MovieChat Forums > The Magnificent Seven (1960) Discussion > Watched this movie dozens of times, saw ...

Watched this movie dozens of times, saw something I never saw before...

posted 7 years ago by collins294
3 replies | jump to latest

when the undertaker shouts "Boys the drinks are on me" one of the cowpokes grabs a wad of bills out of his hands. It was the money collected by those who wanted to see the confrontation. The undertaker tried to buy drinks with their money.

Also: The Old Man: "Go to the border. Guns are plentiful there." Chris: "Guns are expensive and hard to get". Two different opinions obviously.

I always thought the "clap your hand" test was unfair to Chico. Chris tried Chico before Chico knew what the game was all about.

Vin seems to like jabbing at the other members: To O'Reilly "You cost a lot". To Lee: "You must be living in style".

Why does Chris finally accept Chico? Is it his persistence? He seems to have changed his mind during the brief period of time between the bar scene where Chico passed out and Chico joining the rest on the trail.

Always wonder if Chris knew something was up with Lee. He gave him a long stare after Lee was asked to go with Britt to attack the three men sent by Calvera.

[–] Arseweb 7 years ago

I don't agree that the test was unfair to Chico. The test was to see how quickly Chico could draw his gun, not to see how quickly he could clap his hands! So Chris started by doing it the other way around - showing Chico what the test was BEFORE subjecting Chico to the test. That was very fair on him. Chico then failed to even participate in the test, presumably because he knew he was nowhere near as quick as Chris (but it's not like Chris had said that Chico needed to be that quick), and showed himself to be of poor character (which he exacerbated with his drunken behaviour in the bar later on).

But like you I was also confused about Chris accepting him into the gang. Chico's behaviour in yelling at the villagers when they arrived there, which prompted Chris to say "now we are seven", seemed to me to be more childishness of the sort you wouldn't want.

All I could think was that maybe Chris liked the passion and confidence Chico was now showing, and maybe he agreed that the villagers needed to be gee-ed up in some way like Chico was saying. But I definitely think it could have done with a bit more to Chris's line, to give us more of a clue to his thought process.

[–] liscarkat (16469) 6 years ago

The clapping test was kind of irrelevant. There was very little, if any, quick-draw action during the fighting with Calvera's men. Most of the shooting was done with handguns already drawn, or with rifles.

After observing Chico on the trail for a few days, Chris decided that in spite of the lad's immaturity and impetuosity, he was basically honest, reliable, and brave. It was also beginning to become apparent that they couldn't get rid of him. Since they could use all the help they could get, Chris decided he might as well let him join them. His instincts were right--Chico ended up being an asset to the team.

[–] ATG6 (3000) 3 years ago

And Chico challenged the townspeople to help, and to be worthy of the Seven's help.