Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1957)

by Tristi Pinkston | More from this Blogger

One of my favorite movies of all time, "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" tells the story of Adam Pontipee (Howard Keel), oldest brother in a family of seven, who decides that what his farm needs is a woman. He can get sugar at the general store, and feed, too, so why shouldn't he head to town and pick out a wife? The movie opens with a jovial song sung in Howard Keel's velvet voice, the lyrics of which are: "Bless your beautiful hide, wherever you may be. We ain't met yet but I'm willin' to bet, you're the gal for me."

He walks through the town, sizing up all the girls, until his eye lands on the one he wants - pretty Milly (Jane Powell), waitress and cook at a small restaurant. He goes in to check out her cooking, and decides she'll do. He follows her outside and proposes, right off the bat. She accepts, right off the bat, and they head off to the preacher's. He tries to talk Milly out of doing it, but she refuses to be budged, and they marry.

As they make the long journey up to Adam's farm in the mountains, she tells him how glad she is that she'll be cooking for just one man. He clears his throat a few times, not sure how to tell her, but as soon as they pull into the farm, she understands - she will be cooking for seven men, not just one, and the house is a disaster. She's hurt and disappointed, but she sets to work immediately, scrubbing the kitchen down and setting it to rights. When the men come in to eat, they attack the food like hogs, so she dumps all the food on the floor and lets them eat like hogs. Showing her spirit right away, we know who is going to win this battle.

First thing the next morning, she has washed all the brothers' clothing, and did it need it! Within a few days, she has them all scrubbed, trimmed and shining, and she's teaching them manners, to boot. Underneath all that dirt and scruffy hair, she found six charming, handsome young men, and now she can start building a relationship with them that quickly turns into affection.

It's not long before the brothers start thinking fondly about the town girls they met at the dance they attended a short time before. They're jealous that Adam was able to find a wife so easily, and he tells them that there's nothing to it. They should just head down to the town, grab the girls and bring them home. That's how he got Milly, so that must be how it's done. They hitch up the wagon and go to town, grab the girls and head back up the mountain. Reaching the canyon, they fire their rifles in the air, causing an avalanche that blocks the way to the farm and makes it impossible for the girls' families to come after them.

When Milly finds out what the men have done, she is furious. She tells them that you can't just treat a girl like that, and explains to Adam that she only came with him because she fell in love with him at first sight. She never would have otherwise. She makes the men go sleep in the barn, while the girls bed down in the house, anxiously awaiting the spring when they can go home.

The rest of the winter follows with the men trying to sneak time with the girls, and the girls slowly warming up to the men, until at the end, well, the title gives it away - there are seven brides for seven brothers. The movie is sprinkled with great musical numbers, well-done dance routines, romance, humor, and a splash of that magic that is old Hollywood at its best. I highly recommend this movie for you and your family.

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Learn more about Tristi Pinkston

I am a stay-at-home mom, author of eight published books, a freelance editor, and the mother of four incredible children. I enjoy scrapbooking, watching good movies, and taking naps.

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