One of the most heralded Westerns and films in general of all time, The Magnificent Seven, has finally made its solo debut on Blu-ray. Having previously released the film as part of a box set with its three lesser sequels, MGM has decided to give John Sturges’ cowboy epic some worthwhile treatment for its 51st anniversary, and I must say it’s a very solid package with just a scant few shortcomings.
The film tells the tale of a colony of Mexican farmers who are incessantly beleaguered by a bandit named Calvera (Eli Wallach) and his many cohorts. A few of the farmers band together and head to a nearby town across the border to buy guns to help them with their problems.
In the process they come across two brave gunslingers, Chris (Yul Brynner) and Vin (Steve McQueen). The farmers attempt to get Chris to obtain the guns they need for them, but Chris reminds them that “…men are cheaper than guns,” and thus begins the building of “the Seven.” This comprises the first half of the film, introducing each new member, most being big name actors such as Robert Vaughn, James Coburn, and the always excellent Charles Bronson, and relaying what they want and what it takes for them to join this newly formed posse.
With the latter half of the film, the story focuses almost solely on action. The posse arrives at the farmer’s village and, after learning what they’re up against, they begin teaching the locals how to help defend their selves once the time comes. There’s some buildup to the actual showdown, mixed with a twist or two that really just serve to prolong the inevitable. I mean, it can’t be a true Western without a good shootout, and in that regard the film delivers.
It would be easy for a film with so many stars to fall victim to some shortcomings in regards to character development and, although not much time is spent with each actor, there’s enough to establish each character’s personality and inclusion in the story. Make no bones about it, though, it’s assuredly the “Yul and Steve” show. The two actors’ interaction is a true exercise in one-upmanship and, rather than coming off as distracting, adds another layer to the two lead characters and their relationship to each other.
Despite the star-studded cast and Sturges’ direction, some may find it surprising how much the film had going against it. Not only is the film a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece, Seven Samurai, but it also came about at a time when Hollywood had all but given up on the Western. Now the film had to compete with its source material and its own setting.
While containing nowhere near the artistry of Kurosawa’s film, The Magnificent Seven holds its own and the idea of adapting the samurai epic into a cowboys and guns film feels like a genuine translation, which definitely speaks to Sturges’ narrative abilities. The film also met its genre decriers and ushered in a new era of Western in the realm of American film. Many would eventually outshine it, but The Magnificent Seven is what paved the way for them.
I find myself looking for anything negative about the film, and I’m truly hard pressed to find anything. Sure, it’s a good bit predictable, and if you’re a Seven Samurai fan, you basically know the whole plot anyway.
There is also a good bit of scene chewing going on between all the actors, but that just seems par for the course of many films of that era. These few things are mild afterthoughts at best and shouldn’t sway any from this film. The Magnificent Seven is truly is the classic many see it as, and is worthy of any continued praise it receives.
High-Def Presentation
I love seeing just how good older films can look when given a proper restoration, and The Magnificent Seven is no exception. Despite being 51 years old, the film looks quite spectacular. Sporting a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encode, the picture is incredibly clear, yet retains its film-like quality. Fine detail runs throughout, save for a few quick soft spots. Colors, although muted, really shine and any shots with landscapes are truly a sight to behold. There are a few instances of excessive grain, but rarely occur.
There does seem to be some hiccups whenever the film transitions to the next scene, but these, along with some of the softness, would seem to be more issues with the actual source material itself, and not the transfer. As a total package, it’s a rather impressive presentation.
The audio, on the other hand, isn’t quite as impressive, most likely as a result of the source material. The film is presented with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master audio track that is fine for what it is. Dialogue is upfront and clear, although it seems a tad lower than one would expect. The sound effects, from gun shots to horse gallops, are decent, if not a bit hollow and thin, most likely from being spread out among the mix.
The shining moment is Elmer Bernstein’s score, which rings loud and true and every bit as iconic as it has become. It’s solid for the film, and possibly as good as it could have been.
Beyond The Feature
The Magnificent Seven comes with a few quality special features, although almost all of the video aspects are in standard definition. On the plus side, this truly helps show off how good the transfer of the film is in relation to the SD image.
Audio Commentary – Producer Walter Mirisch, Assistant Robert Reylea, and Actors James Coburn and Eli Wallach offer up a fairly in-depth commentary track with everyone mostly, and awesomely, looking back fondly on the making of the film and still filling in technical details here and there. It’s probably more in interest to true fans of the film, but anyone remotely interested in the background of the film and its actors, it’s truly a worthwhile listen.
Guns For Hire: The Making of The Magnificent Seven (SD, 47 min) – As I mentioned earlier, it’s very surprising this film even got made, and this documentary sheds so much light on what it was up against and how it eventually succeeded. It begins with the acquiring of the rights to the story (and much arguing over who actually got them first) to casting and all the other obstacles in the way. This is a must-watch for any fan of the film.
The Linen Book: Lost Images from The Magnificent Seven (SD, 15 min) – A gigantic photo album of cast and set pictures was found in a Kansas salt mine and is presented here by MGM’s head photo archiver, Maggie Adams.
Elmer Bernstein and The Magnificent Seven (SD, 15 min) – Bernstein’s score is almost, if not more so, as iconic as the film itself. Film historian Jon Burlingame takes a fairly in-depth look at each theme and its relation to the film and specific scenes.
The disc also contains two separate Trailers. These are also the only special features presented in HD.
The Magnificent Seven is every bit the classic it’s always been made out to be. With a common, but enjoyable plot, familiar faces and a rich history, on and off the screen, it’s a must-own for any household. Add in a stellar transfer, a decent soundtrack and some legitimate bonus features, any film fan worth their salt would not hesitate to add this film to their Blu-ray collection.
