Academy Award winner Yul Brynner stars in the landmark Western that launched the film careers of Steve McQueen (The Great Escape), Charles Bronson (The Dirty Dozen), and James Coburn (Affliction). Tired of being ravaged by an army of marauding bandits, the residents of a small Mexican village seek help from seven American gunfighters. The only problem? It’s seven against 50!

Also featuring Eli Wallach (The Good, The Bad And The Ugly) and Robert Vaughn (The Man From U.N.C.L.E.), and set against Elmer Bernstein’s Oscar-nominated score, director John Sturges’ thrilling adventure comes to stunning 4K UHD!

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Video Quality

Shout! Studios presents The Magnificent Seven with an eye-popping 2160p transfer in its original 2.35:1 aspect ratio sourced from a 2022 restoration and color grade using an existing 4K scan of the Original Camera Negative that has been provided with Dolby Vision/HDR. The film has been previously released on Blu-Ray numerous times since 2010 by MGM, and it was high time to allow this classic to be presented in its ideal state. This release ranks among the top presentations we have ever seen for a classic on 4K UHD, and we are confident this is a night-and-day upgrade for fans.

The level of detail and clarity is as magnificent as the title would suggest with the appropriate amount of natural film grain intact. The grain resolves very well without ever being clumpy, swarming, or smoothed over in any fashion. The only slight downturns are in the brief optical transitions that most classic film lovers will recognize and give a pass. The texture on display in the costumes and within the production design and natural environments is a revelation. Even facial details like sweat are present with significant clarity. We did not spot any major specks of damage within the source. This presentation is true to the original look of the film without the added resolution making elements seem out of place.

The film features some truly splendid cinematography courtesy of Charles Lang which captures the rich Western landscape saturated with bold colors that leap off the screen with a vibrant intensity. The Dolby Vision offers a depth and stability of color that is astounding. While the setting may be very brown and dusty, it proves to be a gorgeous sight when viewed here. Highlights are as solid as a rock with no evidence of blooming even under the sweltering sun. The black levels are in top form with nothing in the way of crush or banding present. All shadowy enclaves stay crisp and clear with depth and delineation. There do not appear to be any jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding, or any other such nuisances. This presentation is as good as it gets from Shout! Studios.

Audio Quality

The film has been given a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track in mono and stereo, along with a DTS-HD 5.1 Master Audio surround sound presentation, all of which capture this material with great care. To our ears, the original mono holds up the best with the surround sound presentation not adding much outside of expanding the reach of the iconic score. Dialogue comes through clearly from the earliest spoken moments without being drowned out by any competing elements. The track balances vocals with the various environmental sounds with impeccable clarity.

Even when the soundscape is expanded past its modest roots, the increased activity keeps each element distinct in its prominence. When the Elmer Bernstein score blares out, the track is in top form with its handling of the different core elements. This is one of the elements that stand apart with the expanded audio tracks, as the score feels intended to be completely encompassing. The track is primarily absent of hissing, hums, drop-outs, and the like. Shout! Studios has provided a welcome selection of audio tracks that present the film as desired. The disc also comes with optional English (SDH) subtitles.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: This disc provides two commentary tracks that allow for both a personal reflection and a historical examination of this classic film. Both of these are wonderful listening experiences as you get memories of John Sturges and the production along with a thoughtful analysis that enhances your appreciation of the picture to greater heights.

- Audio Commentary #1: James Coburn, Eli Wallach, Producer Walter Mirisch, And Assistant Director Robert Relyea

- Audio Commentary #2: Film Historian Sir Christopher Frayling

Guns For Hire – Making of The Magnificent Seven: A 47-minute archival making-of documentary and appreciation piece is provided featuring interviews with actors James Coburn, Horst Buchholz, Eli Wallach, Robert Vaughn, Rosenda Monteros, John Alonzo, and Brad Dexter. There are also insights provided by actor Chazz Palminteri as well as directors John Carpenter and Lawrence Kasdan. This piece gives equal insights into the creation of the film as it does to recognizing the reverence it has attained as a Western classic.

Elmer Bernstein and The Magnificent Seven: A 15-minute archival featurette in which film music historian Jon Burlingame discusses the background of the legendary composer and how his compositions function as a pivotal character in the film.

Sir Christopher Frayling on The Magnificent Seven: A nearly 21-minute archival analysis of the film by the film historian who delves into its historical significance, the performances, the direction of John Sturges, and more.

The Linen Book – Lost Images from The Magnificent Seven: A 15-minute piece with Maggie Adams, head of MGM Home Entertainment’s photo archive, who describes the discovery of a vintage linen book that documented the production of The Magnificent Seven. Viewers also get to witness Assistant Director Robert Relyea and co-star Eli Wallach flipping through and reminiscing over several of the photos from the book.