The Magnificent Seven (1960) - Western Movie Review

by Darius
(Milwaukee, Wisconsin)

They Fought Like Seven Hundred

The Magnificent Seven is a real classic western movie. I remember the first time I saw this western movie many years ago; it had me truly wanting to be a cowboy. Not only did it offer everything I could possibly ask for in a western as a kid such as the hero, the villain, and the love interest, the movie offered so much more. Now that I am older, and I watch this movie again, I see that there is a lot more to it. The movie involves redemption and repents for a few of the characters’ past, the struggle against time, the acceptance of humility and the fear of losing everything including respect and most importantly, honor. It is like watching a new movie all over again, while still bringing out the cowboy in me.


Although the plot looks simple relatively today, it is still stands out at its own. Seven handpicked cowboy fighters are chosen to protect a Mexican village from a band of bandits led by none other than our beloved Elli Wallach. Each fighter has his own skills, traits, weaknesses, problems and a dark past. How they cope with all their internal and external scuffles while keeping the village safe is spell-binding worth watching, even in today’s multi-million-movies time.


There are not too many movies that I know of, that I see from time to time available on television to watch, and I would still go out to buy, but I did exactly that with this great western film named The Magnificent Seven. I consider this movie to be a true classic defining what a western should consist of; setting the bar for gun slinging movies to come and this is most definitely in my top ten for being one of the greatest westerns ever made. There are few and far between movies, let alone westerns that you can “lose” yourself in, but if there ever was a movie, this is it. Even with the director John Sturges applying such simplicity to this movie, there was also a great job giving this movie edge and grit, I almost forget that I am watching a movie; from the details of the great landscapes, to the emotional baggage and depth that each character displays, including Robert Vaughn displaying his lack of courage, up to his salvation when he returns. You will not only find at least one character to relate to, but also find characters to love and to hate. If you have a need for constant gun battles, a story of good versus evil, with a few surprises along the way and morale to the ending, this movie is for you.


Given the fact that this movie is a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai, I believe it is that very same reason this movie has crossed over and been appealing to those who have an interest in Japanese and samurai films. From the very start of the movie, with the immediate match up of Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen heading up Boot Hill to perform a job that no one else wants, or even has the courage to do, the characters set the pace for what is to be expected. The comparisons are quite easy to see, from the original Seven Samurai, but each character still adds their own signature to the movie. It is straightforward to admit this is a remake, but none the less, Magnificent Seven was a classic western and will be a classic western movie always.