Sept hommes à abattre

I finally got to see Budd Boetticher's superb Technicolor western "Seven Men from Now" which was long considered a lost classic in 1950s American cinema. The copy I saw was a pre-restored version but in excellent condition. This is Boetticher's first of a series of fascinating, modest, and low-budget westerns with Randolph Scott. The others include "Buchanan Rides Alone", "Decision at Sundown", "The Tall T", "Ride Lonesome", and "Comanche Station".

All of them are superb, but "Seven Men" is really my favorite. As Andrew Sarris astutely observed in his Boetticher entry in The American Cinema, "Constructed partly as allegorical odysseys and partly as floating poker games in which every character took turns at bluffing about his hand or his draw until the final showdown, Boetticher's westerns expressed a weary serenity and moral certitude that was contrary to the more neurotic approaches of other directors in this neglected genre of the cinema". From the stunning opening sequence of Scott coming from behind the camera entering a rocky shelter to the final scene of Gail Russell watching Scott leaving the town, "Seven Men" is an exciting, brooding, and impeccably constructed western. Boetticher deftly uses the vast isolated landscape to comment on the characters' isolation and entrapment. The screenplay by Burt Kennedy is brilliant and witty. The film also features some extraordinary performances by Scott and his clever nemesis, played by the incredible Lee Marvin, a role that somehow anticipates his sadistic Liberty Valance in Ford's "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance". Scott plays a morally ambiguous ex-sheriff who, while helping an Eastern husband and wife, travel cross-country in their covered wagon, hunts for the seven men shot and killed his wife. The scenes between Scott and Russell are strangely moving and effective. The final showdown between Scott and Marvin is stunning and unforgettable.

John Wayne's Batjac productions was the producer of this fine B western and it shows the clout of star power. According to a book I have about those last three B western heroes, Randolph Scott, Joel McCrea, and Audie Murphy, Wayne liked the script and wanted to do it himself, but at the time was tied up with The Searchers. He peddled the script which he owned because Burt Kennedy who wrote it was under contract to Batjac and was doing it under Wayne's auspices to a number of people before getting Randolph Scott. When it premiered Wayne cursed himself that he hadn't done it.

If he had it would have become a classic like The Searchers. Wayne was at the height of his career at that point and Randolph Scott was doing good critically acclaimed, but B programmers that filled the second half of double bills at that time.

Hard to see how the Duke would have been better than Randolph Scott. He's a former sheriff out hunting the men who robbed a Wells Fargo express office and killed his wife who was working there. While on the hunt he runs into Walter Reed and Gail Russell who are a homesteader and wife traveling to California. Scott helps them out and rides along with them. Their story and his get enmeshed as the plot unfolds.

Gail Russell was a tragic figure who was a good friend of Wayne's. She had a lot of problems both emotional and with substance abuse. Like the Duke was wont to do, he gave her a part in this hoping for a comeback. Though she was good, it was not to be the case.

Her husband in the film, Walter Reed, got another chance to work with John Wayne this time in The Horse Soldiers as one of the officers on the raid that Wayne was leading. So did Stuart Whitman who has a bit role as a young army lieutenant. Their chemistry in The Comancheros was legendary.

Speaking of The Comancheros, Lee Marvin is memorable here as one of the villains with some highly mixed motives. And he too would get to work with John Wayne in the future.

Seven Men from Now is a fine film which but for a previous commitment could have been an A picture and a John Wayne classic. But Randolph Scott could hardly have been topped for the performance he gave.

This is one of my favorite westerns. Since it has been out of circulation until recently, few of the new generation have got to see it. Hopefully now that it has been restored on DVD it will receive its just desserts. If at all possible, see the wide-screen version. Budd Boetticher believed that as many shots as possible should be made outside. His movies have few interior scenes. He shot his best westerns in Lone Pine, California, second only to Utah's Mounument Valley for natural beauty that fulfills anyone's fantasy of how the Old West should appear on the big screen. "Seven Men From Now" also contains one of my favorite movie shots highlighting the genius of Boetticher. When Ben Stride (Randy Scott) draws against Bill Masters (Lee Marvin) the viewer never sees Stride draw. His/Her imagination must be used to visualize just how fast Stride's draw is. It's sort of like the old joke used on the Steve Allen Television Show by Don Knotts. He never moves his hands and asks the viewer, "Wanna see it again?"

