Rootin’ Tootin’ Facts About “The Magnificent Seven” That Will Send You Back To The Old West

Released to critical malaise in 1960, The Magnificent Seven has aged like a fine brandy. Directed by John Sturges and starring Steve McQueen, the film has spawned countless copycats. Did you know The Magnificent Seven is a copycat itself? Now considered one of the greatest Western films of all time, what would you say if we told you it almost became a forgotten footnote in history? You’re about to learn all about that and more rootin’ tootin’ facts you didn’t know about one of the most important films in American cinematic history. You won’t believe how much McQueen and Yul Brynner hated each other behind the scenes!

It’s A Remake Of The Seven Samurai

Photo Credit: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty images

Released in 1954, Akira Kurasowa’s The Seven Samurai is considered one of the greatest films ever made. The film follows seven Ronin in feudal Japan protecting a village from bandits. The Magnificent Seven, oddly enough,follows seven gunfighters in the wild west protecting a small village from Mexican bandits.

Both films have their differences, but the basic plots are the same. The Seven Samurai debuted at the Venice Film Festival in 1954 and won the Silver Lion. The Magnificent Seven, as you’ll learn next, was a disaster when it was released six years later.