Guns of the Magnificent Seven ** (1969, George Kennedy, Monte Markham, Bernie Casey, James Whitmore, Reni Santoni, Joe Don Baker, Scott Thomas, Fernando Rey, Michael Ansara) – Classic Movie Review 6577

Director Paul Wendkos’s 1969 Western stars George Kennedy as hired gun Chris Adams, taking over in Yul Brynner’s rather worn saddle for the second Magnificent Seven sequel, the third in the series after 1960’s The Magnificent Seven and Return of the Seven (1966).  Yul Brynner did not want to return to the role of Chris and Kennedy makes a good replacement.

Kennedy, Monte Markham, Bernie Casey, James Whitmore, Reni Santoni, Joe Don Baker and Scott Thomas make up the new Magnificent Seven. And again the Magnificent Seven are on a mission impossible – this time to free Mexican revolutionary Quintero (Fernando Rey) from the brutal jail of sadistic militarist Colonel Diego (Michael Ansara) and end his era of oppression.

Though no worse than the first sequel, it is much below the level of the original. But the reliable Kennedy (who had just won an Oscar for Cool Hand Luke) is a welcome star and there is plenty of action, as well as lots of talk and loud bangs, as the ruggedly developed plotline works its way to the anticipated blazing gunfight climax. Rey (who was in Return of the Seven in a different role), Ansara, Markham, Baker, Whitmore, Casey (in his film debut), Thomas and Santoni are all heavyweight pluses in the cast.

It was cheaply made in Spain on locations such as the Tabernas Desert in the Province of Almería in southeastern Spain, and at the studios of Texas Hollywood, Mini Hollywood and Western Leone.

It is written by Herman Hoffman, shot in Panavision by Antonio Macasoli, produced by Vincent M Fennelly (who produced the Clint Eastwood Western TV series Rawhide) and scored by Elmer Bernstein, who reprises part of original score of The Magnificent Seven and adds new elements.

The Magnificent Seven are George Kennedy as Chris Adams,  James Whitmore as Levi Morgan, Monte Markham as Keno, Joe Don Baker as Matt Slater, Bernie Casey as Cassie, Reni Santoni as Maximiliano ‘Max’ O’Leary and Scott Thomas as P J Scurlock.

Markham gives a cheeky Steve McQueen-style performance, even wearing his clothes from The Magnificent Seven.

Also in the cast are Tony Davis as Emilio Zapata, Michael Ansara as Colonel Diego, Frank Silvera as Lobero, Wende Wagner as Tina, Sancho Gracia as Miguel, Luis Rivera as Lieutenant Prensa, George Rigaud as Gabriel, Fernando Rey as Quintero and Peter Lawman as Carlos.

Despite hitting cinemas at the same time as The Wild Bunch, it was a hit and was followed by The Magnificent Seven Ride! in 1972.

The same Mirisch Production Company team reconvened in Spain the following year for Cannon for Cordoba (1970).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6577

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