Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers


MGM, 1954, Color, 102 minutes, ****

Released July, 1954


Jane Powell and Howard Keel are exuberant as the rapturous Oregon frontier newlyweds singing love songs by Johnny Mercer and Gene De Paul from Adolph Deutsch's Academy Award-winning score. The rollicking M-G-M musical, directed by Stanley Donen, garnered four additional Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Screenplay.



When Milly (Powell) discovers that her bridal cottage is also home to Adam's (Keel) six strapping backwoods bachelor brothers, she gives them a crash course in romancing and grooming and dispatches them to town to find wives. The adventure really begins when they court six beautiful girls. Stephen Vincent Benet's wry tale "The Sobbin' Women" inspired the rip-roaring screen version by Albert Hackett & Frances Goodrich and Dorothy Kingsley.



New York City Ballet star Jacques d'Amboise, West Side Story's Russ Tamblyn, and principal dancers from Broadway and Hollywood sparkle in the vigorous choreography of famed Michael Kidd (Guys and Dolls and Broadway's "Can-Can").




Really fun movie with some fantastic music and dancing! The Barn-raising Ballet is one of the best dance numbers ever filmed! Though it was a "back-lot production," this was MGM's biggest hit of 1954.



The Couples are: Howard Keel and Jane Powell [Adam and Milly], Jeff Richards and Julie Newmeyer [Benjamin and Dorcas], Matt Mattox and Ruta Kilmonis [Caleb and Ruth], Marc Platt and Norma Doggett [Daniel and Martha], Jacques D'Amboise and Virginia Gibson [Ephraim and Liza], Tommy Rall and Betty Carr [Frank and Sarah], Russ Tamblyn and Nancy Kilgas [Gideon and Alice]



Setting: Oregon Territory, 1890.



Produced by: Jack Cummings

Directed by: Stanley Donen

Assistant Director: Ridgeway Callow

Screen Play by: Albert Hackett & Frances Goodrich and Dorothy Kingsley

Based on the Story "The Sobbin' Women" by Stephen Vincent Benet

Musical Direction: Adolph Deutsch

Musical Supervision: Saul Chaplin

Lyrics by: Johnny Mercer

Music by: Gene DePaul

Orchestrations: Alexander Courage, Conrad Salinger and Leo Arnaud

Dances and Musical Numbers Staged by: Michael Kidd

Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Urie McCleary

Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis, Hugh Hunt

Costumes Designed by: Walter Plunkett

Hair Styles by: Sydney Guilaroff

Make-Up Created by: William Tuttle

Recording Supervisor: Douglas Shearer

Director of Photography: George Folsey

Special Effects: A. Arnold Gillespie, Warren Newcombe

Filmed in CinemaScope, Color by Ansco

Color Consultant: Alvord Eiseman

Film Editor: Ralph E. Winters



Awards: Academy Award for Best Score, Musical (Adolph Deutsch and Saul Chaplin). Academy Award Nominations for Best Picture, Best Screenplay (Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, Dorothy Kingsley), Best Color Cinematography (George Folsey) and Best Film Editing (Ralph E. Winters)



Ranked 21 in the AFI's Greatest Movie Musicals



Cast: Howard Keel [Adam Pontipee], Jane Powell [Milly], Jeff Richards [Benjamin Pontipee], Julie Newmeyer [Newmar] [Dorcas], Russ Tamblyn [Gideon Pontipee], Nancy Kilgas [Alice], Tommy Rall [Frank Pontipee], Betty Carr [Sarah], Marc Platt [Daniel Pontipee], Virginia Gibson [Liza], Matt Mattox [Caleb Pontipee], Ruta Kilmonis (aka Ruta Lee) [Ruth], Jacques d'Amboise [Ephraim Pontipee], Norma Doggett [Martha], Ian Wolfe [Rev. Elcott], Howard Petrie [Pete Perkins], Earl Barton [Harry], Dante DiPaolo [Matt], Kelly Brown [Carl], Matt Moore [Ruth's Uncle], Dick Rich [Dorcas' Father], Marjorie Wood [Mrs. Bixby], Russell Simpson [Mr. Bixby], Additional Cast: Anna Q. Nilsson [Mrs. Elcott], Larry Blake [Drunk], Lois Hall [Girl], Jarma Lewis [Lem's Girlfriend], Walter Beaver [Lem], Sheila James [Dorcas' Sister]



Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:04] Bless Your Beautiful Hide (sung by Howard Keel); [0:13] Wonderful, Wonderful Day (sung by Jane Powell); [0:26] When You're in Love (sung by Jane Powell); [0:34] Goin' Co'tin' (sung and danced by Jane Powell, Tommy Rall, Russ Tamblyn, Marc Platt, Matt Mattox, Jacques D'Amboise, Jeff Richards, Howard Hudson, Gene Lanham and Robert Wacker); [0:40] Barn Dance (instrumental, danced by principles and ensemble); [0:55] When You're in Love (reprised by Howard Keel); [0:57] Lament (Lonesome Polecat) (sung and danced by Matt Mattox, Tommy Rall, Russ Tamblyn, Marc Platt, Jacques D'Amboise, Jeff Richards and the MGM Studio Chorus); [1:03] Sobbin' Women (sung by Howard Keel, Tommy Rall, Russ Tamblyn, Matt Mattox, Marc Platt, Jeff Richards, Jacques D'Amboise [onscreen] with C. Parlato, Robert Wacker, Gene Lanham and M. Spergel, Alan Davies [offscreen]); [1:23] June Bride (sung and danced by Virginia Gibson, Julie Newmeyer, Nancy Kilgas, Betty Carr, Ruta Kilmonis and Norma Doggett [onscreen], Virginia Gibson, Barbara Ames, Betty Allan, Betty Noyes, Marie Vernon and Norma Zimmer [offscreen]); [1:27] Spring, Spring, Spring (sung by Tommy Rall, Betty Carr, Jeff Richards, Julie Newmeyer, Marc Platt, Norma Doggett, Matt Mattox, Ruta Kilmonis, Jacques D'Amboise, Virginia Gibson, Russ Tamblyn and Nancy Kilgas [onscreen]; Howard Keel, Tommy Rall, Russ Tamblyn, Matt Mattox, Alan Davies, C. Parlato, Robert Wacker, Gene Lanham, M. Spergel, Bill Lee, Virginia Gibson, Barbara Ames, Betty Allan, Betty Noyes, Marie Vernon and Norma Zimmer [offscreen]); [1:41] Bless Your Beautiful Hide (instrumental arrangement played by Orchestra at end of movie and behind end credits)