Terrorized Mexican villagers hire seven American gunslingers led by Yul Brynner to rid them of bandits in director John Sturges's immortal Western, The Magnificent Seven.

An all-star cast comprised of Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, Horst Buchholz and Brad Dexter head south of the border to confront Mexican bandit leader Eli Wallach in United Artists' The Magnificent Seven. Add Elmer Bernstein's stirring music score and John Sturges's atmospheric direction and it all spells Classic Western.

Based on The Seven Samurai

The Magnificent Seven is based on the 1954 Japanese film, Shichinin no samurai (The Seven Samurai), directed by the great Akira Kurosawa. Set in 16th century Japan, the movie tells the story of seven samurai who agree to protect a village from marauding bandits.

An admirer of The Seven Samurai, director John Sturges decided to do a remake of the film, but with one major difference: his version would be an American Western.

The Cast

Signed as the leader of the seven, Chris Adams, was Yul Brynner, who had won a Best Actor Oscar for The King and I (1956).

Filling out the other six roles were Steve McQueen (Vin), Charles Bronson (Bernardo O'Reilly), Robert Vaughn (Lee), James Coburn (Britt), Brad Dexter (Harry Luck) and Horst Buchholz (Chico). Playing the Mexican bandit leader, Calvera, with menacing relish was Eli Wallach.

Others previously considered for the cast included George Peppard and Gene Wilder for the role of Vin and John Ireland and Sterling Hayden for Britt.

Wild Steve McQueen Crashes His Car

Of the principals, McQueen's services were the most difficult to acquire as he was still under contract to Four Star Productions, starring as bounty hunter Josh Randall in the CBS-TV series Wanted - Dead or Alive. Tom McDermott of Four Star was squarely against letting McQueen appear in the picture, so when persuasion and threats didn't work, McQueen's agent, Hilly Elkins, instructed his client to "have an accident." McQueen did just that, driving his car into the side of a Boston bank and returning to Los Angeles in a neck brace. McDermott finally relented, and McQueen signed on as Vin for $65,000.

Filmed in Mexico

The Magnificent Seven was filmed on location in Cuernavaca, Mexico, from March to April 1960. Yul Brynner was actually married on the set -- to wife number two, Doris Kleiner -- with props from the fiesta scene used in the subsequent reception.

A rivalry developed on the set between Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen, with the latter -- nicknamed "Tricky Dick" because of his constant machinations -- engaging in a covert campaign of scene stealing.

When Brynner had built up a small mound of dirt in order to make himself appear taller, the crafty McQueen began gradually kicking it away while speaking his lines, making Brynner look smaller and smaller.

We Deal in Lead, Friend

Vin's classic line aptly sums up the simple plot in The Magnificent Seven. When Mexican villagers tire of the constant raids by the bandit Calvera and his men, they enlist the help of Chris Adams, an American gun for hire.

Chris methodically recruits six other gunslinging mercenaries. The last to be accepted is the youngest member, Chico, who was initially turned down in a test to measure his nerve and quick-draw skills.

The Magnificent Seven is packed with plenty of action and gunplay, with the body count numbering 55. One of the most memorable scenes is the gem introducing Britt, who is challenged to a fast- draw contest by a cowboy who pits his six-shooter against Britt's knife. The man loses, with Britt planting his blade in the cowboy's chest in a lightning-quick move.

Charles Bronson -- paid a modest $50,000 for his services -- also has a good scene. Playing the half-Mexican, half-Irish Bernardo O'Reilly, Bronson lectures a young Mexican boy on the true nature of courage.

Release, Reviews, Oscar Nomination

The Magnificent Seven hit movie theaters on October 23, 1960.

"The Magnificent Seven is a rip-roaring, rootin' tootin' Western with lots of bite and tang and old-fashioned abandon..." crowed Variety (10/5/60).

"A considerable amount of money was spent on this Western -- to no purpose," countered Films in Review (11/60).

The Magnificent Seven earned one Oscar nomination -- Elmer Bernstein for Best Music, Scoring of a Drama or Comedy Picture. And although he didn't win, Bernstein's score later became immortalized in the classic Marlboro television commercials.

Robert Vaughn Sole Survivor

Born November 22, 1932, Robert Vaughn is the sole survivor of the titled seven. Yul Brynner (1915-1985), Steve McQueen (1930-1980), Charles Bronson (1921-2003), James Coburn (1928-2002), Brad Dexter (1917-2002) and Horst Buchholz (1933-2003) have all departed for the high country.