Favourite Action Scenes #8: The Cemetery Stand-off (The Magnificent Seven)

Part 1
Part 2

I'd probably say that this one is closer to a "gritty" fight scene, in that there is more focus on the build-up and suspense rather than the action. I've included links to both relevant clips (With credit to Movieclips)

A travelling salesman had witnessed a man drop dead in the street, and pays for a burial, but there's an element in town which objects, as the deceased was a Native American. After some verbal sparring between the salesman and the undertaker, the wandering gunslinger Chris volunteers to drive the hearse to the cemetery, while fellow gunslinger Vin joins him to ride shotgun.

A tense journey up the main street culminates in a "reception committee" at the cemetery of five local toughs, who quickly back down after Chris injures two of them with his quick shooting.

The main aspect of this scene is that it introduces the first of our main characters. Chris and Vin are not acquainted beforehand, they simply both volunteer at the same time and recognise each other as kindred spirits. They part ways afterwards, but later meet up again when Chris is recruiting The Seven.

As mentioned above, there isn't a lot of action. Someone does take a pot-shot at the hearse on the way to the cemetery, and Chris shoots the gun out of a tough's hand (drawing blood to add some realism to the scene) and another in the arm. But it's the dialogue which sells the scene, both the heated debate between the salesman and the undertaker, along with the casual small take between Chris and Vin during the ride.

Oh, and I love the shot of the hearse returning as Elmer Bernstein's score blares triumphantly.