7 Women (1966)

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  • 7 WOMEN


    DIRECTED BY JOHN FORD
    PRODUCED BY BERNARD SMITH/ JOHN FORD
    BERNARD SMITH PRODUCTIONS/ JOHN FORD PRODUCTIONS
    METRO GOLDWYN MAYER (MGM)


    7-women-1966-001-anne-bancroft.jpg


    Information from IMDb

    Plot Summary
    In a mission in China in 1935, Agatha Andrews is a rigid missionary
    beset by Mongolian bandits led by Warlord chief Tunga Khan.
    With her are her assistant Jane Argent, staff members Emma Clark,
    Miss Russell and Miss Binns, head of the British mission,
    Charles Pather, a teacher at the mission and his pregnant wife Florrie.
    When Dr. D.R. Cartwright arrives, she agrees to sacrifice herself
    to the Tunga Khan in exchange for his letting the ladies go free.
    Written by alfiehitchie


    Full Cast
    Anne Bancroft ... Dr. D.R. Cartwright
    Sue Lyon ... Emma Clark, Mission Staff
    Margaret Leighton ... Agatha Andrews, Head of Mission
    Flora Robson ... Miss Binns, Head of British Mission
    Mildred Dunnock ... Jane Argent, Andrews' Assistant
    Betty Field ... Mrs. Florrie Pether, Charles' pregnant wife
    Anna Lee ... Mrs. Russell, Mission Staff
    Eddie Albert ... Charles Pether, Mission Teacher
    Mike Mazurki ... Tunga Khan, Bandit Leader
    Woody Strode ... Lean Warrior
    Jane Chang ... Miss Ling, Mission Staff
    Hans William Lee ... Kim, Mission Staff
    H.W. Gim ... Coolie
    Irene Tsu ... Chinese Girl
    Lee Kolima ... Warrior (uncredited)


    Writing Credits
    Norah Lofts (short story "Chinese Finale")
    Janet Green and
    John McCormick


    Original Music
    Elmer Bernstein


    Cinematography
    Joseph LaShelle


    Trivia
    Anne Bancroft replaced Patricia Neal when Neal suffered a stroke during filming.


    The last movie that John Ford directed.


    Originally titled "Chinese Finale" according to an M-G-M 40th anniversary short.


    Katharine Hepburn turned down a role in the movie.


    There are actually eight women: Doctor Cartwright, Agatha Andrews, Jane Argent, Emma Clark, Florrie Pether, Miss Binns, Mrs. Russell, and Miss Ling.


    Memorable Quote
    Dr. D.R. Cartwright: [to Tunga Khan, Bandit Leader]
    So long, ya bastard!

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 2 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • 7 Women, also known as Seven Women, is a 1966 film drama made by MGM.
    It was directed by John Ford, produced by Bernard Smith and John Ford,
    from a screenplay by Janet Green and John McCormick,
    based on the story Chinese Finale by Norah Lofts.
    The music score was by Elmer Bernstein and
    the cinematography by Joseph LaShelle.
    This was the last feature film directed by Ford,
    ending a career which spanned over fifty years.
    The film starred Anne Bancroft, Sue Lyon, Margaret Leighton,
    Flora Robson, Mildred Dunnock, Betty Field, Anna Lee,
    with Eddie Albert, Mike Mazurki and Woody Strode.



    User Review

    Quote

    6 September 2010 | by Michael_Elliott (Louisville, KY)


    John Ford's final film is one you really wouldn't expect to see from him but I guess it goes to show what a great director he was as he could end his nearly fifty-year career with something fresh and original. The film takes place in 1935 China as a free-wheeling and free-spirited doctor (Anne Bancroft) comes to work at a missionary where she immediately clashes with the head of the mission (Margaret Leighton). The head doesn't agree with the doctor's way of life, which includes smoking, drinking, profane language and of course not believing in God. Soon the doctor is battling this but then a plague breaks out in the mission and then they come under attack from some rebels. I'm not sure if stunned is too strong of a word but that's what my feelings were going through this film. I've seen at least fifty John Ford movies and I never thought I'd see something like this one. The attitude of the Bancroft character just seems like something the director would stay away from and the anti-religion stance was so strong that again I couldn't believe this was something from Ford. I think if you showed this movie to the biggest of film buffs and didn't tell them who the director was I doubt they'd ever guess it was someone like Ford. I really appreciated the 60s fling thrown into the picture because you can obviously tell that they were taking a 60s woman and putting her into this situation. There's a bit about the doctor leaving America because a woman couldn't get a fair shake at a good career and again I wonder if they were standing up for women's rights. The film also has bits of lesbianism, the religious hypocrites and a strong sense of sexuality. The movie certainly isn't ahead of its time considering this was 1966 but it's still impressive stuff. Bancroft is downright marvelous here and turns in a very memorable performance. I must admit that I fell in love with her character as you have to respect the toughness that the actress brings to the role. I believed every second of it and there's just a certain fire to Bancroft that clearly shows up on the screen. Leighton is one of those love-to-hate performances and makes for a great villain. Sue Lyon, best known from Kubrick's LOLITA, turns in a fine performance. We even get Woody Strode in a small role as one of the warriors. The film's pacing is a very slow one and it feels like the movie is a lot longer than its 86-minute running time but this isn't a negative thing as I never got bored. I was certainly surprised to see how much Ford managed to cram into the short running time. His direction here contains some of his softest touches but they all work. It's a shame this movie isn't mentioned more when people discuss his career but it's certainly a good and original way for him to go out.

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 2 times, last by ethanedwards ().