Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

USA 1954 English (Colour); Musical (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer); 102 minutes (U certificate)Crew includes: Stanley Donen (Director); Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, Dorothy Kingsley (Screenwriters, adapting Short Story "The Sobbin' Women" by Stephen Vincent Benét); Jack Cummings (Producer)Cast includes: Jane Powell, Howard Keel, Jeff Richards, Russ Tamblyn, Tommy Rall, Howard Petrie, Virginia Gibson, Ian WolfeAcademy Award: Scoring of a Musical; Golden Globe Award: Most Promising Newcomer (Richards)After the eldest (Keel) brings home a wife (Powell), his six bedraggled brothers aim to get themselves similarly hard-working and attractive brides by means of a mass kidnapping.Made in the 1950s, set in the 1850s and unsurprisingly sexist (women treated as objects and/or possessions of their menfolk), with some fine singing and acrobatic dancing.

The fact that this movie & play is based on the short story "The Sobbin' Women", by Stephen Vincent Benét, which in turn based on the legendary story of rape, during ancient Rome is telling you something. Yes, I know, the word 'rape', meant something different back then, but it's still abduction, no matter, what it was called, back then. Plus, if you believe that the abduction of the Sabine women by the first generation of Roman men was pretty harmless, then you really don't know, history. Clearly, some form of sexual violation, was indeed made. I know the conservatives 1950s, were misogyny, but honestly, whom bright idea was it to make a movie based on this 'Rape of the Sabine Women' legend, anyways!? Clearly, it wasn't the producers of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, as they were more interested in financially, 1954's 'Brigadoon', over this musical western movie. Because of the studio, slashing the budget on this film, it kinda forced director Stanley Donen and his crew to use painted backdrops instead of filming on location, get clothes from the Salvation Army and use of Ansco color film because it was cheaper than Technicolor. I don't blame the studio at all for doing that. After all, the plot about seven brothers, leaded by a selfish backwoodsman named Adam Pontipee (Howard Keel) who thinks that kidnapping seven women, and trying to force them to marry them, even if the ladies don't want to, sounds awful. I get that, the boys had to learn their lesson and treat them with courtesy and respect for the rest of the film, but honestly, did they really learn from their mistake. After all, the fact, that all of the kidnapped women decide to marry their captors, after they put that heist, shows that they had, learn nothing, as the plan kinda work. Yes, I get that the girls were somewhat angry at first, and they were written to be, very attracted to the brothers, for some odd reason, but honestly, what reasons, do they really have, continue to hang out with the boys after doing that stunt. They only knew, them for a few hours, on one day. You would think, that some of them, would leave, once spring comes. It would make more sense, but I guess, all of the women are alright being housekeepers and cooks, and being marry to men that kidnap them. It's as odd, as Milly (Jane Powell) staying with Adam, after knowing him for only a few hours in the beginning. It's a bit unrealistic. Anyways, the whole idea of them, going through this, screams Stockholm-Syndrome! Even the climax of the film is horrible, when you think, deep about it, with the shotgun baby style wedding. As much as it seem like, I hate the film, I will defend it, from other critics, that argue that the movie is all, but promoting rape, which is kinda unfair. While, there is a very strong subtext of lust, throughout the film, none of the brothers have any intention of raping anyone. Still, the whole idea of backwoodsmen learning the proper way of courtship, still makes a horrible plot, for a family friendly musical! Before, I go way overboard on how this movie is being misogyny, and seem like some crazy social justice warrior, there is some other things about this film, that really bug me. One is the music by composter, Saul Chaplin and Gene de Paul, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The music of the film, to me, seemed, like a mixed bag. As much, as I like the songs, 'Bless Your Beautiful Hide' & 'Wonderful, Wonderful Day', the other songs, weren't so memorable. The songs got worst as the movie went on. Lots of repetitive beat and lyrics. Another mixed bag with the movie is the dancing. It's weird, how not all of the brothers were dancers & singers in a movie that supposed to be a musical. It was pretty weird to see, Adam and Benjamin (Jeff Richards) barely moving to Michael Kidd's unusual dance choreography. Yes, I get that, their characters are supposed to be, hillbillies who can't move to a beat, but it's a bit jarring, to see how good, some of the brothers were in dancing, while others struggle. Honestly, wouldn't it, make more sense, if all of the brothers, awkwardly dance, seeing how Milly only had a few hours to teach them, before the barn raising event. Despite that, I like how unique, the dance numbers were. The chopping wood and raising a barn scene are, by far, the best from the film. It just sucks, that the wide screen film, doesn't work, much for the small screen, as it cuts, the large scope of the scene. Another thing, that bug me, about this film is how underdeveloped, some of the characters were. For the most part, besides the Old Testament names, the brothers are really hard to tell. Even, the women that they fell in love, with, are not really known, besides a few characteristic. All, I know is that supporting actress, Julie Newmar was really angry, on her lack of screen time. Even with that, the overall acting of all the cast is mediocre, at best. Overall: While in the end, the filmmakers, were able to pull the musical off, as this film was a box office hit at the time and won awards, despite having a scene where a bird hit the background painting. For me, and few others, no matter, how much praise this movie got at the time and now, this musical is a bit overrated. So, I kinda can't recommended it. Watch it, if you want, but for me, I'm staying far away from these brothers.

I see complaints of this wonderful movie that it is sexist, etc. What fun. Have the complainers never read the Steven Vincent Benet original? In the original story the whole idea of the abduction was Millie's. She came up with the idea to abduct the town's girls so that she might have some help out there. In the film Millie is the good guy and Howard Keel the villain. I am told that I must fill ten lines with prose to be published, so I apologize to readers for my having to ramble on. Who cannot fall to fall in love with Jane Powell as I did in 1954. I am still in love with her in 2015. My brother-in -law was able to allow me to see this film once again. I owe him for the privilege. I hope equally that all might see this wonderful film.

It can't be denied that 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" has some... unfortunate... underlying ideas but, gosh darnnit, this film is just so fun to watch. I don't think it really condones the kidnapping of the women. In the film it's obvious that the idea is completely ridiculous but what else would you expect from a bunch of wild men who barely ever see women? And Milly is quick to chastise them and kick them out of the house. We see earlier on in the film that the ladies were already interested in the brothers so it's not completely impossible that they would forgive them and fall in love. Besides, I think that this was done to be ironic and funny rather than realistic. Also, you have to keep in mind that the 1950s were a more innocent time.One of the things I just love about 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' is that it is genuinely funny. I found myself laughing out loud quite often during my viewing. The songs are wonderfully catchy and I had them stuck in my head for days! However 'When You're In Love' seemed to be shoved in at a really awkward time, just after Milly and Adam had fought. "Lonesome Polecat" is just beautiful to watch and hear and I was extremely impressed to see it all done in one take when there were so many things that could have messed it up.The film loses a mark for the cheap-looking sets but I understand that it didn't have a lot of funding and did the best it could with what it had.I was completely mesmerised by the dancing in the barn-raising scene. Often I put on the scene to just listen to the tune but find myself sitting slack-jawed at the grace and skill of the dancers.The plot is fast-paced so I was engaged the whole time and the characters are brilliant. Adam is hilarious and Milly is unusually and delightfully strong for a female character in a 50s film!