The Magnificent Seven Ride! Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A retired-ish marshal gets his wife killed, takes revenge, then decides to recruit some convicts to help a town of widows fight a *different* gang because, you know, seven’s still a lucky number.

🍿 The Magnificent Seven Ride!: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Marshal Settles Down

Years after his previous adventures, Chris Adams (Lee Van Cleef) has settled down as a U.S. Marshal in Arizona, married to Arrila. He’s trying to live a more peaceful life and initially declines his friend Jim McKay’s plea to help a Mexican border town terrorized by the bandit De Toro.

Personal Tragedy Strikes

Chris’s life is shattered when his wife Arrila is kidnapped, raped, and killed by three bank robbers he mistakenly paroled. Driven by vengeance, Chris, accompanied by journalist Noah Forbes who wants to document his story, hunts down and kills two of the culprits. The third escapes into Mexico and joins De Toro’s gang.

Returning to the Cause

Following the trail into Mexico, Chris finds his friend Jim McKay and his villagers massacred by De Toro’s men, aided by the third robber. Feeling obligated to help the surviving women of the town of Magdalena, now widowed and brutalized, Chris decides to take up the fight against De Toro. Realizing he cannot do it alone, he returns to the U.S.

Recruiting a New Kind of Seven

Unable to find conventional help, Chris goes to the Tucson Territorial Prison to recruit five hardened criminals in exchange for pardons. This disparate group, including a demolitions expert, an ex-Army officer, and others with varied skills, joins Chris and Noah, forming a new ‘Magnificent Seven’ to protect the defenseless women of Magdalena.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Chris (Lee Van Cleef): Marshal Chris Adams, a weary gunfighter driven by personal loss, recruits five prisoners and a writer to defend a village from bandits.
• Laurie Gunn (Stefanie Powers): A strong and resourceful widow in the terrorized town who helps organize the defense alongside Chris.
• Noah Forbes (Michael Callan): A writer who tags along with Chris to document his life, unexpectedly becoming one of the seven defenders.
• Mark Skinner (Luke Askew): One of the hardened prisoners recruited by Chris, a skilled fighter who becomes a key member of the new Seven.
• Walt Drummond (William Lucking): A convicted prisoner who joins Chris’s group for a chance at a pardon by fighting the bandits.
• Scott Elliot (Ed Lauter): One of the criminals released from prison to bolster Chris’s ranks in defending the village.
• De Toro (Pedro Armendáriz Jr.): The ruthless and violent leader of the Mexican bandits who repeatedly raid and terrorize border towns.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Marshall Chris Adams: “Yeah, he confuses the heck out of me, too.” – A dry, cynical response to a priest who attributes events to God’s mysterious ways, reflecting Chris’s weary and pragmatic outlook.
• Marshall Chris Adams: “He’s done my job. I’ll do his.” – Spoken with resolute purpose after Chris learns that his friend killed the outlaw who murdered his wife, motivating him to take on the fight against the bandit gang.
• Marshall Chris Adams: “Seven’s always been my lucky number.” – A reflective line spoken by Chris as he considers the challenge ahead, referencing the recurring theme of the franchise.
• Marshall Chris Adams: “Well, if I was gonna be around forever… I’d never have got married.” – Said to Laurie, indicating his awareness of the dangers in his life and the reasons behind his attempt to settle down.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $3,000,000
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 The Magnificent Seven Ride! Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, so I went into this knowing it was the *fourth* Magnificent Seven movie, starring Lee Van Cleef after Brynner and Kennedy. My expectations weren’t sky-high, but honestly? It wasn’t the worst way to spend 100 minutes. Lee Van Cleef is just cool, even when he’s playing a lawman with a tragic backstory. He brings that intense gaze and dry delivery that makes him fascinating to watch, even if the script doesn’t always give him much to work with. I actually liked the darker revenge setup at the beginning; it felt a bit different. The whole ‘recruiting convicts’ thing was a clear Dirty Dozen ripoff, but hey, it works for a premise. The town of widows storyline felt a bit dated and that quick romance sub-plot felt… really rushed, considering the circumstances! But the final shootout was decent, lots of classic Western action. Overall, it’s not the original, not even close, and definitely feels like a lower budget TV movie at times. But if you like Van Cleef and want to see the end of the original series, it’s worth a watch just to say you did. Don’t expect a masterpiece, but there are some fun moments.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Lee Van Cleef”
  • “Viewers interested in the complete ‘Magnificent Seven’ film series”
  • “Western genre enthusiasts, particularly those interested in later, darker Western themes”
  • “Fans of films with a ‘Dirty Dozen’ style recruitment plot”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence (Shootouts, Bloody Injuries)”
  • “Depiction/Discussion of Rape and Sexual Assault (Implied/Experienced by characters)”
  • “Character Deaths”
  • “Disturbing Situations”

Professional Reviews

• Critique Quarterly: “The final ride for the original ‘Magnificent Seven’ series feels less like a grand finale and more like a dusty stumble. Lee Van Cleef brings his signature stoicism, but the film struggles to escape its made-for-TV origins. The ‘Dirty Dozen’ inspired plot twist adds a bit of novelty, yet the pacing drags, and the supporting cast, while familiar faces, lack the spark of their predecessors. An unfortunately drab conclusion to a legendary franchise.
• The Cinephile Weekly: “While ‘The Magnificent Seven Ride!’ recycles much of its formula and score, it does offer some unexpected grit, particularly in its initial revenge storyline. Lee Van Cleef is a compelling presence, anchoring the film even when the script wavers. The action sequences are serviceable, culminating in a chaotic, albeit predictable, finale. Not essential viewing for Western fans, but a passable curiosity for those dedicated to the series or Van Cleef’s later work.

