I’m trying something new this week. Instead focusing on the careers of individual contributors to film, I’m taking a look at some of the principal performers in a particular film. I’m not sure how many films I will cover, or how often, but I have enough to keep this going for several weeks, if not months.

I’m starting with Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, the smash hit 1954 musical that was nominated for five Oscars including Best Picture, which would win one for Best Scoring of a Musical.

The story of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is based on the short story, The Sobbin’ Women by Stephen Vincent Benet, best remembered as the author of The Devil and Daniel Webster. The narrative revolves around the marriage of the oldest brother Adam to Millie from the nearest town to their isolated farm in the Oregon mountains. Adam’s younger brothers, Benjamin, Caleb, Daniel, Ephraim, Frank, and Gideon, having decided they want brides of their own, kidnap six girls from the same town and bring them to their farm just before a winter avalanche seals off the pass from the town’s would-be recue party.

I have singled out the five best-known players, all of whom have had remarkably long lives. Not included are Jeff Richards (Benjamin) who died at 64 in 1989, Matt Mattox (Caleb) who died at 91 in 2013, and Jacques d’Amboise (Ephraim) who died earlier this year at 86.

Those included are Jane Powell (Milly) who celebrated her 92nd birthday earlier this year, Howard Keel (Adam) who passed away in 2004 at 85, Marc Platt (Daniel) who died in 2014 at 100, Tommy Rall who died in 2020 at 89, and Russ Tamblyn will celebrate his 87th birthday in December.

ESSENTIAL PLAYERS

JANE POWELL (1929- )

The little girl with the big voice was MGM’s answer to Universal’s Deanna Durbin, starring in her teens and early twenties in such musical successes as A Date with Judy, Nancy Goes to Rio, Royal Wedding, and Small Town Girl before Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, the biggest hit of her career. Later in Athena, Hit the Deck, and The Girl Most Likely, she was on TV and the stage in later years. She was Debbie Reynolds’ replacement in Broadway’s Irene. Legendary child actor Dickie Moore (1925-2015) was her fifth husband.

HOWARD KEEL (1919-2004)

Keel was to musicals of the 1950s what Errol Flynn and Clark Gable were to films of the 1930s and 40s, a brawny, mustachioed hero of great confidence. He starred in some of the biggest hits of the day including Annie Get Your Gun, Show Boat, Calamity Jane, and Kiss Me Kate, all before Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. His last was the following year’s Kismet. His biggest non-singing role was as St. Peter in the 1959 biblical epic, The Big Fisherman. He had a ten-year long run in TV’s Dallas from 1981-1984 while remaining a popular singer.

RUSS TAMBLYN (1934- )

Tamblyn started out as a child actor in The Boy with Green Hair and Samson and Delilah, transitioning to teenage roles in Father of the Bride and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Oscar nominated for 1957’s Peyton Place, subsequent films included tom thumb, West Side Story, How the West Was Won and The Haunting. On TV in later years, most memorably in 1986’s Fame, 1990’s Twin Peaks and its 2017 incarnation. His daughter is actress Amber Tamblyn.

TOMMY RALL (1929-2020)

A gifted dancer and singer, Rall made his film debut as a teenager in uncredited roles in such 1940s films as The North Star, Ziegfeld Follies, and Good News. His first credited role was as the second male lead opposite Ann Miller in Kiss Me Kate the year before Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. That was followed by My Sister Eileen, Walk the Proud Land, Merry Andrew, Funny Girl, and Pennies from Heaven. His numerous Broadway musicals include Milk and Honey and Cry for Us All.

MARC PLATT (1913-2014)

The high-flying singer and dancer made his screen debut as a dancer in 1941’s The Gay Parisian and as a singer in 1942’s You’re in the Army Now. He all but stole 1945’s Tonight and Every Night from Rita Hayworth and Janet Blair, 1946’s Tars and Spars from Blair and Alfred Drake, and 1947’s Down to Earth from Hayworth and Larry Parks. Following his role in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers he had roles in Oklahoma! These Wilder Years. Much on TV, his last role was in a 1993 episode of Matlock. Character actor Ted Le Plat is his son.

SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS AND OSCAR

• Jack Cummings – nominated – Best Picture
• Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, Dorothy Kingsley – nominated – Best Screenplay
• George J. Folsey – nominated – Best Cinematography
• Ralph E. Winters – nominated – Best Film Editing
• Adolph Deutsch, Saul Chaplin – Oscar – Best Musical Score