The Magnificent Seven Blu-ray Review
The film tells the tale of a colony of Mexican farmers who are incessantly beleaguered by a bandit named Calvera (Eli Wallach) and his many cohorts. A few of the farmers band together and head to a nearby town across the border to buy guns to help them with their problems.
In the process they come across two brave gunslingers, Chris (Yul Brynner) and Vin (Steve McQueen). The farmers attempt to get Chris to obtain the guns they need for them, but Chris reminds them that “…men are cheaper than guns,” and thus begins the building of “the Seven.” This comprises the first half of the film, introducing each new member, most being big name actors such as Robert Vaughn, James Coburn, and the always excellent Charles Bronson, and relaying what they want and what it takes for them to join this newly formed posse.
With the latter half of the film, the story focuses almost solely on action. The posse arrives at the farmer’s village and, after learning what they’re up against, they begin teaching the locals how to help defend their selves once the time comes. There’s some buildup to the actual showdown, mixed with a twist or two that really just serve to prolong the inevitable. I mean, it can’t be a true Western without a good shootout, and in that regard the film delivers.
It would be easy for a film with so many stars to fall victim to some shortcomings in regards to character development and, although not much time is spent with each actor, there’s enough to establish each character’s personality and inclusion in the story. Make no bones about it, though, it’s assuredly the “Yul and Steve” show. The two actors’ interaction is a true exercise in one-upmanship and, rather than coming off as distracting, adds another layer to the two lead characters and their relationship to each other.
Despite the star-studded cast and Sturges’ direction, some may find it surprising how much the film had going against it. Not only is the film a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s masterpiece, Seven Samurai, but it also came about at a time when Hollywood had all but given up on the Western. Now the film had to compete with its source material and its own setting.
While containing nowhere near the artistry of Kurosawa’s film, The Magnificent Seven holds its own and the idea of adapting the samurai epic into a cowboys and guns film feels like a genuine translation, which definitely speaks to Sturges’ narrative abilities. The film also met its genre decriers and ushered in a new era of Western in the realm of American film. Many would eventually outshine it, but The Magnificent Seven is what paved the way for them.
I find myself looking for anything negative about the film, and I’m truly hard pressed to find anything. Sure, it’s a good bit predictable, and if you’re a Seven Samurai fan, you basically know the whole plot anyway.
There is also a good bit of scene chewing going on between all the actors, but that just seems par for the course of many films of that era. These few things are mild afterthoughts at best and shouldn’t sway any from this film. The Magnificent Seven is truly is the classic many see it as, and is worthy of any continued praise it receives.
High-Def Presentation
I love seeing just how good older films can look when given a proper restoration, and The Magnificent Seven is no exception. Despite being 51 years old, the film looks quite spectacular. Sporting a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encode, the picture is incredibly clear, yet retains its film-like quality. Fine detail runs throughout, save for a few quick soft spots. Colors, although muted, really shine and any shots with landscapes are truly a sight to behold. There are a few instances of excessive grain, but rarely occur.
There does seem to be some hiccups whenever the film transitions to the next scene, but these, along with some of the softness, would seem to be more issues with the actual source material itself, and not the transfer. As a total package, it’s a rather impressive presentation.
The audio, on the other hand, isn’t quite as impressive, most likely as a result of the source material. The film is presented with a 5.1 DTS-HD Master audio track that is fine for what it is. Dialogue is upfront and clear, although it seems a tad lower than one would expect. The sound effects, from gun shots to horse gallops, are decent, if not a bit hollow and thin, most likely from being spread out among the mix.
The shining moment is Elmer Bernstein’s score, which rings loud and true and every bit as iconic as it has become. It’s solid for the film, and possibly as good as it could have been.
Beyond The Feature
The Magnificent Seven comes with a few quality special features, although almost all of the video aspects are in standard definition. On the plus side, this truly helps show off how good the transfer of the film is in relation to the SD image.
Audio Commentary – Producer Walter Mirisch, Assistant Robert Reylea, and Actors James Coburn and Eli Wallach offer up a fairly in-depth commentary track with everyone mostly, and awesomely, looking back fondly on the making of the film and still filling in technical details here and there. It’s probably more in interest to true fans of the film, but anyone remotely interested in the background of the film and its actors, it’s truly a worthwhile listen.
Guns For Hire: The Making of The Magnificent Seven (SD, 47 min) – As I mentioned earlier, it’s very surprising this film even got made, and this documentary sheds so much light on what it was up against and how it eventually succeeded. It begins with the acquiring of the rights to the story (and much arguing over who actually got them first) to casting and all the other obstacles in the way. This is a must-watch for any fan of the film.
The Linen Book: Lost Images from The Magnificent Seven (SD, 15 min) – A gigantic photo album of cast and set pictures was found in a Kansas salt mine and is presented here by MGM’s head photo archiver, Maggie Adams.
Elmer Bernstein and The Magnificent Seven (SD, 15 min) – Bernstein’s score is almost, if not more so, as iconic as the film itself. Film historian Jon Burlingame takes a fairly in-depth look at each theme and its relation to the film and specific scenes.
The disc also contains two separate Trailers. These are also the only special features presented in HD.
The Magnificent Seven is every bit the classic it’s always been made out to be. With a common, but enjoyable plot, familiar faces and a rich history, on and off the screen, it’s a must-own for any household. Add in a stellar transfer, a decent soundtrack and some legitimate bonus features, any film fan worth their salt would not hesitate to add this film to their Blu-ray collection.
– Matt Hardeman
Shop for The Magnificent Seven on Blu-ray for a discounted price at Amazon.com (August 2, 2011 release date).
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