The Magnificent Seven

Running time: N/A

It's no matter that John Sturges' The Magnificent Seven is an American version of Akira Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai. It still is an excellent film and deserves the accolades it has received through the years. A small Mexican village is pillaged regularly by the bandit Calvera (Eli Wallach) and his cutthroats. Without the courage to stand up to the desperadoes, the town hires seven of the toughest hombres this side of the Rio Grande. Soon the townsfolk find themselves being trained by the seven to learn to defend their town upon the bandits' return. Perhaps the ultimate testimony to the excellence of The Magnificent Seven is the sword that Akira Kurosawa presented to director John Sturges after seeing the film. Sturges' first secret was the flawless cast he assembled. The second was recruiting renowned composer Elmer Bernstein, whose main theme brought vibrant life to the action and became a familiar part of American popular culture. Many may even remember it as the signature music for Marlboro cigarettes. Please join Cinequest as we welcome Elmer Bernstein and this special screening of one of the most famous westerns in the history of cinema. --Mike Rabehl