Feuding Cowboys: Steve McQueen and Yul Brynner’s Legendary Showdown

In the year 1960, Yul Brynner took the lead in the iconic Western remake of Seven Samurai, known as The Magnificent Seven.

The renowned star of The King and I played a pivotal role in the casting decisions and advocated for the inclusion of Steve McQueen.

However, their on-set relationship took a sharp nosedive, leading to a tumultuous feud.

Reports began to circulate in newspapers about the escalating tensions between McQueen and Brynner during the filming of The Magnificent Seven.

In an attempt to downplay the conflict, Brynner issued a public statement claiming, “I never engage in feuds with actors, only with studios.”

However, reality painted a different picture altogether.

Similar to previous instances, the star of The Great Escape found himself discontent with his limited dialogue, comprising merely seven lines in the original script.

In response, he resorted to stealing the limelight from Brynner, diverting attention towards himself.

Co-star Eli Wallach recounted how McQueen would subtly draw focus by engaging in actions like checking the sun with his hat and rattling shotgun shells during scenes shared with Brynner.

A notable incident occurred before a crucial scene where The Magnificent Seven transport a hearse to the graveyard; McQueen improvised by using his hat to scoop water from a stream while mounted on his horse.

This act of defiance further fueled the tension between the two actors.

The breaking point arrived when Brynner, growing weary of McQueen's antics, threatened to overshadow him by making himself inconspicuous.

Frustrated by the ongoing rivalry, Brynner went to the extent of hiring an assistant to monitor the frequency of McQueen's hat-touching gestures during his dialogues.

The battle for supremacy extended beyond mere gestures, with both actors vying to appear taller than the other on screen.

Brynner resorted to standing on a small mound of earth to elevate his height in shared shots, prompting McQueen to retaliate childishly by kicking the makeshift pedestal each time they crossed paths.

Robert Vaughn, another co-star, recalled McQueen's quibbles over Brynner's ornate gun and oversized horse, emphasizing his concern for the latter's possessions rather than his own.

Despite the ongoing clashes, the tension culminated in a surprising turn of events when McQueen, in the throes of cancer in 1980, reached out to Brynner to express gratitude and seek reconciliation.

Acknowledging the past conflicts, McQueen thanked Brynner for not having him ousted from the movie despite their differences.

Brynner, recognizing the significance of their shared history, likened their dynamic to that of a king and a rebel prince, acknowledging McQueen's impact on his own career.

The gesture of reconciliation preceded McQueen's eventual demise, followed by Brynner's passing in 1985 due to lung cancer at the age of 65.

The legacy of their tumultuous relationship lives on, immortalized in the annals of Hollywood lore.