SceneInspire

The Magnificent Seven and Sholay: A Tale of Copied Movie Scenes

There have been several instances in the history of cinema where filmmakers have been accused of copying scenes from other movies. Two such examples are The Magnificent Seven and Sholay, where certain scenes have been lifted from Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai. While The Magnificent Seven is a Hollywood remake of the Japanese classic, Sholay is an Indian film that also draws inspiration from Seven Samurai.

The Magnificent Seven was released in 1960 and directed by John Sturges. The film stars Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, and Charles Bronson, among others. The plot revolves around a group of seven gunslingers who are hired to protect a Mexican village from a group of bandits. The movie is widely regarded as a classic Western, but it's not without its flaws.

One of the most iconic scenes in The Magnificent Seven is the one where the bandits ride into the village and demand that the villagers hand over their food. In Seven Samurai, this scene plays out almost identically, with the bandits demanding the villagers' rice instead of food. Even the shots of the bandits riding into the village and the reactions of the villagers are eerily similar.

Sholay, released in 1975, is an Indian film that draws inspiration from several Westerns, including The Magnificent Seven. The movie tells the story of two criminals who are hired by a retired police officer to protect a village from a notorious bandit. The film stars Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, and Hema Malini, among others.

In Sholay, there is a scene where the bandit and his men ride into the village and demand that the villagers hand over their food. Sound familiar? This scene is almost a shot-for-shot copy of the one in The Magnificent Seven, which, as we have established, is a remake of Seven Samurai. From the shots of the bandits riding into the village to the reactions of the villagers, everything is almost identical.

While it's not uncommon for filmmakers to take inspiration from other movies, it's important to give credit where credit is due. In the case of The Magnificent Seven and Sholay, it's clear that the filmmakers were heavily influenced by Seven Samurai, but failed to acknowledge it. 

it's important for filmmakers to be mindful of their sources of inspiration and to ensure that they give credit where credit is due. While the scenes in question may not have been direct copies, the similarities are too striking to ignore. It's important to celebrate originality in cinema, but also acknowledge the works that have inspired it.

The Magnificent Seven : English original version

Sholay : hindi remake version