The Magnificent Seven Collection

THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN has become a classic for all time. This collection is a tribute to that.GUNS OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1969) can be adequately described as the third entry out of a group of four films that may or may not be described as a "series" of westerns based on the concept of gallantry and redemption for the mythological and eternal "seven" gunmen. Its direct predecessor RETURN OF THE SEVEN was certainly a true sequel to the now legendary and classic THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN. I found RETURN OF THE SEVEN to be a great complement to the original. Dark and labyrinth-like it examined and analyzed the central character Chris, the leader of the hired gunmen brilliantly portrayed by Yul Brynner, and his ability to ferret out the motivations of all the other important characters and bring each to terms with themselves.In GUNS OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN we start over fresh with Chris now portrayed by George Kennedy. Physically and in a histrionic sense he bears little resemblance to the character of the first two films. As Yul Brynner commented on his character: there are only two things clean about him - his gun and his soul. And these are the two qualities that Kennedy brings to the role.Thematically GUNS OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN is much closer to the original. However, its plot manages to be innovative and it contains some refreshing dialogue. Not only does it take the notion of "seven" gunmen seeking redemption for past transgressions but also it even touches on director Sam Peckinpah's familiar theme of the demise of a noble way of life in the face of a modern world. Our seven heroes in this film are indeed noble. Instead of protecting Mexican farmers against hordes of marauding bandits, they are now recruited to free a revolutionary leader, Quintero (Fernando Rey) from the prison fortress "cave of the rats," commanded by the evil Colonel Diego (Michael Ansara). The oppressed Mexican people need their leader.A real highlight of this film is the recruitment of the seven. After Max (Reni Santoni) witnesses Chris save Keno (Monte Markham) from the gallows in a very entertaining scene he requests his help. Chris agrees and Keno signs on first. Max also signs on "not for the money, but because seven is your lucky number" so he tells Chris. Next Chris recruits Cassie (Bernie Casey), the dynamite expert for "one hundred dollars and not many laughs." Chris and Keno next visit Levi Morgan (James Whitmore) who is now married and retired from the profession. Whitmore demonstrates just how fine an actor he is in this film playing his part with restrained wit and charm. He's brilliant. Onto a traveling sideshow Chris and Keno next meet Slater (Joe Don Baker) the one-armed gunman who wears a ragged Confederate tunic. "I can't whip a six year old girl in a fair fight but I can blow a man's eyeballs out at a 100 yards, in a sandstorm!" Chris finally signs on P.J. (Scott Thomas) apparently as a favor to the sick and coughing gunman who is also an expert with rifle and rope.As all seven sit around a table playing cards Chris holds up the seven of spades and the scene cuts to the seven riding majestically across the landscape on their way to help the downtrodden to the familiar strains of Elmer Bernstein's theme. This one scene really defines what The Magnificent Seven are all about. Elmer Bernstein not only reworked quite a bit of his earlier music but he composed a good deal of original music for this film. However, `The Magnificent Seven' theme remains central to the film and goes through many brilliant interpretations. This was another highlight of this film. The producers spared no money when it came to the music and it makes a significant difference.There is a great relationship in this film between the ex-slave (Casey) and the ex-Confederate (Joe Don Baker). They start out hating each other but in the end respect each other for what life's deck of cards has dealt them. Another interesting character is the young boy Emiliano Zapata (Tony Davis) who is temporarily orphaned while his father is held prisoner in the "cave of the rats." In the mean time James Whitmore adopts him. The boy asks many simple yet philosophical questions on the meaning of life, which gives the film real substance. Also there is the adversarial relationship between Chris and Colonel Diego, which grows darker as the film progresses. This is good against evil and there are no pretensions here.This film visually looks quite different from its two predecessors. Though filmed in Spain we never see any signs of the desert as we did in RETURN OF THE SEVEN. Instead it is mostly filmed against vibrant green hills and meadows, uprooted gray rock formations and blue skies with billowing white clouds by cinematographer Antonio Macasoli. Director Paul Wendkos wanted to show us that the era of the gunman was coming to an end. The horses, not the guns fit the landscape. The claustrophobic images of gunmen gambling and drinking in smoke filled saloons and lurking in dark streets are gone. As the seven come closer to their date with destiny the landscape mirrors their final resting-place in the great beyond.I always liked this film. It has a certain "Saturday matinee" quality about it that makes it very entertaining and uplifting. However, that very quality has seemed to diminish its very importance to some. All I know is that when Max (Reni Santoni) delivers the final line of this film (...the Cowards Die Many Deaths but the Brave Only One) I got a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye. Like one of the Mexican farmers in the original THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN told Steve McQueen, "That's a feeling worth dying for."When THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN RIDE! was released in 1972 it became apparent that this was the end of an era. I grew up with the original THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN to the extent that it became an integral part of my youth. I greeted RETURN OF THE SEVEN, six years later with open arms and grew to endear truly endear GUNS OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN because it captured the spirit of the seven and embraced it. THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN RIDE! seems much less like the fourth film in a movie series but rather a half-hearted effort to turn out one more story that may have looked more effective on television than on the big screen. Yet, It has its moments and I endear those.

