''Return of the Seven'', later marketed as ''Return of the Magnificent Seven'', is a 1966 American-Spanish

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

film, and the first sequel to ''

The Magnificent Seven ''The Magnificent Seven'' is a 1960 American Western film directed by John Sturges. The screenplay by William Roberts is a remake – in an Old West–style – of Akira Kurosawa's 1954 Japanese film ''Seven Samurai'' (itself initially relea ...

'' (1960).

Yul Brynner Yuliy Borisovich Briner (russian: link=no, Юлий Борисович Бринер; July 11, 1920 – October 10, 1985), known professionally as Yul Brynner, was a Russian-born actor. He was best known for his portrayal of King Mongkut in th ...

, who reprises his role as Chris Adams, is the sole returning cast member from the original film, while Robert Fuller,

Julián Mateos Julián Mateos (15 January 1938 – 27 December 1996) was a Spanish actor and film producer. He appeared in 48 films and television shows between 1960 and 1980. He starred in the film ''The Robbers'', which was entered into the 12th Berlin I ...

and

Elisa Montés Elisa Rosario Ruiz Penella (born 15 December 1934, in Granada), known as Elisa Montés, is a Spanish actress who took her pseudonym from the celebrated work of her grandfather, Manuel Penella, '' El gato montés''. Montés is the sister of act ...

replace Steve McQueen,

Horst Buchholz Horst Werner Buchholz (4 December 1933 – 3 March 2003) was a German actor who appeared in more than 60 feature films from 1951 to 2002. During his youth, he was sometimes called "the German James Dean". He is perhaps best known in English- ...

and

Rosenda Monteros Rosa Méndez Leza (31 August 1935 – 29 December 2018), known professionally as Rosenda Monteros, was a Mexican actress. She studied drama under Seki Sano. To American audiences, she is best known for her role as Petra in ''The Magnificent Seven' ...

as Vinn Tanner, Chico and Petra respectively. The film was written by

Larry Cohen Lawrence George Cohen (July 15, 1936 – March 23, 2019) was an American screenwriter, producer, and director of film and television, best known as an author of horror and science fiction films — often containing police procedural and ...

and directed by

Burt Kennedy Burton Raphael Kennedy (September 3, 1922 – February 15, 2001) was an American screenwriter and director known mainly for directing Westerns. Budd Boetticher called him "the best Western writer ever." Biography Kennedy was born in 1922 i ...

, and features

Warren Oates Warren Mercer Oates (July 5, 1928 – April 3, 1982) was an American actor best known for his performances in several films directed by Sam Peckinpah, including ''The Wild Bunch'' (1969) and ''Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia'' (1974). A ...

, Claude Akins,

Jordan Christopher Jordan Christopher (October 23, 1940 – January 21, 1996) was an American actor and singer. He was the lead singer of The Wild Ones, who recorded the original version of the rock classic " Wild Thing" after Christopher had left the band. Earl ...

and Virgilio Teixeira. Emilio Fernández is the villain. Fernando Rey portrays a priest. Rey was in the next film, ''

Guns of the Magnificent Seven ''Guns of the Magnificent Seven'' is a 1969 Western, styled in the genre of a Zapata Western, the second sequel to the classic 1960 Western action film ''The Magnificent Seven'', itself based on Akira Kurosawa's '' Seven Samurai'' (1954). The ...

'', as a different character.

Plot

Fifty gunmen force all of the men in a small Mexican village to ride off with them into the desert. Among the captured farmers is Chico, who years before was one of seven hired gunslingers responsible for ridding the village of a tyrannical bandit, Calvera. Chico's wife, Petra, seeks out the only other members of the band to survive: Chris and Vin. She begs them to save the village once more. To replace the deceased members of the group, Chris buys the release of Frank (a taciturn gunman) and Luis (a famous bandit), held in the local jail and recruits Colbee, a ladies' man and deadly gunman, and Manuel, a young

cockfight A cockfight is a blood sport, held in a ring called a cockpit. The history of raising fowl for fighting goes back 6,000 years. The first documented use of the ''word'' gamecock, denoting use of the cock as to a "game", a sport, pastime or ent ...

