not assist, but the defenders successfully reject Lorca’s main attack. The rancher then gathers his men to retreat the seven men.

Manuel finds a supply of dynamite which the seven use in a counterattack. While they are flooded, Chris is victorious from a shootout with Lorca. The rancher’s team run, leaving Frank, Luis, and Manuel dead. Chico plans to build back the village on Lorca’s land, and Colbee stays to help teach the villagers how to defend themselves. In the end, Chris and Vin ride off together.

Composer Elmer Bernstein received Oscar nomination for his score.

Levy noted, “The film earned $1.6 million in rentals during its initial release, and then re-released in 1969, earning rentals of $1.3 million.”

This is an underwhelming film, since you could say it repeats what the first one did. If you want to watch this, you can see this on Pluto TV. Check it out, but you won’t remember this one. This is easily forgettable.

Next week, we will be looking at the next film in the franchise in “The Magnificent Seven Month.”

The Magnificent Seven (1960)

Happy New Year to my online readers. Another year has started and this will be my 13^th year of blogging on movies. Hard to believe that I have been blogging for this long, but I’m still going strong, so let’s get another exciting year started. We will start this year by reviewing “The Magnificent Seven” franchise. Let’s start with the 1960 Western classic, “The Magnificent Seven.”

It is basically impossible to top Akira Kurosawa’s classic Japanese epic “Seven Samurai.” Mike Massie said in his review, “But the thundering, rousing music by Elmer Bernstein is a stupendous start for this Americanized, Western take on one of the greatest of filmic imports. In shifting locations, time periods, and languages – along with several plot elements – this rugged, action-packed adaptation (by William Roberts) is, on its own, a staggering success.” Despite not straying from Kurosawa’s basic story, “The Magnificent Seven” certainly has its own type.

Calvera (Eli Wallach, playing as cruel and crafty a character as ever before), a bandit leader not afraid to rob from the poor, rides into a small town to once again steal supplies from Sotero’s (Rico Alaniz) community of farmers, who are barely able to feed their families. If anyone dares to stand up to Calvera, they get immediately shot. This method causes many of the townspeople to think about leaving the town, or hiding food, or begging for mercy. Staying is thinking of a slow death.

With the advice of the wise elder, three of the men travel to the border town to buy guns to defend themselves. “We don’t know how to kill,” they insist. “Then learn…or die,” responds the elder. In town, they’re quickly treated to a large, foreign display: Dodge man Chris Larabee Adams (Yul Brynner, dressed in all black, but still hands down a champion of purity) and Tombstone traveler Vin Tanner (Steve McQueen) volunteer to drive a hearse up to Boot Hill to bury Old Sam the Indian, a corpse not fit to be buried amongst the dead people of the prejudiced, predominantly white citizens who run the area. However, after a few, well-laced gunshots by the two clearly comfortable with guns, the procession is allowed to finish their task.

This exciting, significant act perfectly describes the heroes – men who don’t think twice about doing the right thing, even if it puts their lives in danger. The audience never finds out anything more about their past or origins or even the reasons for their chance meeting, but it doesn’t matter. Massie described, “They may be Western character stereotypes, but these roles couldn’t be better suited for a cinematic clash of good against evil. No time or subplots are wasted on painting portraits beyond what is minimally necessary (though once the battling starts, there are opportunities for bravery, fear, regret, conviction, and other details on psychological stability). Each character is distinct – and unshakably righteous – but shrouded in mystery.”

Massie continued, “Adding to the leading duo are other typical players, but they too are the types of gunslinging ruffians that need little more than a bold entrance.” Harry, played by Brad Dexter, thinks there are hidden money to be won. O’Reilly, played by Charles Bronson, is an expensive hired gun, bot doesn’t have any predictions at the moment. Britt, played by James Coburn, is the silent one, but faster with his knife than an opponent is with a gun. Lee, played by Robert Vaughn, is a solid shot and a man on the run. Finally, Chico, played by Horst Buchholz, is a reckless, overconfident, rash young man – the type that isn’t worth enlisting, but comes in handy when he refuses to be excluded from the gathering of seven rather magnificent men. Massie said, “There’s more than enough nobleness, skill, and daredevilry to go around.”

Massie continued, “Whether a test of pride, desperation, competitiveness, risk, camaraderie, or even just the amusement of the stupefying odds (40 against 7), the motives and actions of this gathering of warriors is a nonstop source of entertainment. It’s difficult not to root for these underdogs (particularly as they confront a murderous bully), even though their proficiency with deadly weapons places them at a decided advantage – not unlike the ragtag assemblage of antiheroes that would eventually populate “The Dirty Dozen” and “The Wild Bunch” (and, to a lesser degree, “The Great Escape,” which would reunite three of the main cast members).” Preparations, booby traps, and the element of surprise all put together for a slow build to an exciting climax, where death and destruction are certain to occur to the determined fighters – along with a bit of romance, a little humor, plenty of suspense, and Bernstein’s theme music at all the right moments. Brilliantly, the film isn’t as easy as a group of professional gunners going up against criminals for a just cause. There are twists, escalations, and situation reversals that make them all accept their identities and egos. Massie ended his review by saying, “When things get really tough, these seven men can’t be bothered with the sensibilities of self-preservation – it’s about standing their ground and challenging wickedness, solely because that’s what the good guys do.”

I know this film probably copies “Seven Samurai” verbatim, but it’s still a Western classic that everyone should see. I enjoyed it a lot when I saw it years ago while exercising. Currently, this is streaming on Tubi, so check it out and enjoy yourselves.

I was surprised to find out that this film had a few sequels. We will be looking at the first one next week in “The Magnificent Seven Month.” In the meantime, I will be taking some time off until next week so I can recuperate from reviewing films every day last month.