The Magnificent Seven was shot on location in Cuernavaca, Mexico and at the Estudios Churubuscos Aztecas in Mexico City. Shooting there meant clearing the script through the Mexican censors, who demanded numerous changes to present the story's locale and Mexican characters in the best possible light. One thing they insisted on was that the farmers be shown wearing clean clothes in every scene.

For the film, Yul Brynner studied shooting and the quickdraw method with Rodd Redwing, a Native American who had taught many other Hollywood actors, including co-star Steve McQueen.

Stars Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen feuded throughout shooting. Brynner felt, quite rightly, that since he had developed the property he was the star and should be the center of attention on screen. McQueen, who had just scored a hit on the television series Wanted Dead or Alive and secretly envied Brynner's superstar lifestyle, set out to steal the film from him. He even told an interviewer, "When you work in a scene with Yul, you're supposed to stand perfectly still. I don't work that way." During one scene, Brynner had to stand still while McQueen paced. To keep focus, Brynner made a small perch out of dirt so he would be taller than the other actor. But every time McQueen walked past him, he surreptitiously kicked a little of the dirt away. Eventually, Brynner had to assign an assistant to keep an eye out for McQueen's scene stealing. He even had Sturges call him on it a few times.

Cast as the Mexican bandit chief, stage-trained Eli Wallach wanted to make his performance as authentic as possible, so Sturges recruited some actual bandits to play his henchmen. The locals formed a close attachment to Wallach, teaching him to shoot, ride and snarl convincingly. They also served as unofficial bodyguards for the actor and his wife, actress Anne Jackson, during the location shoot.

Although the film received only mixed reviews, Sturges got a rave from the one source that really mattered to him. After seeing the picture, Kurosawa was so impressed, he sent the American director a ceremonial sword as a gift.

by Frank Miller