7 Women (Seven Women) (1966)

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John Ford's final film is set in China in 1935, where a group of American women, led by Agatha Andrews (Margaret Leighton), work as missionaries. One of the women, Florrie (Betty Field), is pregnant and accompanied by her husband, Charles (Eddie Albert), while the others are single and on their own.… More John Ford's final film is set in China in 1935, where a group of American women, led by Agatha Andrews (Margaret Leighton), work as missionaries. One of the women, Florrie (Betty Field), is pregnant and accompanied by her husband, Charles (Eddie Albert), while the others are single and on their own. The mission has become crowded after a cholera epidemic forced several outsiders to flee a nearby British mission and seek shelter with the American group, while a Mongol warrior, Tunga Khan (Mike Mazurki), has assembled troops who are sacking the area. When a female doctor, Dr. D.L. Cartwright (Anne Bancroft), enters the picture, she attempts to bring humor and civility to the group, but her tough yet compassionate nature clashes with Agatha's by-the-book approach, and when Cartwright is willing to put her own safety at risk to gain the attentions of Tunga Khan and slow his onslaught, the group is strongly divided -- most of the women admire the doctor's bravery, but Agatha (who seems to have a non-professional interest in Cartwright herself) considers her foolish and reckless. Seven Women was originally planned to star Patricia Neal as Dr. Cartwright, but when she suffered a stroke during filming that put her acting career on hold for several years, Anne Bancroft was recast in the role. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: John Ford
Written By: Norah Lofts, Janet Green
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Jan 5, 1966 Wide

Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Boasting top-notch cast, John Ford's very last, underestimated film celebrates the strength of women in dire conditions.

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Featured Audience Ratings

Ken S

Really solid final film from John Ford. Anne Bancroft is great!
Walter M

Upon its release, "Seven Women" was unceremoniously dumped, becoming John Ford's last movie by default, probably because the studio had no idea what to do with it. Could it be because there is enough lesbian subtext to fill twenty doctoral dissertations? It is 1935… More
Upon its release, "Seven Women" was unceremoniously dumped, becoming John Ford's last movie by default, probably because the studio had no idea what to do with it. Could it be because there is enough lesbian subtext to fill twenty doctoral dissertations? It is 1935 in northern China at an American mission, headed by Agatha Andrews(Margaret Leighton) who has an unrequited crush on Emma(Sue Lyon), one of the younger workers.(The scene where she nearly has a coronary when walking in on Emma washing up is priceless.) All at the mission wait patiently for the new doctor to arrive except the very much pregnant Florrie Pether(Betty Field), married to Charles(Eddie Albert) who has dreams of becoming a minister, who is freaking out due to hormones and the rumors of brigands in the area. When Dr. D. R. Cartwright(Anne Bancroft) does arrive, Agatha is shocked to discover that not only is she a woman and a very butch one at that, but that she swears, drinks, smokes and has had an affair or two.(There is some mystery about Cartwright's past concerning her not being able to work in America anymore. I would like to think she was performing abortions which while speculative is certainly possible.) That's not to mention the attention she gives Emma. So, it is completely irrelevant to Agatha that she is very competent at her job as she seeks to have her removed from the mission. To be honest, Sue Lyon did have a weird effect on men during the 60's, so maybe I am reading too much into this after all. Regardless, "Seven Women" is still a highly entertaining movie that disabuses the notion of one faith being any better than any other. While the people of the missions regard themselves as shining perfection, especially Agatha, it is in fact tragic as to what they have been withholding from themselves. And while they may look down on Cartwright, believing her to be beyond redemption, she at least knows who she is.(And personally, I am in awe of her.) Seeing this as John Ford's last film, and that he made a career of defining masculinity, it is totally apt that he makes his last statement that it is not a person's equipment that makes him or her a man, it is their actions. (Originally reviewed in the blog section on May 14, 2009.)