7 Men from Now (1956)
Classic Budd Boetticher directed western starring Randolph Scott and Lee Marvin.
Boetticher has a style all his own. Unlike say John Ford who is at home playing out events over vast areas and times, Boetticher keeps his films small. His work tends to feel more personal. In this case Scott tracking down the 7 men responsible for killing his wife in a botched heist. The Lincoln County range wars for example are just not his thing. That's not to say 7 Men from Now is small scale, it isn't. Boetticher liked to film in an area known as Lone Pine in the Californian hills. An area where every type of land is available for western film making, from plains to forest to hillside terrain. There's nothing worse than a studio bound western of which there are many. The script by Burt Kennedy who went on to become an accomplished director in westerns (The Train Robbers, The War Wagon etc) is a pacy affair. Gripping in it's simplicity. It's clear the Scott and Marvin will come to blows and that their friendship throughout is strained and sinister to say the least, but the script and direction keep you on edge none the less.
The film, a Batjac production, was originally meant as a vehicle for John Wayne, but he was still making The Searchers for Ford so suggested Randolph Scott. Scott, like James Stewart, isn't an action tough guy like Wayne, he's more an everyman and thus comes across as a more intriguing prospect and less likely killer of men than Wayne or Clint Eastwood portray. Marvin on the other hand, well i suppose he plays a young Lee Marvin. Full of swagger as the trade mark anti-hero.
7 Men from Now is an excellent example of a fifties western. Not too talky and full of action.Recommended.
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