It’s become something of a classic on its own. I chose to watch this movie because it was so well-liked in Europe, not really based on a stellar reputation. For instance, I know my father saw it in a theater in Luanda, Angola, when it first came out—before Angola gained independence. It was only later that I learned the film is actually a remake, an adaptation of Akira Kurosawa’s “Seven Samurai,” which I had previ…

The film announces itself as worthwhile from its very first music thanks to Elmer Bernstein’s excellent score, and when you factor in a cast including Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Yul Brynner, and Eli Wallach—who is fantastic—there's little doubt it will be enjoyable. This adaptation of Kurosawa’s 1954 film involves a group of mistreated people who decide to hire some gunslingers to protect them from…

I’ve been presented with generous offers throughout my career, but never one like this. A ruthless criminal repeatedly attacks and steals from a quiet Mexican village. Determined to stay put, the villagers decide to hire some mercenaries to get rid of the villainous Calvera once and for all. As many are aware, The Magnificent Seven is a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s incredibly important and widely influential film…