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Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Overview:

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) was a Adventure - Comedy Film directed by Stanley Donen and produced by Jack Cummings.

The film was based on the short story The Sobbin' Women written by Stephen Vincent Benet published in Argosy Magazine in Nov 1938.

SYNOPSIS

One of the highlights of the '50s musical, this is a rollicking romance with rousing songs and spirited dancing. Keel and six brothers run a ranch in Oregon in the mid-1800s, a lonely life and one noticeably lacking in female companionship. So Keel ventures to town where he convinces Powell to accompany him to the rance without clueing her in to the six unwashed brothers also sharing the house. After Powell mops up the household, the brothers yearn for a little companionship themselves and run off with six girls from town. An avalanche conveniently strands the mob on the ranch for the winter, after which a mass marriage seal the deal.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2004.

Academy Awards 1954 --- Ceremony Number 27 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best CinematographyGeorge FolseyNominated
Best Film EditingRalph E. WintersNominated
Best Music - ScoringAdolph Deutsch, Saul ChaplinWon
Best PictureJack Cummings, ProducerNominated
Best WritingAlbert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, Dorothy KingsleyNominated
See More Oscar Winners

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers BlogHub Articles:

On Blu-ray: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

By KC on Jul 25, 2018 From Classic Movies

I’ve always been a bit iffy about Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), as I feel anyone should be about a film that takes an essentially light view of kidnapping innocent young women from their homes. Perhaps that is why so much time has passed since the last time I saw this musical which, ... Read full article

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

By Beatrice on Dec 22, 2015 From Flickers in Time

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Directed by Stanley Donen Written by Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich and Dorothy Kingsley based on a story by Stephen Vincent Millay 1954/USA Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Repeat viewing/Netflix rental #294 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die Adam: What do I need ma... Read full article

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954, Stanley Donen)

By Andrew Wickliffe on Nov 26, 2015 From The Stop Button

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a lot of fun. The songs are always pretty good, with some standouts and the dance numbers are fantastic (ditto the choreographed fight sequences–director Donen and cinematographer George J. Folsey shoot it all beautifully), and the cast is likable. But there&... Read full article

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Mar 19, 2015 From 4 Star Films

The title gives a clear indication of what this Stanley Donen musical will be about, but it does not tell us how we will arrive at that conclusion. It all begins when a woodsman named Adam (Howard Keel) comes to town intent on finding himself a cute and handy bride. That he does in Milly (Jane Powel... Read full article

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Mar 19, 2015 From 4 Star Films

The title gives a clear indication of what this Stanley Donen musical will be about, but it does not tell us how we will arrive at that conclusion. It all begins when a woodsman named Adam (Howard Keel) comes to town intent on finding himself a cute and handy bride. That he does in Milly (Jane Powel... Read full article

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Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Quotes:

Gideon: [after Millie gives birth] I'm an uncle!
[faints]
Gideon: [attempting to get into the house to see the girls] I got me a stiff neck.
Sam: When are you gonna marry me Milly?
Milly: Oh, next week Sam.
Tom: She's gonna marry me, ain't you Milly?
Milly: What would your wife say Tom?
Mrs. Fred Bixby: [to Adam] Let me tell you something, no woman is gonna go to bear country with you to cook and wash and slave for seven slumachy back woodsmen.
Adam: [singing to Gideon about being in love] How can you tell what's in its spell? How can you tell unless you've tried it? Wait for that kiss you're certain of. And let your heart decide when you're in love.
See More Quotes from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Facts
The story of the Sabine women referred to in the film came from Plutarch's Life of Romulus .
Director Stanley Donen said that producer Jack Cummings originally planned to use existing American folk songs for the film's musical numbers. After months spent searching in vain for the right music, Donen recalled, the decision was made to commission an original score.
On the 2004 DVD commentary, Stanley Donen claims that there were two versions made of the film: one in CinemaScope and another in the standard screen ratio of the day. Each scene shot in CinemaScope had to be re-shot for the standard version. This was out of MGM's concern that not all theatres had the equipment to screen films in CinemaScope. Although the standard version was more expensive than the CinemaScope version, it was never released theatrically. However, it did play on Turner Classic Movies in the late 1990s and is featured as a special feature on the 2004 DVD.
The censors weren't too happy about the line in the song "Lonesome Polecat" where the brothers lament "A man can't sleep when he sleeps with sheep". By not showing any sheep in the same shot as the brothers, the film-makers were able to get away with it.
Jacques d'Amboise had to leave before filming was finished because he was still under contract with the New York City Ballet, so someone filled in for him during the last few days. You can see someone else playing Ephraim in the scene where the brothers are pacing downstairs while Milly is giving birth.
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