Search - The Magnificent Seven on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Questionable for Children, Western Violence Movie Release: 1960 DVD Release: 05/09/2000 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV,Pan and Scan Audio Tracks: English, French, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 8 mins Studio: MGM Members Wishing: 9 Genres: Western, Epic Western, Buddy Film, Ensemble Film See Also: The Magnificent Seven [Special Edition], The Magnificent Seven [Collector's Edition]

Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai (1954) is westernized as The Magnificent Seven. Yul Brynner plays Chris, a mercenary hired to protect a Mexican farming village from its annual invasion by bandit Calvera (Eli Wallach). As Elmer Bernstein's unforgettable theme music (later immortalized as the "Marlboro Man" leitmotif) blasts away in the background, Chris rounds up six fellow soldiers of fortune to help him form a united front against the bandits. The remaining "magnificent six" are played by Charles Bronson, Steve McQueen, Horst Buchholz, Robert Vaughn, James Coburn, and (the one that everybody forgets) Brad Dexter. Though jam-packed with action, William Roberts's screenplay pauses long enough to flesh out each of its characters, allowing the audience to pick their own favorites. The Magnificent Seven was followed by three sequels, not to mention dozens of imitations. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Yul Brynner - Chris
Eli Wallach - Calvera
Steve McQueen - Vin
Horst Buchholz - Chico
Charles Bronson - O'Reilly
Robert Vaughn - Lee
Brad Dexter - Harry Luck
James Coburn - Britt

Though it is a remake of Akira Kurosawa's classic film Seven Samurai (1954), director John Sturges' The Magnificent Seven is without a doubt one of the all-time classic Westerns and a film that has been just as influential, if not more so (Seven would spawn numerous sequels and inspire countless other films, including many of the Italian spaghetti Westerns). MGM's special-edition DVD is a flawed, though excellent release. First the good news: the disc contains a fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable commentary track with actors Eli Wallach and James Coburn, executive producer Walter Mirisch, and assistant director Robert Relyea. The track is informal, informative, and ultimately a fun trip down nostalgia lane. The group is obviously having a blast watching the film and they all have plenty of great anecdotes about working on it. There are some dead spots in the track, but they do not last long. A fantastic new documentary is also included, which includes interviews with Wallach, Coburn, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter, Horst Buchholz, Rosenda Monteros, composer Elmer Bernstein, as well as archival spots with Yul Brynner and more. The disc also includes lengthy photo galleries of behind-the-scene stills, publicity material, and two theatrical trailers. The beefed-up English 5.1 Surround Sound really does the film justice, especially when Bernstein's rousing score is playing (which is often). The disc also offers the film in its original mono soundtrack, as well as French-language and Spanish-language mono soundtracks. French and Spanish subtitle options are also available. So far so good, since the disc really is worth the price for the extras alone. Now for the bad news: Unfortunately, the print has not been given an upgrade worthy of the film's stature. Though the digital transfer is acceptable, it really could have done with a more thorough remastering job. There is evident grain throughout and occasionally the picture seems a bit too dark or the colors a little soft. The picture by no means looks shabby, but it could have done with a little more attention. The film is available in its original theatrical widescreen format of 2.35:1 and has been enhanced for widescreen TVs. ~ Derek Hill, All Movie Guide