Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969)

The cowards die many deaths... the brave only one.

Guns of the Magnificent Seven is directed by Paul Wendkos and written by Herman Hoffman. It stars George Kennedy, James Whitmore, Monte Markham, Reni Santoni & Joe Don Baker. Music is by Elmer Bernstein and Antonio Macasoli is the cinematographer. It's the second sequel to The Magnificent Seven which was based on Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. Plot finds Kennedy and his assembled group of gunmen hired to rescue a revolutionary from a Mexican dictator.

Routine but very watchable entry in the "Seven" franchise. It's nicely cast with Kennedy, Whitmore, Baker and Bernier Casey effective, and the photography from Macasoli is pleasing and makes the Spanish location feel period Mexico. There's also good value in the writing as regards the characters and their hang-ups, while the climax is high on noise and adrenalin. Clearly not a patch on the original film, and when it all comes down to it this film wasn't wanted or needed. But as it is, it's a decent time filler for those after a bit of standard gunslinging adventure. 6/10

**Yet another remake, or just mental laziness to make something new and fresh?**

I recently saw the two films that, most notably, precede this film: “Seven Samurai” and “Magnificent Seven”. The same story, in its essence, set in different places and different times, and made by drastically different hands: a Japanese film set in a troubled period of feudal Japan, and the classic American “western” that adapts this story for the palate. west, and which spread internationally. The American film, which I have just mentioned, then had a sequel which, in addition to being redundant and unnecessary, did not have a single point of merit in its favor. It was a mistake. This film, not being a mistake, can only be seen as a joke for the way it insists on repeating the story, the formula and the concept without having a single guiding element that unites it with its predecessors.

I won't dwell on considerations about the film's script: suffice it to say that there is a kind of military revolution in preparation in Mexico, the rural populations are, in a way, under the crossfire of the rebels and the loyalists, and they are going to ask for help from seven brave cowboys from the North American West to protect themselves from the brutal abuses they suffer in this context. It is, at base, the same thing we've seen time and time again. Was there really laziness to think among screenwriters at this point?

The cast of this film, however, has absolutely nothing to do with the previous films mentioned above. There is not a single face that has participated in them, despite the fact that, supposedly, the main character is the same Chris that Yul Brynner played, in such a competent and professional way. And they didn't even bother looking for another similar actor, or explaining anything to the public. Anything! After all, there are a lot of men named Chris! It could be this one, or that one. The audience inside the theater has already paid for the ticket, if we give them some good shootouts and a brave dose of action they won't want to know the details! That's how the production of this film must have thought... that the beautiful crap we have here came out.

I do not mean, however, to say that there are not some merits here. Unlike the film that came before, we have some capable actors who are trying to at least do something decent: conscious of responsibility, George Kennedy was a decent protagonist, and was well supported by Joe Baker, James Whitmore and Bernie Casey, but basically That's all we have. They haven't even bothered to compose a new song, or new songs that can match the old and overhauled musical theme of “Magnificent Seven”.

When a rebel leader is captured and imprisoned in a Mexican fortress under the command of the ruthless “Col. Diego” (Michael Ansara), one of his supporters vows to get him out - alive! Now given that these are locals without two pesos to rub together, you wouldn’t bet much on their chances but luckily he (Reni Santoni) encounters the last man standing from the last time the rural put-upon tried to fight back. “Chris” (George Kennedy) agrees to try and help them out and so sets about recruiting. First, it’s “Levi” (James Whitmore) and then a few more gun totin’, knife tossing, reprobates until he has his seven ready to lead the rebels against the Gatling guns. Now first things first, this doesn’t really bear much comparison with the Brynner et al story from ten years earlier, and if you try to compare then this will come off badly. As a stand alone western, though, it is perfectly watchable as this disparate band try to teach their men to aim in the right direction and then ready everyone, including us, for a cleverly executed raid that they hope can avenge themselves on the brutal commander and hopefully rescue “Quintero” (Fernando Rey) from his hole in the ground. Though the brutality of the army isn’t graphically depicted, we still get a sense of just how nasty “Diego” is so by the end we are definitely rooting for the outnumbered, outgunned but brave good guys. Kennedy holds it together quite well; Whitmore really does have a go at replicating the McQueen “Tanner” character from last time round - with some effect, and the conclusion is action packed, explosive and not without it’s fatalities. Not great, no, but perfectly watchable.