| Guns of the Magnificent Seven | |
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Original film poster |
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| Directed by | Paul Wendkos |
| Produced by | Vincent M. Fennelly |
| Written by | Herman Hoffman |
| Starring | George Kennedy James Whitmore Monte Markham |
| Music by | Elmer Bernstein |
| Cinematography | Antonio Macasoli |
| Editing by | Walter Hannemann |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
| Release date(s) | July 30, 1969 (United States) |
| Running time | 105 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969) is a Zapata Western and the second sequel to the 1960 western film, The Magnificent Seven (itself based on Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai).
It was directed by Paul Wendkos and stars George Kennedy as Chris Adams, the character Yul Brynner portrayed in the first two films. The additions to the cast to make up the "new" seven are Monte Markham, Bernie Casey (in his film debut), James Whitmore, Reni Santoni, Joe Don Baker and Scott Thomas. Each have their quirks and baggage. They band together to help free a Mexican revolutionary (Fernando Rey) and help fight the oppression of sadistic militarist Diego played by Michael Ansara. Elmer Bernstein once again provides the music. It was filmed in Spain as was the previous Return of the Seven.
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In late 19th-century Mexico, Federales capture Quintero, the revolutionary who attempts to rally the many disorganized groups opposing the dictatorship of President Díaz. Before going to prison, Quintero gives his lieutenant, Maximiliano O'Leary, $600 with which to continue the cause. Bandit chief Carlos Lobero demands that the money be used for guns and ammunition, but Max instead crosses the border in search of Chris Adams: a legendary, but laconic, American gunman. Max finally finds Chris, after witnessing him free a man from a rigged trial: first, using his wits; and finally, the famed hair-trigger artistry of his weapons.
Chris agrees to mount a rescue of Quintero and uses $500 of Max's money to recruit five highly-trained combatants: Keno, the horsethief and hand-to-hand combat expert (whom Chris saved from hanging); Cassie, a brawny but intelligent former slave, who can handle dynamite; the one-armed, sideshow sharp-shootist Slater; a tubercular wrangler called 'P. J.'; and Levi Morgan: an aging family man who is doubtful of his worth, despite his incredible knife-throwing skills.
En route to Mexico, the motley band of Americans becomes less mercenary when they observe the brutal treatment of the peasants. And their journey is also marked by encounters with a political prisoner's little boy - Emiliano Zapata - and a pretty peasant girl, Tina, who falls in love with P.J.. When Lobero learns that Max did not buy guns with the $600, he refuses to allow his men to take part in Quintero's rescue. Realizing that he needs support, Chris frees a prison gang that includes Zapata's father and trains them in military tactics.
Despite their superior fighting skills and strategy, Chris's men are outnumbered and their valiant effort to free Quintero appears doomed. But, at the last moment, 50 of Lobero's bandits, having slain their leader for his lack of patriotism, thunder onto the prison grounds and turn the tide of battle. Of the original seven, only Chris, Max and Levi survive. And before riding home, Chris and Levi elect to donate the $600 to the peasants' cause.
Guns of the Magnificent Seven differs from The Magnificent Seven in several key ways.
First, there isn't as much nobility amongst the shootists as in the original. Several of them are more flawed than the original cast. And in Guns, the gunmen have more personal incentive to fight, as each is offered $100 (instead of $20 in the original).
There are a greater variety of gunmen than in The Magnificent Seven, with an African-American, 2 disabled, and an elderly shootist joining the traditionally-native patriot employer's cause. This variety also threatens to destroy the rescue operation a couple of times, as ex-Confederate Slater's racism enrages Cassie to the point of almost beating him.
In spite of their differences, greater bonding develops between the gunmen, than the gunmen with the peasants. Chris/Keno and Cassie/Slater, for example. Outside of strategy and tactics sessions, only Levi and P.J. personally interact with some of the peasants.
And the gunmen face a more formidable foe in well-trained Mexican federal troops; and therefore must enlist the help of not only the peasants in freeing Quintero, but some of the bandits as well
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George Kennedy ... Chris Adams |
Tony Davis ... Emilio Zapata |
This film was preceded by Return of the Seven in 1966, and followed by The Magnificent Seven Ride in 1972. Producer Walter Mirisch felt that in the unpredictiable market of filmgoers, there was safety in familiar material. Yul Brynner did not want to return to the role of Chris; the role taken by the experienced George Kennedy then in a height of popularity after winning his Academy Award in Cool Hand Luke. Mirisch surrounded Kennedy with a strong cast, Elmer Bernstein's original score and had his contract director Paul Wendkos direct. The producer of the film Vincent M. Fennelly had worked with Mirisch at Monogram and had produced the Clint Eastwood Western TV series Rawhide. The film did very well at the international box office.[1]
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