Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was released on July 15th, 1954. Directed by Stanley Donen (
Singin' in the Rain) it tells the story of Adam Pontipee (Howard Keel) and his six brothers who live outside of a remote town in Oregon territory. When Adam comes home from town with a new bride named Milly (Jane Powell) it's not long before his brothers, spurred on by her, begin courting themselves, much to their older brother's aggravation.
At it's heart
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a farce. This is evidenced by the pivotal scene where Adam convinces his brothers to kidnap the six women they are pining for by relating the story of the Sabine Women, a tale which served as an inspiration for the film. This kind of meta self-awareness is present throughout the film which is a good thing because the subject matter could have some pretty disturbing implications if taken seriously. The idea of abducting someone in order to marry them would be pretty problematic in a serious context, but there is a tongue-in-the-cheek naivety to the proceedings that makes it all work.
As a western, this film deals with the classic theme of the wilderness, represented by the Pontipee brothers, confronting civilization, represented by the brides and the townsfolk. The brothers are rugged and uncouth. They are seen as outsiders by the townsfolk. But it's these various untamed qualities in the brothers that attracts the brides to them. This conflict is driven by Adam and Milly, who love each other but have difficulty getting along because of their different worldviews. Milly tries to civilize the other brothers, encouraging them to court the ladies from the village, while Adam scoffs at this idea, and tells them that they should simply take what they want, as he did. In the end the brothers are "civilized" by their brides and Adam and Milly are united by their mutual love for their newborn child.
The dance choreography, by Micheal Kidd, is unparalleled. Kidd helped to innovate the integrated musical, a form of musical theater and film wherein the dance movements are integral to the plot. Influenced by Charlie Chaplin and Léonide Massin (a Russian choreographer and ballet dancer) Kidd's choreography displays a real virtuosity and sense of humor. The main attraction in this film is the famous the barn-dance scene, where the brothers compete with the suitors of the girls they like for their affection. The brothers and the suitors continually trade off dance partners, eventually leaving the dance floor and engaging in increasingly advanced dance moves. Director Stanley Donen makes full use of the wide, CinemaScope format to frame the dance, with dancers filling the frame from left to right in the foreground and background.
The music, by by Saul Chaplin and Gene de Paul, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, contributes to the film's playful, winking tone and, along with the dance numbers, helps to advance the plot of the film. The opening number, "Bless Your Beautiful Hide" establishes Adam's simplistic notions about romance while "Wonderful, Wonderful Day" shows Milly's initial, starry-eyed hopes for her marriage with Adam, hopes which are shattered when she is introduced to his six brothers. This disillusionment leads her to sing "When Your in Love" which serves as the love theme for her and Adam for the rest of the film. "Goin' Courtin'" and "Sobbin' Women" serve as Adam and Millie's differing advice for the brothers in their attempts to win over their brides. "Lonesome Polecat" and "June Bride" are expressions of the brothers' love for the brides and vice-versa. Finally, "Spring, Spring, Spring" serves as a prelude to the film's denouement, where Millie's baby is born, Adam returns from his exile in the mountains, and the townsfolk travel to the brothers farm after the winter thaw in order to retrieve their stolen womenfolk and exact justice. Kidd was a major creative force here as well, having collaborated with Mercer on the lyrics.
The cast are clearly having a lot of fun here. Howard Keel is great as the swaggering, supremely confident Adam and Jane Powell is every bit his equal as the feisty but matronly Milly. The six brothers are not given much time to really develop as characters but each one has a distinct personality. With the exception of Benjamin and Gideon, they were all portrayed by professional dancers at Kidd's insistence. Jeff Richards, who plays Benjamin, is often staged in the background during the dance numbers in order to hide this while Russ Tamblyn, who plays Gideon, uses his skills as a gymnast and tumbler to make up for it. Though the movie was mostly shot on sound stages, George J. Folsey's cinematographer captures the rugged beauty of Sun Valley, Idaho, where the brothers escape from town after there kidnap of the brides was filmed.
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a wonderful musical romp. Featuring stunning choreography by Micheal Kidd, witty songs from Saul Chaplin, Gene de Paul, and Johnny Mercer, and lively performances from the cast, this film is a must-see for all movie musical enthusiasts while western fans will appreciate it's period setting, gorgeous cinematography and thematic overtones.
Score: 9/10
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