Customer Reviews

Seven Men From Now (Special Collector's Edition)

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

SEVEN MEN FROM NOW is a remarkable Randolph Scott Western, and this announced release is equally remarkable---for a number of reasons. Randy Scott, by the mid-1950s, had pretty much---at least so the critics thought---reached the end of what was a respectable career in acting (mostly in action dramas and largely, since 1946, in "super B" Westerns). This Batjac production, directed superbly by Budd Boetticher (Andrew McLaglen was the producer), signaled an incredible "Indian summer" for Scott, the high point in his career. Over the next 5 or 6 years, from 1956 until his final, Sam Peckinpah-directed classic RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY (co-starring with Joel McCrea), Scott would star in a series of absolutely first-rate little Westerns that would prove the critics wrong, and firmly establish Randolph Scott as one of the finest Western actors of all time.

SEVEN MEN FROM NOW has never been released on commercial video; a few "private" releases have circulated, but never in really good picture quality and never widely available. This announced release, then, is of great importance well beyond the Western genre: it will offer not just Western movie fans and Scott fans a good opportunity to actually "see" the movie as it was released, but it will enable all moviegoers a chance to see, in the comfort of their own homes, a real classic in moviemaking for the first time in almost forty years.

Within this past year Scott's earlier vehicle, ALBUQUERQUE, was released on DVD. It was thought by many, including some film historians, that that film had been lost. Instead, it turned up on a fine DVD issue, in its original (and good-looking) Cinecolor release. Now SEVEN MEN FROM NOW will be appearing, and there is additional reason for joy.

There should be no hesitation by anyone: SEVEN MEN FROM NOW is a classic, and should be in everyone's collection.

I've read about this film for years but had never seen it. Because it was tied up in the John Wayne estate and BATJAC holdings, it hadn't made it to video (at least DVD) until now. Wayne was off doing oher things so it was never planned that he star in it, and reprotedly he suggested Scott for the part, but it's also related that once he saw the finished product, he wished he had done it.
Well it's here and the reputation is born out. A well drawn story, with interesting characters, great scenery, good cast and generally a first class film all around. Scott is the ramrod straight hero who is out to right a wrong and Lee Marvin is the intersting, semi likeable, principal villan. Gail Russel is the female lead who along with her screen husband are befriended by Scott on the trail. The spare script and good though not extravegant production values add to the tone and feel of the film. The special features indicate it's been restored, and I don't know from that, but the picture and colors are first rate. It's presented in widescreen format and I don't think it was orginally shot that way, but it comes across great in that aspect. Hard to imagine it looking any better on the big screen. This is the first of the Scott-Boetticher collaborations and it's time to bring The Tall T, Ride Lonesome and Comanche Station to DVD. These are all classic westerns and worth the trouble to bring them to the genre starved market today. Interstingly, the villians in these particular films are actually more fully drawn than the hero who's a bit on the stoic side. Richard Boone had that role in The Tall T, Pernell Roberts in Ride Lonesome, and Claude Akins in Comanche Station. A formula of a type, I'm sure, but well done as you build a little sympathy, or at least tolerance, for the bad guy.
Highly recommend!

I recently saw this movie on the AMC channel. Even though I've been a fan of Westerns for nearly 40 years, I believe this was the first time I've seen it.
Until around 1995, I was never a big fan of Randolph Scott. I think that's because I was too busy watching Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, Kirk Douglas and Jimmy Stewart. But, after watching "Ride The High Country" back in the mid 90's, I realized how much screen presence and talent Randolph Scott possessed. Watch the subtle expressions on his face as he's conversing with Gail Russell. The twitch of an eyebrow says a lot.
In the opening scene, it's obviouus that there is a shootout. But, you don't know who "won" until you see that person riding a horse in the next scene. So for a few moments, you're kept in suspense. I've pointed this out to exemplify the skill of the director.
"7 Men from Now" is a terrific Western. It has been restored perfectly. Watching it on DVD widesceen is thrilling. The colors are magnificent. The camera angles, scene locations, storyline and acting are superb. On a more grisley note: when some of the men are "shot", watch how their bodies and arms twist and contort in pain as they fall. There's something about the way they react after being shot. And the silent moments in the saloon, when the men don't know each other and they don't know how to react to each other. It's the little things like that that make the movie all the more realistic.
Lee Marvin is excellent as always. The scene between he and Randolph Scott toward the end of the movie is classic (more twisting and contorting). This Western is now in my "Top 10". If you love Westerns like I do, you need to get this DVD. Watch this movie and then watch it again. It's very, very good in all aspects of movie-making. It reminds me of why I love Westerns.