These were the early days of Lee Marvin's film career when he was still trying to prove himself as a viable actor. In "Seven Men From Now" he succeeds beyond one's wildest expectations. Though he deserved the Oscar for "Cat Ballou" a few years later, he is actually better in "Seven Men From Now" than he was in that award-winning flick. After "Cat Ballou" his acting deteriorated somewhat, though from time to time he turned in an admirable performance especially in the neglected classic "Point Blank." Second only to Lee Marvin, is Randolph Scott who never gave a poor performance. He plays to perfection his role as a revenge seeking, self-pitying Marshall who still believes in fair play and romance. John Wayne was originally slotted for the role, but it is doubtful that even such a great actor as Wayne could have played Ben Stride the way he was meant to be portrayed, the way Randy Scott plays him. The finely honed well-written script is by Burt Kennedy who would go on to make one of the funniest westerns ever, "Support Your Local Sheriff." What a team Boetticher, Kennedy, and Scott made.

Though it is good to see the old cowboy star Don "Red" Barry on the big screen once more, his part as Bill Masters' weak-minded sidekick does not fit him. He is sadly miscast. A character actor such as Strother Martin would have fit the role much better.

This is one of those films not to be missed whether you're a western fan or not. It can be viewed repeatedly and enjoyed more each time.

While heading to Flora Vista, the coach of John Greer (Walter Reed) and his wife Annie Greer (Gail Russell) gets trapped in the mud and the former sheriff Ben Stride (Randolph Scott) helps the couple that invites him to ride together with them. Then they meet the strangers Bill Masters (Lee Marvin) and his partner Clete (Donald Barry) and Bill tells to the couple that Ben is tracking down the seven men that robbed the Well Fargo office in Silver Springs and killed his wife that worked in the office. Annie gets close to Ben, who feels responsible for the death of his beloved wife. During their journey, they have moments of tension with an attack of Indians and the interest of Bill in Annie, and Ben asks Bill and Clete to leave the couple. When they arrive in the boundary of Flora Vista, John discloses a secret to Ben.

"Seven Men From Now" is a solid western, with story and characters very well developed and outstanding performances. Randolph Scott performs a lonely rider thirsty to revenge the death of his wife, and Lee Marvin performs a great villain, as usual. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "7 Homens Sem Destino" ("7 Men Without Destiny")

"Seven Men From Now" marked the first of seven compact 75-80 minute little westerns starring Randolph Scott and directed by Budd Boetticher. This one was produced by John Wayne's Batjac production company. It was originally intended for Wayne but he was busy on "The Searchers" (1956) at the time, so the role went to Scott. One has to wonder what would have happened had Wayne starred. For instance the running time would probably have had to have been lengthened to elevate it to "A" picture status. As it was it is a compact 78 minute "B" plus classic with an excellent cast and crisp direction.

This picture had been locked away in the Batjac vaults until recently when this and several other Batjac productions were painfully restored to their original brilliance under the direction of Michael Wayne.

Ex marshal Ben Stride (Scott) is on the trail of seven outlaws who robbed the freight office in his town and killed his wife in the process. Stride had been defeated for the job of sheriff and had refused to take the deputy sheriff job, thus he carries the burden of blame for not being there to save his wife.

Stride catches up to two of the men in the opening sequence with predictable results. Later on, he comes upon a young couple, the Greers, traveling west by way of the town that Stride is going to. When we meet John Greer (Walter Reed) and his wife Annie (Gail Russell), they are virtually stuck in the mud. Stride helps them out and decides to travel along with them. Greer seems to be a bit of a milk toast and an attraction forms between Annie and Stride.

Along the trail they meet up with Bill Masters (Lee Marvin) and his pal Clete (Donald Barry). Although Stride suspects that they might be a part of the gang, Masters soon lets it be known that he too is after the $20,000 stolen in the robbery. After a falling out Masters and Clete ride ahead to town and meet the remaining members of the gang headed by Bodeen (John Larch). They learn that the gold is being brought to them in Greer's wagon.

The gang rides out to try and ambush Stride and Masters and Clete ride after them. Out in the country a showdown ensues and..........

This film established the types of characters that would appear in the subsequent six films, the solitary granite jawed hero with a past and the likable but lethal villain. The final six films would be produced by Scott's Ranown production company.

The beautiful but tragic Gail Russell was fighting her personal demons at this time. Her past relationship with John Wayne no doubt figured in her getting this part, which she carries off well. She died at the young age of 36 in 1961. For Marvin, I believe that this was the first time that he was billed above the title. He practically steals the picture as the likable but deadly villain. Walter Reed was a staple of the John Ford stock company and has one of the best roles of his career in this film. Watch for Stuart Whitman as a cavalry lieutenant and Wayne stunt double Chuck Roberson as one of the outlaws. Donald Barry was better known as Don "Red" Barry in the 1940s as the result of having played Red Ryder in the 1940 serial "The Adventures of Red Ryder".

A great little western.