The Magnificent Seven (1960)

I finally saw the classic The Magnificent Seven when Netflix restocked it and sent it to me the week before the release of the 2016 remake (which I doubt I will have 46 years to catch, so I had better get on the stick). The 1960 movie's musical score is more than a classic, of course; instantly recognizable, it practically defines the Western as well as the American spirit. It is great to see these Hollywood stars some 20 years earlier in their careers. The story is somewhere between High Noon and High Plains Drifter for gestalt: the hired guns must prove their mettle when even the townsfolk they are defending become turncoats. The difference is that we get more than Clint Eastwood's steely eyes and sparse wordplay; this Mexican farming settlement is a community. The Mexicans and the hired guns talk among themselves and between their two groups about what it means to be a man, to be strong, to take responsibility, and to stick together. We get a sense of their personal backstory and struggles; some of them show fear. Sure, it is more dramatic and iconic to be a lone wolf (like Clint), but it is multifacetedly human to be a husband, a father, and a community leader with roots in the land. I like Silverado at least as much as The Magnificent Seven (1960), and given its cast, The Magnificent Seven (2016) augurs good viewing, too. Enjoy! 4.5 stars. (12-19-2016)