Despite mixed notices, The Magnificent Seven did strong business, earning $11 million on its initial U.S. and European release.

"A pallid, pretentious and overlong reflection of the Japanese original. Don't expect anything like the ice-cold suspense, the superb juxtaposition of revealing human vignettes, and especially the pile-driver tempo of the original Seven." - Howard Thompson, The New York Times.

The big screen is filled in a deeply satisfying manner. The battle is made up of the extravagant acrobatics, the leaps and dying falls which are the stuff of Western gun-battles. They are the ritual movements of the Western, as stylized as the Samurai, and should be accepted with as much respect." - Dilys Powell, The London Sunday Times.

"...a rousing adventure story that not only includes a brilliant cast but explores some of the deeper contradictions of the mythic noble outlaw." - James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk.

AWARDS & HONORS

Elmer Bernstein's score was nominated for an Academy Award but lost to Ernest Gold's score for Exodus.