The hunt is on for seven men . Seven murderous rogues who robbed a Wells Fargo freight station of 20.000 USD , killing a clerk in the process . Ex lawman Ben Stride: Randolph Scott (1898-1987 ) is the man determined to track down those seven men , for it was his beloved wife who was murdered during the heist .During his encounters a struggling , California-bound pioneering couple Walther Reed (1916-2001) and Gail Russell (1924-1961) as well as an old nemesis , Masters : Lee Marvin (1924-1987) with who stride shares an uneasly alliance . All will find themselfs swept into the drama of strid?s search for justice . Gun Blaze and desceptiona abound in his rugged drama , with Scott perfectly cast as the stoic , No-nonsense Western hero . A super Western movie . Hight Quality transfer . Recommended

If not for television's greatest station, Turner Classic Movies, I would probably have never seen this film. It was shown last evening as part of a tribute to the film's director and a terrific documentary with Clint Eastwood and Quention Tarantino, of all people, weighing in on the merits of the film and the careers of the director and the fine actor, Randolph Scott. This is a superb, beautifully done western in every aspect: from the spare, yet stunning, cinematography; a terrific score; a lively, intelligent script; and first rate performances from Scott, Lee Marvin, and the unheralded Gail Russell, who has a naturalness and an authentic way about her that few actresses of her era seemed to possess. But it may be Scott who is the revelation here. His director said he had what many actors lack: CLASS. And here it is: a subtle way of delivering a line; a look of reproach that is never pushed; a way of handling himself and being a man - and a gentleman - that is not as appreciated as it should be. His performance - and the quality of the film - make this a MUST SEE for film fans, even if westerns are not your style. The quality of the production will be a revelation to many. It certainly was to me. I'm now going to watch - and probably purchase - them all. This colloboration of actor and director ranks with the finest of all time. And Randolph Scott, a true movie hero by any definition, should now get the kudos he deserves for being a most unusual man by modern standards: strong, polite, literate, and gentle. We should be so lucky to have more film actors like him. And Gail Russell matches him word for word, emotion for emotion. A FIVE STAR TREAT!

In sum, a brilliant gem of a film. Yes, Randolph Scott starred in numerous so-called "B-westerns". But this one is several notches above that work. In fact, a case could be made that this is one of Scott's best -- rivaled only by "Ride the High Countrty". This minimalist drama has an appeal that goes beyond the western genre. The story and characters ring true. The actors, particulary Scott and Russel, give credible performances that draw the viewer into the story.

The Technicolor print looks great and the sound is clear. The film commentary is actually interesting. And the extra features worth watching. This is really a top notch DVD release and well worth viewing.

I want to see more of the Boetticher films that others have written about here! This is an excellent film! Randolph Scott rides again!

Like McCrea, Scott did not become exclusively a Westerner until the mid-forties, but once established he became a Western star of distinction, achieving his best and most interesting roles as his career matured...

Scott was a great gentleman... It was simple for him to do the part because it was indeed the prime quality he brought to his many roles as lawman or lone rider... Scott's best work was the group of seven movies he made with director Budd Boetticher in the fifties...In these he obtained a new stature as the lone figure on a mission of vengeance or similar private quest, becoming a tougher, more forceful character, the archetype of the much-parodied image... As we all know, a man's actions are what make the man, and over and over again, Scott believed in courage... He believed in conspicuous displays of courage... And finally he rounded off this splendid climax to a long career by starring with Joel McCrea in "Ride the High Country."

Boetticher's style was marvelously simple and economical, sticking closely to the same plots, locations and character types in each of his Westerns and stressing movement and action rather than ideas...

Budd Boetticher's "Seven Men From Now" is 78 minutes... And as concise as this great Western is, it has four really well-developed characters traveling through Apache country; beautiful storytelling; takes full advantage of the location; and there are a lot of narrative incidents...

