Review of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) by Stuart K — 07 Feb 2013

Directed by Stanley Donen, who was hot off the success of Singin' In The Rain (1951), he was offered this film which MGM saw as an attempt to cash-in on Calamity Jane (1953), and they didn't think this would do well, believing their 2 other big musicals of 1954, Rose Marie and Brigadoon, would do better business, they were wrong, this outgrossed the other two films tremendously, and it's a great piece of entertainment.

Set in Oregon in 1850, this has mountain man Adam Pontipee (Howard Keel) coming into town looking for a bride, and he finds an ideal woman in Milly (Jane Powell), even though they hardly know each other, Adam has made his mind up.

He takes her back to his home, where he has 6 other brothers, Benjamin (Jeff Richards), Caleb (Matt Mattox), Daniel (Marc Platt), Ephriam (Jacques d'Amboise), Frank (Tommy Rall) and Gideon (Russ Tamblyn).

All of whom are looking for love, and the brothers find 6 potential brides at a barn raising, however they're all to be married to local suitors, but the brothers won't give in and they'll get their brides, one way or another.

For reference, this is the film with the dance off on the planks of wood with the axes. It's a very enjoyable film, with some good songs and some brilliantly staged musical numbers, and it showed what a talented director Donen really was.