The Action Epic Classic On Max That Inspired A Beloved Western Remake
Akira Kurosawa is one of the world’s greatest filmmakers who, in 1954, created a nearly perfect film that bridges cultural divides and centuries of timelines. That film is Seven Samurai, which takes place in feudal Japan during the 16th century. Its central plot is a small village of farmers hiring seven highly skilled samurai to protect its annual harvest against a band of violent thieves.
The Magnificent Seven Is An American Remake
If that plot sounds vaguely familiar, that’s because Seven Samurai inspired the making of The Magnificent Seven, which is one of director John Sturges’ best films. It also is one of the most loved Westerns of all time. Toshiro Mifune, a longtime collaborator and lead actor in Kurosawa’s many great films, plays the lead role in Kurosawa’s film. Yul Brenner plays the lead role in The Magnificent Seven.
The Seven Samurai Is A Classic
Mifune plays the wandering samurai warrior Kikuchiyo, who, in 1586, is hired by villagers to protect them against the bandits who return at the same time every year to steal their harvest. Kikuchiyo, in turn, recruits six samurai, one of whom is more of a wannabe samurai but has his heart in the right place. They all earn the respect of the villagers and the begrudging respect of their enemies as the movie unfolds over 203 minutes of great filmmaking.
The Original Western Is Just As Iconic
In The Magnificent Seven, Brenner plays Chris Adams, a lone gunfighter hired by villagers to gather together a team of gunfighters to protect the villagers’ annual harvest. The villagers also hope to get rid of the marauding bandits led by Calvara, who is played by Eli Wallach. The six gunfighters Adams hires are played by a stellar cast that includes Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, and Robert Vaughn, in addition to the always watchable Wallach as the head bad guy.
One Of The Most Influential Films In History
Director John Sturges loved Kurosawa’s masterpiece so much that he remade it as a more modern Western in living color but with the same plot premise as the black-and-white Seven Samurai. The timeline has moved to the 19th century, and the village is a Mexican village populated by local farmers whose annual harvest is stolen by local bandits every year. The problem is the same, which shows how cultures separated by centuries and a vast ocean can have much in common.
Both films remain highly watchable decades after their initial release. Seven Samurai is one of film history’s most influential works by one of its most revered directors. It is also playing in theaters again, with a run starting on July 5 after being remastered by Janus Films. When it originally played in U.S. theaters decades ago, it went by the title The Magnificent Seven.
Stream Both Titles
Seven Samurai has earned a perfect 100 percent score among critics and a nearly perfect 97 percent score among audiences on Rotten Tomatoes for its epic action, cinematography, and first-rate storytelling. The original The Magnificent Seven likewise earned high ratings of 89 percent among critics and 87 percent among audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Both remain imminently enjoyable films that you might watch back to back. You can start by streaming Seven Samurai on Max and then The Magnificent Seven on MGM+, Tubi, Pluto TV, or Amazon Prime Video.
