Seven Angry Men

Seven Angry Men
Directed byCharles Marquis Warren
Written byDaniel B. Ullman
Produced byVincent M. Fennelly
Walter Mirisch
StarringRaymond Massey
Debra Paget
Jeffrey Hunter
Larry Pennell
CinematographyEllsworth Fredericks
Edited byRichard C. Meyer
Music byCarl Brandt
Production
company
Allied Artists Pictures Corporation
Distributed byAllied Artists Pictures Corporation
Release date
  • March 30, 1955 (1955-03-30)
Running time
92 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Seven Angry Men is a 1955 American Western film directed by Charles Marquis Warren and starring Raymond Massey, Debra Paget and Jeffrey Hunter.[1]

It is about the abolitionist John Brown, particularly his involvement in Bleeding Kansas and his leadership of the Raid on Harpers Ferry. The title refers to Brown and his six sons.

Plot

John Brown is a 19th-century abolitionist. After cutting a bloody swath through Kansas, Brown and his followers take refuge in a warehouse at Harper's Ferry, Virginia, where he meets his own personal Waterloo at the hands of federal troops.

Cast

Production

Raymond Massey had previously played Brown in Santa Fe Trail (1940) and appeared on stage in John Brown's Body. Walter Mirisch thought that the John Brown Raid would make an ideal subject for a Western, and hired Charles Marquis Warren to write and direct.[2]

The planned film was known as John Brown's Raiders. In July 1954 Walter Mirisch announced the film would be one of 15 Allied Artists would make over the next 6 months.[3] The same month the studio announced that Massey would play Brown.[4]

Hunter and Paget were borrowed from 20th Century Fox.[5] Filming started in September 1954 under the title God's Angry Man.[6]

The film had its world premiere in Osawatomie, Kansas on 30 March 1955.[7][8]

Reception

Variety felt the film "fails to qualify as worthwhile entertainment, being slow and talky. Some familiar names may help, but the grossing outlook is not promising."[9]

The New York Times critic called it a "competent if hardly inspired Allied Artists presentation".[10]

Dennis Weaver's performance in the film led to Charles Marquis Warren casting him in Gunsmoke.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ SEVEN ANGRY MEN Monthly Film Bulletin; London Vol. 22, Iss. 252, (Jan 1, 1955): 182.
  2. ^ Mirisch, Walter (2008). I thought we were making movies, not history. University of Wisconsin Press. p. 59.
  3. ^ Allied Artists Plans Program of 15 Movies Los Angeles Times 2 July 1954: B6.
  4. ^ DIZZY DEAN TO TRY HAND AS AN ACTOR: Enters Into Pact to Co-star in Movies and TV Series -- Release of 'Jet Pilot' Is Set By THOMAS M. PRYOR New York Times 08 July 1954: 18.
  5. ^ Vagg, Stephen (May 12, 2025). "Not Quite Movie Stars: Jeffrey Hunter". Filmink. Retrieved May 12, 2025.
  6. ^ OKLAHOMA!' FILM GETS NEW DANCES: Agnes De Mille Changing the Choreographic Concept for Big-Screen Version By THOMAS M. PRYOR Special to The New York Times. 18 Sep 1954: 12.
  7. ^ "Allied sets Wichita in town of same name". Variety. April 6, 1955. p. 7.
  8. ^ "Angry Men debuts". Variety. March 30, 1955. p. 6.
  9. ^ "Seven Angry Men". Variety. March 9, 1955. p. 6.
  10. ^ H. H. T. (April 2, 1955). "Screen: Misguided Saga; Seven Angry Men' Opens at Palace". The New York Times.
  11. ^ Weaver, Dennis (2001). All the world's a stage. Walsch Books. p. 96.
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