Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai has become the arctypical model for more films than anyone can count leading up to the modern films A Bug’s Life and Galaxy Quest. But none of these was as auspicious as the 1960 western The Magnificent Seven. Already a decent DVD from MGM Home Entertainment, the film is being revisited as a two-disc special edition this spring.

When a Mexican village is threatened by a band of ruthless outlaws, several villagers seek help. They recruit seven men, each with unique skills, who gallop into town to take on the raiders. The men, known as the Magnificent Seven, take up residence in the small town, making their skills available to those in need. With little time before the next raid, the heroic seven must prepare the villagers for battle and instill in them the courage to go on.

The DVD carries audio commentary with film historian Christopher Frayling and a second commentary with actors James Coburn, Eli Wallach and others, the featurettes “Elmer Bernstein and the Magnificent Seven”, “The Linen Book: Lost Images from the Magnificent Seven” and “Christopher Frayling on the Magnificent Seven and the full documentary ”Guns for Hire”.

The DVD is just around the corner with a January 10th release date and a suggested retail price of $24.96.