Perfect....ALL the movies regarding the Magnificent 7 storyline, too bad Yul Brenner wasn't in all of them. EVERY time it may be on the tv and my Father catches it, he ALWAYS says "Movie before its time. They can never make another movie like this. Such good actors, pure talent", and he is right Would have been funny if they also had 7 movies, instead of 4 but after the 2nd or 3rd film it just became an ok series of films.

All the best western actors of their time, are gathering together to make this movie a legend for ever.

BOTTOM LINE: Western fans should enjoy this round up of all 4 Mag7 films. They all look & sound good and there are some decent bonus features saddled with the first feature to sweeten the pot for movie lovers. A solid 4-disc, 4-film collection in hi-def. 5 STARSTHOUGHTS: Simply stated, THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN is one of the greatest, most entertaining Westerns ever made. Head & shoulders above the hundreds of other sagebrush & sixgun sagas which have galloped across movie screens over the past 90 years. TM7 is far and away the superior of the four films, mainly due to its being the first and most closely copying its genetic inspiration: Akira Kurosawa's legendary 1954 masterpiece, THE SEVEN SAMURAI. (If you haven't seen that film you owe it to yourself. It's one of the best motion pictures of all time, eastern or western... or Western.) And while the sequels to Mag7 are more or less transparent retreads they still manage to entertain, though your affection for & enjoyment of them will depend on how much of a Western aficionado you are. Steely-eyed Yul Brenner clearly sets the tone for the first two films, making a magnetic leader of men... and therefore the biggest regret is that he doesn't reprise his role as Chris Adams in the final two flicks, which would've helped solidify the legacy of the four films a little better. Even so, both George Kennedy & Lee Van Cleef are pretty good, though not in the same class as Brenner. (They could've at least both shaved their heads to keep the aesthetic of Brenner's visual mojo going. ;-) Ya know?) The fourth film, THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN RIDE (which I had never seen until getting this set) starts out feeling like a cheezy made for TV movie but actually gets better as it goes along and features a rousing battle & satisfying conclusion to wrap things up.THE BLU-RAYS: Each film is on its own disc here, so there's no worry about compression issues. The four films look & sound good but I would've hoped they'd had somewhat sharper pictures than what we get. Still, they are much improved over the standard-def DVDs from years ago, so I can recommend double dipping to upgrade if you're a fan of this series or Westerns in general. Special features included with the first entry appear to simply be ported over from the original DVD release. The other films only offer their theatrical trailers as the lone extra for each. Again, this bundled set is worth owning, especially for the video/audio improvements. The discs are securely stored, separately, within a compact snapcase, minimizing the footprint on your video library shelf.

The only movie in this set worth the viewing is the first one.And yes, it is iconic in the Western film genre. And yes, it's a good film and I enjoyed it.But am I the only one who can not figure out which of the Seven the viewing public is supposed to identify with? Because I can not stand the seventh guy, and I think he is supposed to be Hollywood's Hero in the film. Sheesh.

Twas a very good movie years ago when I was in the Navy and stationed in Guantanamo Bay Navy base!!!

Every time I wat this movie, I notice something new. Well worth the money spent, we have watched it over and over!I recommend this one

Great Collection of Awesome Westerns. Buy it. Now. All the films in this collection are solid!

tres satisfait des 4 films recu bon western,un grand classique et les trois autres son bon.

