Seven Mercenaries: Steve McQueen intentionally wrecked his car to get the role

There are only a few movies that are so iconic that they become the icons of an entire genre. This is the case of John Sturgess’ Seven Mercenaries, from 1960. The masterpiece, which follows the adventures of a group of machine guns protecting a village of bandits, has been regarded for 63 years as one of the best Westerns of all time. The film’s potential was clearly predictable before filming, when future Hollywood superstar Steve McQueen (Bulletin) went so far as to fake an accident to get a role in the feature film…

seven mercenariesIt is a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s epic The Seven Samurai (1954). In the adaptation, a small farming village in northern Mexico is under constant raids by bandits led by the robber Calvera (Eli Wallach). After that, the peasants decide to ask for help from the other side of the American border: Chris Adams (Yul Brynner), a silent adventurer and an excellent marksman, will be their savior. Together they recruit six other men, all mercenaries, each motivated by personal reasons and their own sense of honor.

• Seven Mercenaries: Steve McQueen and Yul Brynner hated each other on set

All for all

Director from the beginning John Sturgess Had Steve McQueen The role was intended, but the actor was already committed to the TV series in the name of Kanon. However, he wanted a role: an experienced driver faked a car accident and drove the car directly into the bank, his biography was revealed. Steve McQueen: In his own wordsWritten by Marshall Terrill. The actress was later seen around town wearing a neck brace while the show’s producers filmed a shoot for her. Therefore, the actor will spend his “recovery” on the set seven mercenariesOne of the ten westerns you should see in your life.

This daring stunt, which according to the biography he even performed with his wife in the passenger seat, gave him the breakthrough he had been hoping for. One would think that the actor would have kept a low profile on the set of the film back then, but that was not the case: Frustrated with only a few lines of dialogue and desperate to be noticed, he replaced his silence with acting. A hat or with coins – all means are good to attract the attention of a partner, to great desperation Yul BrynnerAnnoyed by these little gestures.

finally, seven mercenaries In the western genre, it was gradually celebrated and Steve McQueen He became one of the biggest movie stars of his generation.

Seven Mercenaries can be rediscovered on Prime Video.