Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

Director:

Stanley Donen

Writers:

Stephen Vincent Benet (story)
Albert Hackett (writer) ...

Release Date:

22 July 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Drama | Family | Musical | Romance | Western

Tagline:

LUSTY, MIRTHFUL GIRL-STEALING MUSICAL! . . . with Seven Great Songs!

Plot:

In 1850 Oregon, when a backwoodsman brings a wife home to his farm, his six brothers decide that they want to get married too.

Plot Keywords:

Farm | Cook | Oregon | Seven Brothers | Reading

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Howard Keel	...	Adam Pontipee
Jeff Richards	...	Benjamin Pontipee
Russ Tamblyn	...	Gideon Pontipee
Tommy Rall	...	Frankincense (Frank) Pontipee
Marc Platt	...	Daniel (Dan) Pontipee
Matt Mattox	...	Caleb Pontipee
Jacques d'Amboise	...	Ephraim Pontipee
Jane Powell	...	Milly Pontipee
Julie Newmar	...	Dorcas Gailen (as Julie Newmeyer)
Nancy Kilgas	...	Alice Elcott
Betty Carr	...	Sarah Kine
Virginia Gibson	...	Liza
Ruta Lee	...	Ruth Jebson (as Ruta Kilmonis)
Norma Doggett	...	Martha
Ian Wolfe	...	Rev. Elcott

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Anscocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Sound System) (magnetic prints) | 70 mm 6-Track (Australia) (1968 re-release) | Mono (optical prints)

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:All | Sweden:11 (re-rating) (1963) | Sweden:15 (original rating) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:G | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Peru:PT | UK:U | USA:Approved (PCA #16932) | USA:G (re-rating) (1971) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Corral Creek Canyon, Sun Valley, Utah, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Played at the Radio City Music Hall in New York in a slot that was originally intended for "Brigadoon".

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In "Wonderful, Wonderful Day" there are live birds flying ont the set, but they clearly were confused by the backdrop and several crash into it (the director acknowledges this in a documentary).

Quotes:

Sam: When are you gonna marry me Milly?
Milly: Oh, next week Sam.
Tom: She's gonna marry me, ain't you Milly?
Milly: What would your wife say Tom?

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in "Monty Python's Flying Circus: Live from the Grill-o-Mat (#2.5)" (1970)

Soundtrack:

Sobbin' Women

Colorful, Lively, and Well-Choreographed; a Happy Experience

It would be difficult, I suspect not to like, "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers". This film boasts an attractive frontier setting, famously excellent dance numbers choreographed by Michael Kidd, powerful Howard Keel as the head of the Pontifee clan and Jane Powell as the lovely girl who is swept off her feet by his charms. Of course when she finds out that he has six brothers, all scruffy backwoodsmen in need of manners and wives, trouble ensues. But all turns out well, with a little help from a lesson in Roman history, hard work, and the willingness of six other local girls to be (finally) swept off their feet. Howard Petrie, Ian Wolfe and such lovelies as Ruta Lee, Julie Newmar and Virginia Gibson contribute to the fun as the girls; the brothers include Russ Tamblyn, non-dancer Jeff Richards and some of the best dancers on the planet. The movie also presents some famous songs including, "Wonderful Day", "I'm a Lonesome Polecat", "June Bride" and, "When You're in Love" as well as "Goin' Courtin'", among others. Well-remembered scenes include the hilarious barn raising, the town dance, the sleigh pursuit and avalanche and the "Spring, Spring, Spring" vocal climax. Forget the acting, which is sometimes a bit potty; the director and the music add to a clearly-defined script a rare sense of frontier life, where taking risks for happiness and facing the precariousness of things where life is less than settled become necessary. Very few films have followed the lead of "Seven Brides" as a frontier or western musical; and none has been as well received nor appreciated. What a pity, its fans say, it was not given an outdoor setting instead of backlot scenery--and an "A" budget...It has a few flaws; but for five decades it has been one of the happiest musical films ever made; and that is quite an enduring achievement.