Moviola > Films > Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (U)   104 mins

Stanley Donen directed this rollicking 1954 musical with infectious exuberance. Howard Keel stars as Adam Pontipee, an Oregon backwoodsman who comes to town to find himself a bride, and persuades diminutive but plucky Millie (Jane Powell) to  tie the knot there and then.  What he has not bothered to tell her is that his six slovenly brothers will be sharing the marital home.  Undaunted, Millie proceeds to teach them some manners so they can woo sweethearts of their own. But old habits die hard: their flirting gives way to fighting in the film's celebrated barn-raising scene, a showcase for some spectacular choreography by Michael Kidd.  Adam outlines his solution to his brothers' romantic problems in the song Sobbin' Women - kidnap the girls!  Donen manages to get away with such a politically incorrect plot by investing the boys with an innocent sweetness, most notably the youngest brother played with genial earnestness by Russ Tamblyn (pre-West Side Story). The film became a huge hit and remains one of MGM's best-loved musicals.

Showing:

04-June        Sturminster Newton

Last modified: 07-Apr-2008

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