In the 1850s a man (Howard Keel) who lives with his six brothers out in the middle of nowhere takes a bride (Jane Powell). He expects her to be a maid, housecleaner, cook, etc. She does but makes all seven of the guys dress nicely, eat correctly and have good manners. Soon the six brothers fall in love with some town girls. So Howard tells them go off and kidnap them (!!) They do and the girls fall in love with them (!!!!!)
OK--this film has good things---some absolutely beautiful, if fake, scenery; some pretty good songs; an incredible barnraising sequence (the dancing is unbelievable) and it's shot in bright color and widescreen. BUT...
the film has an annoying boys will be boys attitude and some really upsetting violence (for a musical)--during the barnraising sequence especially. Also there's horrible back projection (especially when Keel takes Powell to his house) and a just astonishing hatred of women. We're supposed to find it amusing that the seven guys KIDNAP the women (after beating their boyfriends senseless) and the women fall in love! Yeah yeah I know it was made in the 1950s but that doesn't excuse it. I had a LOT of problems with that. Still I'm giving it a 7 for the dancing alone.
OK--this film has good things---some absolutely beautiful, if fake, scenery; some pretty good songs; an incredible barnraising sequence (the dancing is unbelievable) and it's shot in bright color and widescreen. BUT...
the film has an annoying boys will be boys attitude and some really upsetting violence (for a musical)--during the barnraising sequence especially. Also there's horrible back projection (especially when Keel takes Powell to his house) and a just astonishing hatred of women. We're supposed to find it amusing that the seven guys KIDNAP the women (after beating their boyfriends senseless) and the women fall in love! Yeah yeah I know it was made in the 1950s but that doesn't excuse it. I had a LOT of problems with that. Still I'm giving it a 7 for the dancing alone.