Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

In 1850 Oregon, when a backwoodsman brings a wife home to his farm, his six brothers decide that they want to get married too.

Director:

Stanley Donen

Writers:

Albert Hackett (screenplay), Frances Goodrich (screenplay),

Stars:

Howard Keel, Jeff Richards, Russ Tamblyn

Won 1 Oscar. Another 3 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Howard Keel	...	Adam Pontipee
Jeff Richards	...	Benjamin Pontipee
Russ Tamblyn	...	Gideon Pontipee
Tommy Rall	...	Frank Pontipee
Marc Platt	...	Daniel Pontipee
Matt Mattox	...	Caleb Pontipee
Jacques d'Amboise	...	Ephraim Pontipee
Jane Powell	...	Milly
Julie Newmar	...	Dorcas (as Julie Newmeyer)
Nancy Kilgas	...	Alice
Betty Carr	...	Sarah
Virginia Gibson	...	Liza
Ruta Lee	...	Ruth (as Ruta Kilmonis)
Norma Doggett	...	Martha
Ian Wolfe	...	Rev. Elcott

Storyline

Adam, the eldest of seven brothers, goes to town to get a wife. He convinces Milly to marry him that same day. They return to his backwoods home. Only then does she discover he has six brothers - all living in his cabin. Milly sets out to reform the uncouth siblings, who are anxious to get wives of their own. Then, after reading about the Roman capture of the Sabine women, Adam develops an inspired solution to his brothers' loneliness.

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Plot Keywords:

farm | oregon | 1850s | love | cook | 

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Taglines:

LUSTY, MIRTHFUL GIRL-STEALING MUSICAL! . . . with Seven Great Songs!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 July 1954 (USA)

Also Known As:

Siete novias para siete hermanos

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Sound System) (magnetic prints) 70 mm 6-Track (Australia) (1968 re-release) Mono (optical prints)

Color:

Color (Ansco)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many of the actors' singing voices were dubbed in this movie: Matt Mattox's singing was dubbed by Bill Lee, Nancy Kilgas's singing was dubbed by Marie Greene, Julie Newmar's singing was dubbed by Betty Allen, two of the brothers had their singing dubbed by Allan Davies and Charlie Parlato, Ruta Lee had her singing dubbed by Betty Noyes, and Betty Carr had her singing dubbed by Norma Zimmer.

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Goofs

The "Cook Wanted" sign shown after Milly leaves is clearly written in permanent marker.

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Quotes

Adam: [singing to Gideon about being in love] How can you tell what's in its spell? How can you tell unless you've tried it? Wait for that kiss you're certain of. And let your heart decide when you're in love.

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Connections

Referenced in Dancer in the Dark (2000)

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Soundtracks

"Wonderful, Wonderful Day"
(uncredited)
Music by Gene de Paul
Lyrics by Johnny Mercer
Sung by Jane Powell

User Reviews

One of the truly durable musicals

Howard Keel died yesterday bringing a lifetime of energetic and fun films to a close. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was one of those films. It had catchy memorable tunes with strong hooks that stay in the brain for days. It took full advantage of brilliant color, fabulous choreography, and even managed to have that one thing that too many musicals eschew... a plot... complete with character arcs. Adam Pontipee is the eldest of seven brothers who decides that living in a squalor with six other scroungy bachelors and horrible cooking has gone on long enough. When Milly agrees to marry him on the day they meet, everyone's in for a shock.

Adam finds that a wife is more than a cooking and cleaning slave and that his actions can effect others far more than he ever thought. Milly learns that expectations and dreams don't always work out the way you hope, but they can still work out. The six brothers learn that there's more to life than chopping wood, that Adam isn't always right and that you can't just take what you want. And six young women (the brides) discover that there are more choices than the ones people put in front of you.

The movie asks some hard questions and doesn't answer all of them. Initially the brides are all quite take with the brothers, until the bachelors in town chase them back into the mountains. When the bachelors decide to kidnap the brides we have to ask ourselves how such an act could work out well. Before we heap indignities on the writers, we should also ask whether the townsfolk should be allowed to chase off anyone who might contend for the affections of the girls they have their eyes on. That's one of the finest points of this movie. These aren't matters of black and white. This is a story of humanity and of men and women. But mostly, this is a fine musical and part of Howard Keel's enduring legacy.