Sexual politics in CinemaScope

"Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" reveals interesting truths about the gender dynamics and sexual politics of the 1950s (as well as the 1850s, when the story is set), putting a charming, pseudo-chivalrous sheen on rugged chauvinism. But even if the sexism rubs you the wrong way, you can't beat the acrobatic dancing and slick choreography on display in this oft-overlooked musical. Here's what CineVerse concluded about this picture:

HOW IS THIS FILM DIFFERENT FROM OTHER HOLLYWOOD MUSICALS?

·       It’s songs and story are not based on a previously staged Broadway musical;

o   Its tale is adapted from the ancient Roman legend of the Rape of the Sabine Women, which was made into a short story by Stephen Vincent Benet. The legend tells of the growing city of Rome, which experienced a lack of childbearing females; the Romans invited the neighboring Sabine citizens to a feast and kidnapped their women while the men were distracted, leading to a war. The Sabine women grew to love and bear children for their captors.

o   Unlike other film musicals that cribbed Broadway standards, its songs were originals scored purposely for this film, written by lyricist Johnny Mercer and composer Saul Chaplin and Gene de Paul. 

o   Also, its songs seem to serve the story as opposed to being incidental “break out into song” numbers whose lyrics have little or nothing to do with the plot (think of some of the songs in “Singin’ in the Rain” or “An American in Paris”).

·       It was shot in the new, extreme widescreen format of CinemaScope, giving it a 2.55:1 aspect ratio instead of the standard 1.78:1 widescreen standard of the day. The result is an extremely vast frame capable of showcasing up to 7 different pairs of brides and brothers and their action and dancing sequences.

·       The choreography was particularly kinetic, acrobatic and inspired, especially the bard raising scene where men are jumping, tumbling and performing death-defying stunts while elevated high in the air—as many as 10 dancers at one time. Also, consider how intricate and impressive these dance numbers are despite the fact that they are underscoring boring activities like raising a barn or sawing wood.

·       The film, disappointingly, was not given much of a budget.

o   Hence, it was not shot outdoors or on location in the woods. Instead, it was filmed on soundstages. In spite of the fact that the story occurs throughout all four seasons of the year, the filmmakers couldn’t afford to shoot that long to capture all four seasons.

o   Also, instead of being shot in the gold standard of rich Technicolor, a cheaper single-strip Anscocolor process was employed, which helps explain why the colors aren’t as deep, rich and vibrant today as they could be.

THIS MOVIE ARGUABLY CONTAINS A HEFTY AMOUNT OF SEXIST, PRURIENT AND CONTROVERSIAL CONTENT AND SUBTEXTS, POSSIBLY MORESO FOR 2014 AUDIENCES THAN 1950S AUDIENCES. CAN YOU CITE EXAMPLES?

·       In an effort to be sexually satisfied like their newly married brother, the other 6 brothers kidnap the women, muffle their screams, and prepare to possibly kill off the families who come to retrieve their daughters.

·       All of the daughters claim responsibility for the new baby, which suggests that they’ve been sexually promiscuous with their captors.

·       The brothers listen in as their sibling tries to convince Milly into having sex.

·       Later, the bed breaks, making the brothers think that it’s hot, rough sex that has caused it.

·       It’s suggested that the brothers are sexually pent up; to relieve the tension, they saw wood, which is a euphemism for masturbation.

·       It’s symbolic that their screams in the buggy set off the snow avalanche, which is suggestive of a sexual eruption of sorts in which the brothers are aroused by their suffering/struggling as captives.

·       There’s also a line in one song that sings: “A man can’t sleep…when he sleeps with sheep,” which is innocent enough on the surface, but carries a subtext of bestiality and animal sodomy.

·       It’s ludicrous by today’s standards and mores that it’s perfectly acceptable and understandable audiences to think that kidnapped women, forced to marry, have sex and bear children, would find their captors charming and fall in love with them, although the Stockholm syndrome is a real phenomenon.

DOES “SEVEN BRIDES” REMIND YOU OF ANY OTHER FILMS OR WORKS OF LITERATURE?

·       Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

·       Beauty and the Beast

OTHER FILMS DIRECTED BY STANLEY DONEN

·       Singin’ in the Rain (co-directed by Gene Kelly)

·       On the Town