Ben Stride (Scott) represents a man whose wife has been killed and he's going to go out and seek revenge... But his style is ramrod straight and not very interesting... The killers that Stride is after are all opportunists... They are men who had broken the law... Boetticher introduces a sympathetic bad man, Bill Masters (Lee Marvin) who had been put in jail twice by the ex-Sheriff... But you get the sense that Masters wouldn't kill a woman... That's not what he has in mind... But, surely, he wants the $20,000 in gold from the strongbox... Ultimately, he had to test himself up against Ben Stride in the final confrontation: the stronger villain against the stronger hero...

Lee Marvin stole the show... He had all the little tricks, and twitches, and schemes... He is magnetic, especially in one key scene on that stormy night, when he gets inside the covered wagon, asking for a cup of hot black coffee...Tension mounts when he tells John Greer (Walter Reed) that his wife is beautiful... He wanted to get on Stride's nerves... And some tension grew between the three characters...

Annie Greer (Gail Russell) was the object of desire... She was wonderful foil, essential, torn between two men... Obviously her character quite quickly falls for Scott's character... Her husband--who seems weak--turns out to be stronger than we thought... Stride let his own life down because he was too proud... We hear him says: "A man ought to be able to take care of his woman." This is the line that's submitted to a test by the whole action and script and direction of the movie...

One last note: Without sacrificing any of the traditional action elements, there was somehow an extra dimension to the Boetticher Westerns; they had a biting, underplayed quality, the kind of films one would have expected had John Huston (in his prime) suddenly decided to become a director of Westerns...

I was fortunate enough to watch this at a special screening with Budd Boetticher in attendance. It's a moment I will remember for the rest of my life. If the intro to the film doesn't get you excited I don't know what will. This along with The Tall T are his greatest movies. Please if you get a chance to see a Boetticher film do so. I'm just glad that they are finally releasing this on dvd and allowing others to experience what I was fortunate to witness.

Ben Stride (Randolph Scott) is a former sheriff who's now obsessed with getting revenge on the seven men who murdered his wife after stealing money from the Wells Fargo company. On the way he meets up with a married couple, John and Annie Greer, from the East who're on their way to California to start a new life. He can easily see that these helpess city slickers haven't got a chance without his help, so he rides alongside their wagon and helps them out of several dangerous situations. Of course, he can't help but realize how beautiful Annie Greer (Gail Russell) is, and he finds himself falling for her.

Over time, Stride realizes that Annie is attracted to him, and Annie's husband John is a wimp. While heading for California, the trio meet up with two riders, one being Bill Masters (Lee Marvin), a gunman who's been put behind bars twice already by Stride in the past. After a few tense days of riding together, Stride sends Bill and the other guy away and continues on alone with Mr. and Mrs. Greer. But when he finds out what John Greer's been hired to do, it forces Stride to confront the men who murdered his wife, as well as have a showdown with Bill Masters. Only one man will survive the carnage that results...

Beautifully filmed in "Warnercolor", this formulaic Randolph Scott western is greatly aided by the casting of beautiful Gail Russell, whose career was unfortunately fizzling out at the time due to alcoholism, as well as Lee Marvin, who always played the cool villian to perfection. Sadly, Gail Russell died only five years after this movie was released, from an alcohol induced heart attack. She was only 36 years old. This obscure western was "lost" for many years until it was restored by UCLA in 2000. Now available in a superb special edition DVD that's loaded with bonus features, it'll make a great addittion to anyone's western collection. Highly recommended.

One of the greatest lines ever uttered in a western (see title above), was delivered from Lee Marvin to an unobtainable Gail Russell, and is reason enough to purchase what is easily the best of the Boetticher-Scott westerns. This single four minute scene, shot inside a covered wagon with a rain storm intervening in the background, contains argubly the best acting by either Randolph Scott, Lee Marvin, or Gail Russell ever captured on film. Of course, Boetticher's direction deserves credit, but Lee Marvin's persistence, Randolph Scott's stoic nervousness, and Gail Russell's absolutely incredible body language combine to take Boetticher's best western film to another level in a quick four minutes. In the same scene shot inside the wagon train, while Marvin continues his useless pursuit of Russell by goading Scott about his past, Scott also delivers one of his single best lines ever in a sharp retort to Marvin: "Seems there aint' nobody don't remind you of somebody tonight". Lee Marvin's measured and simple reply, delivered as only Marvin could: "Seems that way, don't it".