Seven Brides for Seven Brothers


Adam, the eldest of seven brothers, goes to town to get a wife. He convinces Milly to marry him that same day. When he brings her back to his backwoods home, she discovers that he has six brothers--all living in his cabin. Milly sets out to reform the uncouth lads, who become anxious to find their own wives. Then, after reading about the Roman capture of the Sabine women, Adam develops an inspired solution to his brothers' loneliness.
“Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” is a lively musical built on big songs and even bigger choreography. The athletic dance sequences are genuinely impressive, and the acting suits the expressive style the film requires. But the story, especially the “kidnap-your-future-wife” plotline and its treatment of women, lands awkwardly today. If you set aside the dated gender politics and focus on the sheer energy of the musical numbers, it remains an entertaining watch.