With the remake of the 1960 classic The Magnificent Seven coming out this week, I thought that it would be a good time to go back and revisit the original motion picture – though perhaps some will be surprised to find out that The Magnificent Seven is a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s iconic Japanese movie Seven Samurai.
A while back, I was fortunate enough to chat with Chris Slade, the current drummer of AC/DC (who also performed with them during the years 1989 to 1994 – recording three albums with the high octane rock band: The Razors Edge, Live at Donington and AC/DC Live). Born in Wales, the percussionist has had a long and illustrious career, being the original drummer for fellow Welshman Tom Jones (and part of his first six records), as well as being a founding member of Manfred Mann’s Earth Band (recording eight albums along with Manfred Mann, Mick Rogers and Colin Pattenden from 1971 to 1978). He has continuously worked in the music industry, teaming up with a plethora of intriguing bands, including Uriah Heep, Gary Numan, Toomorrow (with Olivia Newton-John) and Asia, to name but a few of the artists he has played with. I would be remiss if I did not mention that Slade was also part of the short-lived supergroup The Firm (1984-1986), where he teamed up with Free and Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers, The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, and bassist Tony Franklin – an impressive lineup, to say the least.
The relaxed, easy going drummer was happy to chat movies with me after AC/DC’s Montreal concert – they performed in front of 40,000 plus at Olympic Stadium on August 31st, 2015. Taking me back to his childhood, he spoke of his love for the movie The Magnificent Seven. It seems only fitting that he divulged, as a very young man, that he snuck into the film seven times. He also hinted that his favourite of the gunslingers was Yul Brynner’s Chris Larabee Adams, perhaps suggesting why he now has a perfectly shaven head. Make sure to watch the video interview down below to hear more of Slade’s reminiscences on the motion picture, as well as a few tidbits on touring with AC/DC.
Directed by John Sturges (The Great Escape) and written for the North American screen by William Roberts, the western begins with a gang of marauding thugs, led by Calvera (Eli Wallach), riding into a small, rundown Mexican town, where they threaten the people – asking them to hand over most of their food and other valuable items (while also telling them that they will soon return for more goods). The leaders of the town are tired of being continuously looted by the bandits, so they head across the border to purchase guns so that they can finally protect themselves.
After seeing Chris Larabee Adams (Yul Brynner) pull a daring stunt with Vin Tanner (Steve McQueen) – in which they deliver the dead body of a native to the local graveyard, as no one else will do the job (highlighting the racist townspeople who do not take lightly to non-whites being buried with ‘them’), the men quickly realize that they must find this brave and selfless man.
They attempt to recruit the honourable Adams – hoping that he will help them with procuring the proper fire power. Instead, Adams suggests that they recruit gunslingers to protect their homes and livelihood, as it will be cheaper than purchasing the guns and ammo.
It is difficult to find the team (especially with the limited budget of only being able to pay each hired gun twenty dollars), though lonesome drifter Tanner quickly signs on. Looking for ‘good’ men, Adams slowly finds his squad. Adams is able to convince his friend Harry Luck (Brad Dexter) to join the cause, but this is only because the man believes that there is some ulterior motive – guessing that there is likely gold or gems in the Mexican hills that surround the village.
Adams and Tanner are also able to win over mixed Mexican/Irishman Bernardo O’Reilly (Charles Bronson), a gunfighter with a famous past who has run low on cash; Britt (James Coburn), an even-keeled, adventurous man whose knife skills outgun the fastest of slingers and is always looking for a challenge; and Lee (Robert Vaughn), a sharpshooter who is on the run and has lost much of his original zestful confidence.
To round out the crew, a brash and reckless young man named Chico (Horst Buchholz), who lacks experience but makes up for it by way of audacious actions, tries to persuade Adams to let him join them (he truly respects the moral man). Though at first rejected because of his age and inexperience, the youthful cowboy tracks them as they make their way to the Mexican village, finally surprising them by overtaking the group late one night. This action changes Adams’ mind, and he adds his seventh and final man.
It is this motley crew of magnificent hired hands who will hang tough against the massive raiding party, though they hope they can catch them off-guard, spooking them so that they will fear the now defended village.
Thriving on strong, interesting and very different characters, The Magnificent Seven captures the thrills and horrors of doing what is honourable. The seven men each have their own reasons for putting their necks on the line, against all odds, for people they do not even know. It is a harrowing experience to watch them, along with the inexperienced Mexican villagers, attempt to stand tall against heavily armed vultures. The plot thickens as dissension grows within the village, as the townspeople question whether it is worth risking their lives over food and trinkets. This discord is perhaps best encapsulated by the unlikely bond that O’Reilly forms with three youngins. The rough and tumble character takes them under his wing as they attempt to stand guard and fight with youthful exuberance beside the hired hand. It is equally as touching to watch O’Reilly redirect their collective viewpoint on their fathers, who they see as being cowardly chickens – instead, highlighting the nerve, strength and love it takes to raise and take care of a family.
Unlike many other films, this one is not without major loss. Where most screenwriters and filmmakers would fear culling their main characters, Rogers and Sturges take the plunge, killing some of the main personas that we have become so attached to. It reiterates the risks that these men have undertaken and highlights the honour and gravitas that drives these men forward. It is this moral code that makes these human beings magnificent, as it is truly a miracle to find seven selfless men who would risk all to protect these people. Each departure is fitting to that persona, making it a touching moment found within the chaos of the ensuing battle.
Containing one of the great film scores of all-time (from Elmer Bernstein), The Magnificent Seven is a simple story that features complex characters and emotions. Boasting an impressive cast of iconic actors, each role, amazingly, has its time to shine onscreen. This motion picture has a bit of everything – shootouts, high drama and even some romance. So, make sure to take a stand for what is right and just – you’ll learn the power of such things by watching this classic western.