Common Sense Note
Parents need to know that THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN is a classic western filled with gun violence. Characters drink, smoke, get in fights, shoot at one another and often display racist and sexist tendencies.
Families that watch this film can discuss race and wild west mythmaking. Why do the villagers need American cowboys to help save them? Is what the "magnificent seven" do in any way "noble"? The use of white actors wearing make-up to portray the Mexican characters also merits some attention. Why do you think filmmakers did that? Do you find it offensive?
Common Sense Review
Reviewed By: Carly Kocurek
Apparently, if your Mexican peasant village is being harassed by a band of thieves, the thing to do is to enlist the help of a black hat-wearing cowboy. He'll hire some other wild west figures and come to your defense.
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN tells the tale of a tiny village kept at the brink of poverty by Calvera (Eli Wallach) and his bandits. Unable to defend themselves, the villagers enlist Chris Adam (Yul Brynner) and six other gunmen to defend them. The gunmen all choose to help for different reasons, and much of the film is dedicated to characterizing the gunmen as they help the town get ready to fight back against Calvera's gang.
This is a classic western based on an earlier Japanese film, Shichinin No Samurai (1954). The film is steeped in elements of the Western genre, from the pistols to the saloons to the good guy/bad guy plot. That being said, The Magnificent Seven is a particularly good example of the genre. The cast does well, and Yul Brynner is especially charismatic on-screen. The film has not aged particularly well, though, and the pacing will feel slow to viewers not used to films of the period.
Families that enjoy this film might like viewing the film it was based on, Seven Samurai or other westerns like The Searchers. Also suggested for further viewing are satires of the genre like ¡Three Amigos! and Blazing Saddles.
Rate It!
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Sexual Content |
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ViolenceLots of fighting – with guns and without. |
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LanguageThe characters do a lot of yelling and loud talking, but the language is clean. |
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Message |
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Social BehaviorCharacters often display racist and sexist tendencies. White actors wearing make-up portray the Mexican characters. |
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Commercialism |
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Drug/Alcohol/TobaccoCharacters drink and smoke. |
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