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Post by wmcclain on Jun 8, 2019 11:05:46 GMT
Seven Men from Now (1956), directed by Budd Boetticher. Ex-sheriff Randolph Scott's wife was killed during a gold robbery, and now he's after the seven outlaws involved, who obviously should not be making long term plans. He helps out a tenderfoot couple in a wagon, and they are joined by shady character Lee Marvin and his partner who are more interested in the stolen gold and the settler's wife, the sad-eyed Gail Russell. We run out of outlaws by the end: one by one, and then there were none. It's a combination of revenge action and tense personal relations. Scott's virtues as a western hero are readily apparent: the impassive, deep-lined face, upright posture, laconic manner and dry wit. But he also has something else that is harder to define: intimations of loneliness and yearning. Lee Marvin is, as always, outstanding. Here he occupies a gray area between the sheriff and the men he is hunting. We don't hate him, but recognize he is on the other side of a line. He has a great "what the hell just happened?" moment in the climactic quick-draw shootout. The director has a reputation for better quality westerns of the 1950s, but this is the first one I can remember seeing. I'll be looking for the others now. All have Scott and the plot outlines are similar to this one. [Later: I watched and reviewed all the Boetticher westerns]. The DVD has an informative commentary track by a film historian and Boetticher expert. He says the film was restored and is "immaculate", but the video image looks soft to me. He calls it a lost masterpiece and says that Boetticher has been more appreciated by other directors than the public at large. But several titles are available now, so that may change. Produced by Batjac, John Wayne's company. Only 78 minutes long. I don't know who sings the theme song: it's that painful type of men's western chorus I think of as "The Chuckwagon Boys". Lone Pine, used for hundreds of westerns and desert SF films, has exceedingly eerie rock formations. Written by Burt Kennedy, his first film credit.
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Post by teleadm on Jun 8, 2019 18:19:49 GMT
I liked this one!
Everything is very familiar from any western movie, yet it all felt fresh.
As if Botticher and the cameraman knew that, but they just twisted it a bit.
Randolph Scott is the pillar, stoic but humane, the one we must trust, even if he is not perfect.
Lee Marvin, we shouldn't trust, yet he can charm the pants of people, but when stressed he shows his real face.
Maybe I just pointed out the obvious!
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Post by OldAussie on Jun 9, 2019 2:42:27 GMT
Excellent movie! Nice comments.
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Post by petrolino on Jun 9, 2019 2:53:26 GMT
This has to be my favourite Budd Boetticher western. When all's said and done, it's just so damned entertaining.
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Post by hitchcockthelegend on Jun 11, 2019 1:28:39 GMT
Another expertly crafted Western from Boetticher and Scott.
Seven Men from Now is directed by Budd Boetticher and produced by John Wayne's Batjac Productions. Written by Burt Kennedy it stars Randolph Scott, Gail Russell & Lee Marvin. Music is by Henry Vars & William H. Clothier photographs out of Alabama Hills and Lone Pine, California.
Former Sheriff Ben Stride is on the trail of the seven men - who whilst robbing a Wells Fargo office - killed his wife in the process. Mentally tortured by having lost his job that resulted in his wife having to work at Wells Fargo, Stride is totally driven by hurt and anger. But along the way he helps a married couple who are stuck in the mud, who persuade Stride to ride West with them in case of further problems. They are then joined by a couple of suspect characters who have their own private agenda for tagging along with Stride - all parties seemingly heading for the day when the truth will out.
Director Budd Boetticher and leading Western star Randolph Scott made between 1956 and 1960, seven intoxicating and genre bending films. This was the first of their collaborations, and although it can be said they were merely honing their "Adult Western" bent here, all the traits that would make the upcoming The Tall T, Ride Lonesome and Comanche Station so worthy of genre classic status is evident here in this film. Though simple in plot - I mean man on a mission movies are not exactly rare are they? - Seven Men From Now is boosted by a smartly ambiguous turn from Lee Marvin as Bill Masters, while Boetticher's ability to raise his complex and hungry characters above and beyond the standard tale further gives the piece some kudos. Incidents dot themselves throughout the story to keep the film from ever drifting to the mundane, while the location captures are gorgeous, and this is where we should be thankful to cinematographer William H. Clothier for realising that Boetticher needs his vista to be another character in his play.
Originally intended as a vehicle for John Wayne, who took producing duties instead when his schedule wouldn't allow him the time to star, Seven Men From Now gave Randolph Scott a chance to show just what a fine actor he was. As the troubled Ben Stride he could so easily have played him as corny and grumpy, but Scott gives him the emotional depth that Burt Kennedy's script demands. Gail Russell (Annie Greer) is the lady of the piece, she ultimately led a sad real life, but at least here as the woman caught between two men, we get to see that she did have the ability when called upon - even if this didn't relaunch her career in the way that her friend John Wayne had originally hoped for. In fact Gail was to sadly succumb to the alcoholism that blighted her life just five years later, aged just 36. Thankfully this film stands up as a fine way to remember her beauty and for the efforts that she put into the Western genre.
Lacking the heavy cloud of doom of Boetticher & Scott's best collaborations, this one, however, boasts richly interesting characters that are telling a cunning moral allegory tale. It be an Oater for those who like intelligence over yee-haw like histrionics. 8/10
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Post by vegalyra on Jun 11, 2019 17:19:43 GMT
One of my favorite Westerns. Unfortunately it wasn't included in the blu ray set released awhile back by Indicator (region free) called "Five Tall Tales." I assume it was because Seven Men From Now was Warner Bros. and the other five were Columbia.
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