I Love the Movie "The Magnificent Seven" Quiz

Answer: Mexico

A "south of the border" (as it is often described in the film) village in Mexico is completely defenseless against the bandits who continually come and take all of their meager earnings. Tired of being robbed, a few of the village men make a trip to a rowdy south-western (USA) town to buy guns and/or men to fight the bandits.

There the group (of seven!) find each other and the mission begins.

Answer: Drive the horse-drawn hearse to Boot Hill

This is one of the most captivating few minutes of the movie. Chris and Vin do not know each other when they volunteer to drive the body (in a casket) of a dead Native American "up" to Boot Hill. Some of the townspeople are determined to stop them. It is a great scene and the easy dialog between Chris (Brynner) and Vin (McQueen) is engaging.

A young Hollywood extra named Bing Russell can be seen and heard in this scene, too. Oh, him, he is the father of future star, Kurt Russell.

Answer: Gold

The farmers convince Chris to help them rid their town of the bandits fairly easily. It proves not to be so easy for Chris to find others to help him. Besides the seemingly inept Chico the first man to volunteer to help Chris is Harry Luck, played by Brad Dexter. From the beginning to the end Harry is convinced there just has to be more to be gained than only doing the right thing.

He wants so much to be right about it that Chris finally does agree with him.

Answer: Knife

Coburn as Britt is cool, calm, quiet and competent in every scene he plays. This first scene in which we see him shows an obnoxious cowboy, named Wallace, who provokes him into a duel. Britt is forced to prove that he can throw a knife faster - and, more deadly - than the cowboy (credits indicate Wallace is played by one of Hollywood's best bad guys, Robert Wilke) can draw his gun and fire. Of course, Britt wins and (later) decides to join the excavation party.

Answer: Cowards

Bronson's character, Bernardo, identifies with the townspeople and champions their actions and reactions throughout the movie. Chris and Vin had initially approached him because he (Bernardo) had a reputation as a gunman who had "cleaned up" situations - for a price. Bernardo decides what the townspeople can offer is as he labels it: "a lot" - thus enough to hire him.

His tough, gun-for-hire persona is diminished when he interacts with the children of the village. In this scene, he quickly corrects the children and tells them their fathers are not cowards (because they - the fathers - do not settle all their differences with guns) and that sometimes it IS the cowards who carry the guns.

Answer: "I found them."

This is another engaging scene in the movie and Robert Vaughn plays it superbly. His character is so smooth with this comeback. That is all he needs to say about the situation, "I found them," as if to say, "OK, now what is next?" Vin is concerned about Lee joining the group but Chris reminds him they need men who are "a good gun" and by explaining with another of the movies catchiest phrases, "We aren't heading for church social."

Answer: Sounds an alarm by ringing the town bell

Horst Buchholz was born in Germany to German parents and his allegiance to his birth place never wavered. Buchholz had acted in several German films before he found his niche and notoriety acting in more internationally distributed films. "The Magnificent Seven" is among his earliest films but has been called the one for which he will always be remembered.

He portrays a young man of Mexican lineage and does it convincingly. This scene and others throughout the movie exemplified Chico desperately wanted to leave his past behind him but his heart and soul are too deeply touched by his heritage.

Answer: Eli Wallach

Eli Wallach became one of Hollywood's most versatile and talented actors during the late 1950s and into the 1960s. His popularity continued well into the next century with appearances in stage, screen and television productions. He can be seen in "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" (2010) that was directed by Oliver Stone. "TMS" fact: Sources say before Wallach was cast in the movie he could NOT ride a horse but he learned very quickly and rather masterfully.

Answer: Bernardo

The characters Chris, Vin and Chico survive the final battle. Calvera is killed and many of his men are, too. Bernardo does not survive and as the children of the village had promised him they would do if he did die defending their village, they put flowers on his grave.

The final words from Chris indicate it was not much of a victory, although Calvera would no longer plague the farmers, when he says to Vin, "The old man was right. We lost. We always lose."

Answer: Elmer Bernstein

Elmer Bernstein was born in New York City in 1922 and is NOT related to another brilliant composer, Leonard Bernstein. Elmer Bernstein is credited with writing the theme songs or other music for more than 200 films and TV shows but few have been more popular nor recognizable than the theme for "The Magnificent Seven".

In an era when advertizing tobacco products commanded top money it was this theme song that was used in commercials for Marlboro cigarettes.