Based extremely loosely on the Stephen Vincent Benet story -Sobbin' Women," Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is one of the best MGM musicals of the 1950s. Most of the story takes place on an Oregon ranch, maintained by Adam Pontabee (Howard Keel) and his six brothers, played by Jeff Richards, Russ Tamblyn, Tommy Rall, Mark Platt, Matt Mattox, and Jacques d'Amboise (it is no coincidence that five of those six boys are played by professional dancers). When Adam brings home his new bride Milly (Jane Powell), she is appalled at the brothers' slovenliness and sets about turning these unwashed louts into immaculate gentlemen. During the boisterous barn-raising scene, the brothers get into a scuffle with a group of townsmen over the affection of six comely lasses: Virginia Gibson, Julie Newmeyer (later Newmar), Ruth Kilmonis (later Ruth Lee), Nancy Kilgas, Betty Carr, and Norma Doggett (yep, most of the girls are dancers, too). Yearning to become husbands like their big brother, they ask Adam for advice. Alas, he has been reading a book about the abduction of the Sabine Women (or, as he puts it, the Sobbin' Women); and, in order to claim their gals, Adam explains, the boys must kidnap them--which they do, after blocking off all avenues of escape. Vowing to remain on their best behavior, the boys make no untoward advances towards their reluctant female guests--not even during one of the coldest winters on record. Comes the spring thaw, the angry townsfolk come charging up the mountain, demanding the return of the stolen girls (who, by this time, have "tamed" their men). A happy ending is ultimately had by all in this delightful if politically incorrect concoction. Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Genre: Musical
- Category Musical Romance, Americana
- Theme: Wedding Bells
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- Run Time: 01 hr 42 min
- Language: English
- Subtitle Language: English, Spanish, French
- Picture Format: widescreen
- Format: DVD
- Release Date: February 8, 2011
- Lead Actor: Tommy Rall, Russ Tamblyn, Jeff Richards, Howard Keel, Jane Powell
- Supporting Actor: Jacques D'Amboise, Jarma Lewis, Lois Hall, Russell Simpson, Marjorie Wood, Dick Rich, Matt Moore, Kelly Brown, Dante DiPaolo, Earl Barton, Ian Wolfe, Virginia Gibson, Betty Carr, Nancy Kilgas, Ruta Lee, Howard Petrie, Julie Newmar, Matt Mattox, Marc Platt, Sheila James, Phil Rich, Tim Graham, Larry Blake, I. Stanford Jolley, Walter Beaver, Anna Q. Nilsson, George Robotham
- Director: Stanley Donen
awards
- Awards: Academy Awards (1)
- Winner: Academy Awards, Best Musical Score, 1954, Saul Chaplin, Adolph Deutsch
- Nominations: Academy Awards (4)
- Nominee: Academy Awards, Best Picture, 1954, Jack Cummings
- Nominee: Academy Awards, Best Editing, 1954, Ralph Winters
- Nominee: Academy Awards, Best Screenplay, 1954, Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Dorothy Kingsley
- Nominee: Academy Awards, Best Color Cinematography, 1954, George Folsey
guest rating