Audience Reactions

Lee Van Cleef stepping into Chris’s boots was a highlight for many.: Viewers appreciated Lee Van Cleef’s performance and screen presence, finding him a suitable, albeit different, lead for this iteration.

The action sequences, particularly the final shootout, delivered classic Western thrills.: The gunfights and action set pieces were frequently mentioned as engaging and well-executed, providing the expected Western excitement.

The ‘Dirty Dozen’ style recruitment added a fresh twist to the tired formula.: Fans noted that the premise of recruiting prisoners offered a slightly different angle compared to previous sequels, which felt like direct retreads.

Overall Consensus: A generally weaker sequel compared to the original and its predecessors, ‘The Magnificent Seven Ride!’ is often seen as a passable, albeit formulaic, Western that benefits primarily from Lee Van Cleef’s presence and some enjoyable action scenes, despite its TV-movie production values and narrative flaws.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “This is the only film in the original four-movie series that was shot entirely within the United States, whereas the previous films were filmed in Mexico or Spain.”
• “The film utilized the iconic Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park in California for some of its outdoor scenes, a location recognizable from numerous films and television shows, which some critics noted contributed to a ‘made-for-TV’ aesthetic.”
• “The plot point of recruiting convicted prisoners for the dangerous mission draws heavily on the successful formula established by films like ‘The Dirty Dozen’ (1967), marking a thematic shift for the series.”
• “Lee Van Cleef takes over the role of Chris Adams, making him the third actor to portray the character in the series, following Yul Brynner (films 1 & 2) and George Kennedy (film 3).”

🖥️ How to Watch The Magnificent Seven Ride!?

Finding ‘The Magnificent Seven Ride!’ for viewing might require exploring digital purchase or rental options. While not consistently available on major subscription streaming services, it is often found for purchase or rent on platforms like Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. Check these platforms for current availability and pricing. Physical copies on DVD are also available from various retailers online, which can be found by searching platforms like Amazon.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed The Magnificent Seven Ride!, you might like these similar films:

• The Magnificent Seven (1960): The acclaimed original film upon which the series is based, establishing the core premise of mercenaries defending a village from bandits.
• The Dirty Dozen (1967): Shares the core plot element of recruiting a group of convicted criminals for a dangerous mission, which heavily influenced this sequel’s storyline.
• Unforgiven (1992): A later, critically acclaimed Western that explores themes of aging, violence, and moral ambiguity with a cynical tone similar to the darker aspects of this film.
• A Reason to Live, A Reason to Die (1972): An Italian ‘Dirty Dozen’ style Western also released in 1972, featuring a similar plot of a leader guiding convicts on a mission against a fortified enemy.
• High Plains Drifter (1973): A dark, revenge-driven Western starring Clint Eastwood, known for its gritty violence and morally ambiguous protagonist, appealing to fans of the later, tougher Westerns.

🛒 The Magnificent Seven Ride! Related Products

• The Magnificent Seven 4-Film Collection (DVD/Blu-ray): Own all four original ‘Magnificent Seven’ films, including ‘The Magnificent Seven Ride!’, in one comprehensive collection. Experience the evolution of the saga from the classic original to its later installments.
• Elmer Bernstein’s The Magnificent Seven (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack): The iconic, rousing score that defined the franchise. Features the unforgettable main theme that is instantly recognizable and synonymous with the Western genre.
• Red Dead Redemption 2 (PlayStation/Xbox/PC Digital Code): An epic open-world Western adventure game set in a vast, atmospheric world. Experience a compelling story of outlaws, loyalty, and survival on the American frontier with stunning detail.
• Classic Western Movie Poster Print – The Magnificent Seven: High-quality reproduction poster featuring the iconic artwork from the original ‘The Magnificent Seven’. Perfect for framing and displaying.

🎧 Soundtrack

The Magnificent Seven Ride! features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “The Magnificent Seven Theme” – performed by Elmer Bernstein
• “Original Score” – performed by Elmer Bernstein

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Stefanie Powers: HARDCASE, MAGNIFICENT SEVEN & Desperate Women!

Ever wonder what it was like making this movie? Sit down with actress Stefanie Powers as she spills some fascinating details and personal stories about her time filming ‘The Magnificent Seven Ride!’ – love hearing these behind-the-scenes chats!

The Best of Lee Van Cleef | MGM

Wanna see why Lee Van Cleef was such a legendary figure in westerns? This awesome compilation from MGM highlights his best moments, including some great clips from ‘The Magnificent Seven Ride!’ – totally worth watching if you’re a fan!

Best of Chris Adams | The Magnificent Seven | MGM

Curious about the iconic Chris Adams? This compilation pulls together his coolest moments from the whole Magnificent Seven saga, giving you a taste of his evolution, and yeah, it includes some bits from the 1972 movie too!

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