Seven Brides for Seven Brothers | Hollywood Yesterday

Jane Powell, Howard Keel, and Russ Tamblyn: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

June 24, 2021 By Joi

Jane Powell and Howard Keel

There are certain stars from old Hollywood and classic television who I “collect,” as in buy and acquire anything and everything I can that pertains to them. Jane Powell is one of these chosen stars – I just adore her. I have since I first saw her MANY years ago in the film she is probably best known for, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Amazon dvd link).

While I love the entire cast, Jane Powell, Julie Newmar, Ruta Lee, and Russ Tamblyn are my stand out favorites.

Speaking of Russ Tamblyn, how in the world is he not a household name?! He was as talented as anyone – whether it was dancing, acting, charisma… he had every bit as much going on for him as anyone and more than many. Okay, rant over, but it is mystifying how some stars were handpicked for lead roles when others weren’t. Russ could have been a delightful mixture of Danny Kaye and Fred Astaire and audiences would have absolutely loved him as a leading man.

I also wonder how in the world Hollywood ever kept from casting Julie Newmar and Ruta Lee in more leading roles too. Again, they would have been more than capable of carrying a movie.

Russ Tamblyn

You can watch this joyful, entertaining, and in all ways delightful musical on Prime Video. If you haven’t seen it in awhile, you’re going to be amazed at just how good it is – I think, as years pass, we tend to forget how excellent many of our favorites really were. Then, when we’re sitting and reliving the magic, we notice the spectacular costumes, flawless choreography and dancing, and joyful songs and humor.

This truly is a spectacular musical and a celebration of movies in general.

Howard Keel, Russ Tamblyn, and Julie Newmar

Jane Powell and Howard Keel: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Promotional Picture

March 22, 2021 By Joi

Jane Powell and Howard Keel

I can’t say with absolute certainty that Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is the first musical I ever saw, but it IS the first one I remember. I loved everything about it, then, as a little girl, and I love everything about it now… with three little girls of my own all grown!

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers was directed by Stanley Donen and boasts an absolutely incredible cast including Jane Powell, Howard Keel, Russ Tamlyn, Jeff Richards, Julie Newmar, and Ruta Lee. It’s beautiful, joyful, and deliciously colorful entertainment that is timeless.

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An interesting bit of trivia about this wonderful musical: MGM had (for whatever reasons!) low financial expectations for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. With these low expectations in mind, they chose to allocate resources, instead, to Rose Marie and Brigadoon. Ironically, neither of these films had anywhere near the commercial and critical success of Seven Brides.

In fact, Seven Brides is, to this day, the most popular of the three!

You can watch Seven Brides for Seven Brothers on Prime Video (Amazon link) or buy the dvd (link to the dvd on Amazon).

Great-Looking Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Lobby Card

September 23, 2020 By Joi

One of my favorite musicals is Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. My favorites in the cast are… well, the whole cast! Jane Powell, Howard Keel, Russ Tamblyn, Julie Newmar… just a wonderful cast who obviously had as much fun making the movie as we have watching it. In fact, Howard Keel called this film “one of my happiest filmmaking experiences at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.” He went on to say, “The cast was magnificent, and the chemistry irresistible. Jack Cummings had his stamp on the whole picture. Jane Powell, as Milly, was perfect, and I loved working with her. She was cute and persnickety and a multi-talented pro. It truly was one big happy family.”

In an interview for TNT’s “Our Favorite Movies” series, Keel said, “A ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ doesn’t come along too often. I remember thinking, ‘If this isn’t a hit, I give up,’ because it was so much fun to make.”

You can watch Seven Brides for Seven Brothers on Prime Video (Amazon link) or buy the dvd (link to the dvd on Amazon).

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Clean, Crazy Fun – Arguably the Best Kind)

April 14, 2017 By Joi

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Yesterday, in spite of the fact I was recovering from a terrible cold and should’ve never left the house, I spent the afternoon out with my youngest daughter running errands and shopping. By the time we got back home, all I wanted to do was throw my pajamas on and COLLAPSE with an iced raspberry tea. After crawling into the PJs and pouring the tea, I headed for my favorite swivel rocker, with every intention of popping in a Rita Hayworth or Lucille Ball movie to make me feel better.

I decided to check TCM first, in case something irresistible was coming on.

Was it ever?! The redheads would have to wait.

An all-time favorite musical/movie, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Amazon), happened to just be coming on, which made me smile ear to ear – in between sneezes that threatened to shake my teeth loose.

The ridiculously fun 1956 musical stars Jane Powell (Milly), Howard Keel (Adam), and Russ Tamblyn at his scene-stealing best as the youngest son, Gideon. Although it’s a smaller role, gorgeous Julie Newmar stars as Dorcas (one of the “Seven Brides”). Although she was an accomplished dancer, she was unable to fully showcase her talent in Seven Brides because her “Brother” (Benjamin) was played by Jeff Richards, an ex-baseball player with zero dancing skills.

Benjamin seldom dances in the movie and if you ever wondered why, it’s simple, he’d have been more at home on a baseball field!

In fact, after doing a little research, it turns out that only four of the “brothers” were considered dancers. You’d never really know from watching the movie – everyone seems loaded with talent.

Heck, they all dance better than me… including the baseball player.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers Trivia

For the beautiful dresses worn by the Seven Brides, costume designer Walter Plunkett went to the local Salvation Army, bought old quilts and turned them into dresses! Not only do they make beautiful dresses, it rings more authentic than snazzier dresses would.
One of the first things that jumps out at viewers is the fact that all 7 of the brothers are red-heads. This was a decision made in an effort to more easily distinguish between the brothers and the townsmen. The brothers also dress very differently.
The movie was shot in 48 days!
The women in the general store at the first of the movie will go on to become Adam’s sisters-in-law: Ruth (bonnet with blue ribbons), Sarah (hat with black band), Liza (bonnet with pink ribbon), and Dorcas (hat with brown band).
Howard Keel (Adam) called Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, “one of my happiest filmmaking experiences at Metro Goldwyn Mayer… The cast was magnificent, and the chemistry irresistible. Jack Cummings had his stamp on the whole picture. Jane Powell, as Milly, was perfect, and I loved working with her. She was cute and persnickety and a multi-talented pro… It truly was one big happy family.”
6’4″ Howard Keel is considered the Errol Flynn and Clark Gable of musicals in the 1950’s. However, a lot of people will remember him best as Clayton Farlow in the legendary series Dallas.

The seven brothers & brides couples are:

Adam & Milly
Benjamin & Dorcas
Caleb & Ruth
Daniel & Martha
Ephraim & Liza
Frank & Sarah
Gideon & Alice

If you’ve never seen Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (Amazon dvd link), I highly recommend it. Heck, I highly recommend it if you’ve seen it a hundred times. You’ll enjoy one hundred and one just as much…. trust me, I’d know.

This movie is from a time when fun was the name of the game. No one worried about political correctness (don’t even get me started) – all they worried about was having a great time and giving the audience a fun ride.

Mission beautifully accomplished.