Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

MGM, 1954, Color, 102 minutes, ****

Adam Pontipee (Howard Keel), the eldest of seven brothers, goes to town to pick out a bride and returns with Milly (Jane Powell). He doesn't bother to tell Milly about his brothers, and after arriving at the ranch she wonders if Adam married her just to have a live-in housekeeper. But Milly starts putting things in order and teaching the brothers some manners. After Adam reads them a book of Milly's about the Sabine Women (sobbin' women), they decide to go to town and get more brides for the remaining six brothers. The men abduct six girls and bring them back to the ranch, much to the horror of Milly. Really fun movie with some great music and dancing. In my opinion, the Barn-raising Ballet is one of the best dance numbers ever filmed! Though it was a "back-lot production", this was MGM's biggest hit of 1954.

The Couples are: Howard Keel and Jane Powell [Adam and Milly], Jeff Richards and Julie Newmeyer [Benjamin and Dorcas], Matt Mattox and Ruta Kilmonis [Caleb and Ruth], Marc Platt and Norma Doggett [Daniel and Martha], Jacques D'Amboise and Virginia Gibson [Ephraim and Liza], Tommy Rall and Betty Carr [Frank and Sarah], Russ Tamblyn and Nancy Kilgas [Gideon and Alice]

Oregon Territory, 1890...

Produced by: Jack Cummings
Directed by: Stanley Donen
Assistant Director: Ridgeway Callow
Screen Play by: Albert Hackett & Frances Goodrich and Dorothy Kingsley
Based on the Story "The Sobbin' Women" by Stephen Vincent Benet
Musical Direction: Adolph Deutsch
Musical Supervision: Saul Chaplin
Lyrics by: Johnny Mercer
Music by: Gene DePaul
Orchestrations: Alexander Courage, Conrad Salinger and Leo Arnaud
Dances and Musical Numbers Staged by: Michael Kidd
Art Directors: Cedric Gibbons and Urie McCleary
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis, Hugh Hunt
Costumes Designed by: Walter Plunkett
Hair Styles by: Sydney Guilaroff
Make-Up Created by: William Tuttle
Recording Supervisor: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: George Folsey
Special Effects: A. Arnold Gillespie, Warren Newcombe
Filmed in CinemaScope, Color by Ansco
Color Consultant: Alvord Eiseman
Film Editor: Ralph E. Winters

Awards: Academy Award for Best Score, Musical (Adolph Deutsch and Saul Chaplin). Academy Award Nominations for Best Picture, Best Screenplay (Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, Dorothy Kingsley), Best Color Cinematography (George Folsey) and Best Film Editing (Ralph E. Winters)

Cast:
Howard Keel ... Adam Pontipee
Jane Powell ... Milly
Jeff Richards ... Benjamin Pontipee
Julie Newmeyer [Newmar] ... Dorcas
Russ Tamblyn ... Gideon Pontipee
Nancy Kilgas ... Alice
Tommy Rall ... Frank Pontipee
Betty Carr ... Sarah
Marc Platt ... Daniel Pontipee
Virginia Gibson ... Liza
Matt Mattox ... Caleb Pontipee
Ruta Kilmonis (aka Ruta Lee) ... Ruth
Jacques d'Amboise ... Ephraim Pontipee
Norma Doggett ... Martha
Ian Wolfe ... Rev. Elcott
Howard Petrie ... Pete Perkins
Earl Barton ... Harry
Dante DiPaolo ... Matt
Kelly Brown ... Carl
Matt Moore ... Ruth's Uncle
Dick Rich ... Dorcas' Father
Marjorie Wood ... Mrs. Bixby
Russell Simpson ... Mr. Bixby
Additional Cast:
Anna Q. Nilsson ... Mrs. Elcott
Larry Blake ... Drunk
Lois Hall ... Girl
Jarma Lewis ... Lem's Girlfriend
Walter Beaver ... Lem
Sheila James ... Dorcas' Sister

Songs:
[0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles)
[0:04] Bless Your Beautiful Hide (sung by Howard Keel)
[0:13] Wonderful, Wonderful Day (sung by Jane Powell)
[0:26] When You're in Love (sung by Jane Powell)
[0:34] Goin' Co'tin' (sung and danced by Jane Powell, Tommy Rall, Russ Tamblyn, Marc Platt, Matt Mattox, Jacques D'Amboise, Jeff Richards, Howard Hudson, Gene Lanham and Robert Wacker)
[0:40] Barn Dance (instrumental, danced by principles and ensemble)
[0:55] When You're in Love (reprised by Howard Keel)
[0:57] Lament (Lonesome Polecat) (sung and danced by Matt Mattox, Tommy Rall, Russ Tamblyn, Marc Platt, Jacques D'Amboise, Jeff Richards and the MGM Studio Chorus)
[1:03] Sobbin' Women (sung by Howard Keel, Tommy Rall, Russ Tamblyn, Matt Mattox, Marc Platt, Jeff Richards, Jacques D'Amboise [onscreen] with C. Parlato, Robert Wacker, Gene Lanham and M. Spergel, Alan Davies [offscreen])
[1:23] June Bride (sung and danced by Virginia Gibson, Julie Newmeyer, Nancy Kilgas, Betty Carr, Ruta Kilmonis and Norma Doggett [onscreen], Virginia Gibson, Barbara Ames, Betty Allan, Betty Noyes, Marie Vernon and Norma Zimmer [offscreen])
[1:27] Spring, Spring, Spring (sung by Tommy Rall, Betty Carr, Jeff Richards, Julie Newmeyer, Marc Platt, Norma Doggett, Matt Mattox, Ruta Kilmonis, Jacques D'Amboise, Virginia Gibson, Russ Tamblyn and Nancy Kilgas [onscreen]; Howard Keel, Tommy Rall, Russ Tamblyn, Matt Mattox, Alan Davies, C. Parlato, Robert Wacker, Gene Lanham, M. Spergel, Bill Lee, Virginia Gibson, Barbara Ames, Betty Allan, Betty Noyes, Marie Vernon and Norma Zimmer [offscreen])
[1:41] Bless Your Beautiful Hide (instrumental arrangement played by Orchestra at end of movie and behind end credits)