Excelente colección de los 7 magnificos

"The Magnificent Seven"Über den Film "Die glorreichen Sieben" muss man ja nichts mehr sagen, denn wer den nicht kennt,hat viel versäumt.Die glorreichen 7 basiert auf dem japanischen Film-Klassiker "Die sieben Samurai" und ist mit seinerStarbesetzung einer der sehenswertesten Western der Filmgeschichte.Wer ihn einmal sah, wird ihn nie vergessen.Chris: "Der alte Mann hatte Recht, nur die Bauern konnten gewinnen, wir haben verloren, wir verlieren immer!"Yul Brynner: ChrisSteve McQueen: VinCharles Bronson: Bernardo O’ReillyHorst Buchholz: ChicoRobert Vaughn: LeeBrad Dexter: Harry LuckJames Coburn: BrittundEli Wallach: Calverasind heute alle schon längst tot, doch in den glorreichen 7 leben sie ewig.5*****------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Return of the Seven""Die Rückkehr der glorreichen Sieben" ist die Fortsetzung dazu.Als Chris ebenfalls wieder Yul Brynner, aber als Vin wurde Steve McQueen ausgetauscht, daYul Brynner dagegen intervenierte und somit Robert Fuller die Rolle bekam.Ebenso wurde Horst Buchholz als Chico durch Julian Mateos ersetzt,auch dabei Warren Oates und Claude Akins.4****------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Guns of the Magnificent Seven"Bei "Die Rache der glorreichen Sieben" fällts erheblich ab, im Prinzip nichts neues,außer das sie gegendas brutale Militär kämpfen müssen und somit den Revulotionsführer Quintero aus deren Fängen befreien wollen.Diesmal wird Chris von George Kennedy dargestellt, außerdem dabei sind,James Whitmore, Monte Markham, Joe Don Baker, Bernie Casey und Fernando Rey.2-3**-*-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"The Magnificent Seven Ride!""Der Todesritt der glorreichen Sieben" ist nun etwas anders aufgemacht.Chris, diesmal Lee van Cleef, ist Marshal in einer kleinen Stadt und frisch vermählt.Auf der Jagd nach Verbrechern die seine Frau töteten kommt er in ein Dorf mit nur Frauen,deren Männer von mex.Banditen entführt oder getötet wurden.Aus Angst das sie zurückkehren, verspricht er zu helfen und holt sich Hilfe.Es erinnert irgendwie an "Das dreckige Dutzend".3-4***-*-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Für mich ist eigentlich nur der erste wichtig, die anderen drei sind eine klasse Zugabe für 15.-€,die man sich auf jeden Fall ansehen kann.Dazu noch die fantastischste und unvergesslichste Filmmelodie aller Zeiten, von Elmer Bernstein,die mit einem Oscar nominiert wurde.Deshalb gibts da nur eine Bewertung und zwar 5*****Die Bild- (16:9 Widescreen) und Tonqualität (5.1) waren auf allen 4 Scheiben sehr gut."Die glorreichen Sieben"Sprachen: Deutsch, Englisch, CastellanoUntertitel: Deutsch, Englisch, Castellano Deutsch für Hörgeschädigte"Die Rückkehr der glorreichen Sieben""Die Rache der glorreichen Sieben""Der Todesritt der glorreichen Sieben"Sprachen: Deutsch, Englisch, Französisch, Italienisch, CastellanoUntertitel: Deutsch und Englisch für Hörgeschädigte, Französisch, Italienisch, Castellano,Niederländisch, Schwedisch, Norwegisch, Dänisch-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bonus: kein Wendecover,die Box ist nicht gerade ein High Light, da alle 4 Scheiben aufeinem Pin sind, sie gehen zwar nicht schwer herunter, aber das hätte man besser machen können....nur auf der ersten ScheibeMaking of ca.45min.Bildergalerie,2 Original-Trailer,Die Rückkehr der glorreichen 7 - TrailerDie Rache der glorreichen 7 - TrailerDer Todesritt der glorreichen 7 - Trailer

Magnificent Seven exceeded my expectations - 4 DVDs and movies I hadn't seen before.

Bought the box set after being to the cinema and seeing a trailer for the re-make of the original The first one was the best and the others merely watchable but a great purchase nevertheless