Sunday, August 22, 2010

MOVIE TRIVIA … SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS

MOVIE TRIVIA …

SEVEN BRIDES

FOR SEVEN BROTHERS

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1.    On the 2004 DVD commentary, Stanley Donen states that the film was originally shot in two versions, one widescreen and another in normal ratio, because MGM was concerned that not all theatres had the capability to screen it. Despite the fact that it cost more than the widescreen version to make, he says, the other version was never used. Scenes for the widescreen version were shot in the morning and, for the normal ratio, in the afternoon.

2.    MGM considered this a B movie - they had higher aspirations for the more expensive Brigadoon (1954). For this reason, they slashed the budget on "Seven Brothers", forcing Stanley Donen to use painted backdrops instead of location filming.  It played at the Radio City Music Hall in New York in a slot that was originally intended for Brigadoon (1954).

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3.    The censors weren't too happy about the line in the song "Lonesome Polecat" where the brothers lament "A man can't sleep when he sleeps with sheep". By not showing any sheep in the same shot as the brothers, the film-makers were able to get away with it.

4.    Rehearsals for the barn-raising sequence took 3 weeks with the whole movie shot in only 48 days.

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5.    Only four of the brothers were dancers. Russ Tamblyn (Gideon) was an acrobat, and Jeff Richards (Benjamin) was an actor. Benjamin rarely dances in the movie. Jacques d'Amboise had to leave before filming was finished because he was still under contract with the New York City Ballet, so someone filled in for him during the last few days. You can see someone else playing Ephraim in the scene where the brothers are pacing downstairs while Milly is giving birth.

6.    The avalanche was filmed at Corral Creek Canyon, at Sun Valley, Idaho.

7.    Because there was no way of distinguishing between them and the Town Suitors, MGM decided to make all the Pontipee Brothers red-headed.

8.    The working titles of this film were "Sobbin' Women" and "A Bride for Seven Brothers".

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9.    MGM had waited five years to acquire the rights to 'Stephen Vincent Benét''s short story, as Broadway producer Joshua Logan had optioned the story as a potential stage musical.

10.    Director Stanley Donen said that producer Jack Cummings originally planned to use existing American folk songs for the film's musical numbers. After months spent searching in vain for the right music, Donen recalled, the decision was made to commission an original score.

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