Pun Salad

One of the great things about being on an online DVD rental plan is that there's no marginal cost involved in getting a sentimental favorite every so often. Such is the case here.

It was especially fun to watch this after Seven Samurai, on which it's based; some things are direct copies, others are significant changes, and it's fun to speculate on the reasons for the changes.

Example: the opening conflict where Chris (Yul Brynner) and Vin (Steve McQueen) meet; they are nothing less than selfless civil-rights workers, determined to integrate a "Boot Hill" cemetery, in conflict with a number of bigoted townsfolk. In Seven Samurai, Kambei has a much less socially relevant task: rescuing a child from a kidnapper. I'd guess this change reflects the mindset of the circa-1960 American "progressive" filmmaking community. Not that there's anything wrong with that!

But that's too much deep thinking for this fun movie.