Seven Men from Now (1956) Reviews

Another taciturn western via Burt Kennedy (screenwriter), Budd Boetticher (director) and Randolph Scott (star), SEVEN MEN FROM NOW seems not quite as tightly written or directed as some, but it builds nicely and offers a couple of major surprises along the way plus a chance at some complex characterization from supporting star Lee Marvin. Dealing with revenge and guilt (as do so many of these films), "7 Men" gives Scott another opportunity to be quiet, strong & utterly unpretentious, all of which he manages wonderfully, while a gracefully aging Gail Russell ("Wake of the Red Witch") provides the necessary femme presence (and gets to utter the satisfying last line). The more I see of Boetticher and Scott, the more underrated in their day they both seem. Thank god for DVDs--which continue to provide some much-needed, post-mortem justice for film folk worldwide. This one, by the way, offers a pretty good wide-screen transfer, with many scenes sharp & colorful, others blurred & parched.
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