Guns of the Magnificent Seven Reviews

Following on the heels of THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1960) and RETURN OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1966), this film is the third American western to take its cues from Akira Kurosawa's fine THE SEVEN SAMURAI. Kennedy plays the role enacted by Yul Brynner in the first two "Magnnificent Seven" films and handles the part quite capably. With six of the original seven having been killed, Kennedy recruits another sextet to assist him in his knight-errantry. Kennedy is approached by Santoni, a youthful lieutenant of rebel Quintero (Rey). Before his internment in jail, Rey gave Santoni $600 to help fund the disparate rebel groups battling against tyrannical presidente Porfirio Diaz and his evil henchman, Ansara. Rather than purchase arms with the money, as urged by sympathetic bandido chieftain Silvera, Santoni seeks out the legendary Kennedy, who uses the money to recruit his roster of killers. Joined by Wagner, the mandatory love interest for consumptive killer Thomas, and by Davis--playing the youthful Emiliano Zapata --Kennedy and the rest of the septet head for the prison to free Rey. Rebuffed by the disgruntled Silvera when they seek his assistance, the unlucky seven free a group of political prisoners and organize a training camp to make killers of the campesinos. Assailing the prison fort, the grossly outnumbered group is losing the battle when--at the crucial moment--the repentant Silvera arrives with his band of bandits to save the day. Filmed on location in Spain, GUNS OF THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN offers plenty of action for aficionados of the series.