A sword movie gives us a cult western: The Seven Mercenaries
Directed by John Sturges, The Seven Mercenaries (1960) has a simple story concept, seen and reviewed since then. While bandits regularly attack a small village in Mexico, the villagers decide to recruit American mercenaries to protect them. Seven brave men with different motivations (money, heroism, glory, redemption…) then decide to unite and risk their lives to repel the bandits. Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter and Horst Buchholz play these seven mercenaries. An impressive cast that has contributed to the notoriety of this film, still considered a reference of the western.
This is demonstrated by the Library of Congress’ choice to keep it in the United States National Film Registry in 2013, or by its presence in the AFI’s top 100. of the most exciting films in American cinemain 79th place. However, there would be no The Seven Mercenaries without the original filmAkira Kurosawa.
The western really is an official remake of Seven Samurai (1954)considered even more of a masterpiece. The story is similar, but it is set in medieval Japan and features seven ronin (masterless samurai) who agree to defend the farmers. There were already themes around sacrifice and the role of heroesbut also camaraderie and honor. The influence of Akira Kurosawa’s cinema has few parallels and Seven Samurai is one of his most important films. Furthermore, the principle of a group of heroes who come to the aid of the weak has been taken up once again Rebel Moon by Zack Snyder.
Kurosawa half-convinced and tensions between Steve McQueen and Yul Brynner
Suffice it to say that John Sturges was brave in tackling a remake. The Seven Mercenaries. And even if it had not reached the level of Kurosawa’s film, whose action sequences continue to amaze even today, the western would have been half-validated by the Japanese director. This would have done it offered a sabre to John Sturges congratulate him on his work. But later he declared it again: “While fun, this is no version of Seven Samurai“(via Cut film).
That remains The Seven Mercenaries made an impression and benefited the careers of some of its actors. AS Steve McQueenwho faked a car accident to push the show’s producers In the name of the law to postpone the shooting, thus allowing him to participate in the shooting of John Sturges’ film. On the other hand, during this shooting, there was tensions between him and Yul Brynner.
McQueen did not appreciate having less dialogue than Brynner, who was so much more considered than him, he spent his time trying to steal the spotlight from him. In particular by tossing a coin or playing with the shotgun shells during the rival’s dialogues. In the end he handed over Steve McQueen threatening to take off his hat in turn, which would have the consequence of taking all the spotlight and definitively overshadowing his colleague.
Source: Cine Serie
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