er. The six men discover that the missing villagers are being used as slave labor to rebuild a desert village and church as a memorial to the dead sons of wealthy rancher Lorca. In a surprise attack, the six gunmen force Lorca's men to leave, and prepare for a counterattack with Chico. The cowed farmers offer no assistance, but the seven defenders successfully repulse Lorca's initial attack. Lorca, the rancher, then gathers all of the men on his land to rout the seven men. The situation seems bleak until Manuel discovers a supply of dynamite which the seven use in a counteroffensive. They are eventually overrun, but Chris emerges victorious from a shootout with Lorca. The rancher's gang flee, leaving Frank, Luis, and Manuel dead in the fighting. Chico plans to resettle the village on Lorca's fertile land, and Colbee remains to help teach the villagers how to defend themselves against future attacks; he also plans to pursue the available women. Chris and Vin once more ride off together.

Cast

The Seven

as Chris Adams * Robert Fuller as Vin Tanner *

as Chico *

as Colbee * Claude Akins as Frank * Virgilio Teixeira as Luis Emilio Delgado *

as Manuel De Norte

Others

as Petra, Chico's wife * Fernando Rey as Priest * Emilio Fernández as Francisco Lorca *

Rodolfo Acosta Rodolfo Pérez Acosta (July 29, 1920 – November 7, 1974) was a Mexican-American character actor who became known for his roles as Mexican outlaws or American Indians in Hollywood western films. He was sometimes credited as Rudolfo Acosta ...

as Lopez (credited as Rudy Acosta) * Gracita Sacromonte as Flamenco Dancer *

Carlos Casaravilla Carlos Casaravilla (12 October 1900 – 17 February 1981) was an Uruguayan actor. He appeared in 85 films between 1934 and 1978. He starred in the film '' El Lazarillo de Tormes'', which won the Golden Bear at the 10th Berlin International F ...

as First Peon *

Ricardo Palacios Ricardo López-Nuño Díez (2 March 1940 – 11 February 2015), better known as Ricardo Palacios, was a Spanish actor, film director and screenwriter. Born in Reinosa (Cantabria), Palacios graduated from the Official Film School in Madrid as a ...

as Jailer * Felisa Jiminez as Female Prisoner * Pedro Bermudez as Boy * Francisco Antón as Matador * Moises Menendez as Second Peon * Hector Quiroga as Third Peon * Jose Talavera as Fourth Peon

Production

The film was shot in Spain.

Reception

''Return of the Seven'' was critically panned. Art Murphy in industry paper ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' called it "unsatisfactory... plodding, cliche-ridden". On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a critical approval of 13%, based on 8 reviews, with an average rating of 3.6/10. Composer Elmer Bernstein received an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

nomination for his score, a re-recorded version of his score for ''The Magnificent Seven'' (1960). The film earned an estimated $1.6 million in

theatrical rental A box office or ticket office is a place where tickets are sold to the public for admission to an event. Patrons may perform the transaction at a countertop, through a hole in a wall or window, or at a wicket. By extension, the term is freq ...

s during its initial release in the United States and Canada but did better overseas, earning at least $3.5 million, for a worldwide total of $5.1 million. The film was re-released in the United States and Canada in 1969 and earned additional rentals of $1.3 million, taking its worldwide total to at least $6.4 million.

References

External links

* * * *
The Return of The Return of The Magnificent Seven
Bob Yareham, VLC News, 12 June 2013. An article about the locations in Spain. {{Larry Cohen 1966 films 1966 Western (genre) films American sequel films American Western (genre) films Films scored by Elmer Bernstein Films directed by Burt Kennedy United Artists films Films shot in Madrid Seven Samurai Magnificent Seven films Cockfighting in film Films with screenplays by Larry Cohen 1960s English-language films 1960s American films 1960s Japanese films