# Did Seven Samurai Invent the "Getting the Gang Together” genre? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 8, 2014, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079 "2014-08-08T02:05:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/21 "2014-08-08T10:36:42Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Isn’t there fairytale where the hero picks up a bunch of companions on his way to the castle to court the princess, each of which has a weird skill. Then he’s given a bunch of seemingly impossible tasks, which happen to be exactly suited for his companions skills? > > Sorry for the vague description, but maybe someone remembers what I’m talking about. '**[The Six Servants’](http://www.grimmstories.com/en/grimm_fairy-tales/the_six_servants)** by the Brothers Grimm fits this pattern. And looking for an online copy I found out there is a fairytale-based theme-park in Efteling in the Netherlands with 25 scenes according to Wiki: **[Sprookjesbos](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy_Tale_Forest)**. **…In the late seventies, the wood figures were replaced by moving animatronics. An interactive element was added by Peter Reijnders: when one moves the front gate, a crow on the roof caws, smoke comes out of the chimney, a black cat with yellow eyes comes out of a hole in the wall and the witch (voiced by Peter Reijnder’s daughter) says “Knibbel, knabbel, knuisje, wie knabbelt aan mijn huisje?” (Dutch translation of “Nibble, nibble, mousekin, who’s nibbling at my housekin?”).** ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/22 "2014-08-08T11:31:40Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > '**[The Six Servants’](http://www.grimmstories.com/en/grimm_fairy-tales/the_six_servants)** by the Brothers Grimm fits this pattern. As does [Six Soldiers Of Fortune](http://www.grimmstories.com/language.php?grimm=071&l=pt&r=en), where the jack-of-all-trades with a plan assembles his team one member at a time: the strongman, the sharpshooter, the guy who runs crazy fast, and et cetera… ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/23 "2014-08-08T12:02:39Z")
The Wizard of Oz? Dorothy gathers her companions, all of which have what they need (and need what they lack) to go forward on their journey to get the ruby slippers. StG ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/24 "2014-08-08T12:12:26Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > I could be misremembering (I probably am) but I don’t recall the tale of Jason and the Argonauts really involve much about the _gathering_ of the Argonauts. Just a kind of, “and then Jason went to this boat, where there were a bunch of heroes.” My recollection (and I’m not home, so don’t have access to authorities) is that Jason assembles a crew – he doesn’t go seeking each one individually, but he advertises for heroes to join him. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/25 "2014-08-08T12:29:27Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Isn’t there fairytale where the hero picks up a bunch of companions on his way to the castle to court the princess, each of which has a weird skill. Then he’s given a bunch of seemingly impossible tasks, which happen to be exactly suited for his companions skills? > > Sorry for the vague description, but maybe someone remembers what I’m talking about. Probably not what you’re thinking of, but it sounds vaguely like “The Five Chinese Brothers”, where each has a different odd trait that prevents him from being executed. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/26 "2014-08-08T12:51:19Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > I really want to see the Gospels filmed like this now: > > [George Clooney]"Our newest recruit is Matthew, codename “The Taxman”. His specialty is government banking and financial systems. This operation is going to need money, lots of it, it has to be unmarked and untraceable, and that’s where Matt comes in. > > Next we have Simon, also know as Peter. AKA The Rock, or Rocky. Twenty years captaining triremes for the Phoenicians, busted down for insubordination. Simon now works the fishing boats out of Galilee, and we need him to move the haul, fast and silent. If it has oars or sails, Simon’s can pilot it."[/GC] Keep going 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/27 "2014-08-08T13:24:44Z")
James and John. Old Zeb’s kids. Neither turned out smart enough to run Zeb’s ‘maritime operations,’ but after a few people pissed them off, they earned their nickname–the Thunder Brothers. Dad kept them on as enforcers. We can get them out on loan. They’re good guys to have on call. But keep them on a leash. At the end of a pole. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/28 "2014-08-08T13:35:46Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > I wonder how tvtropes missed Jason and the Argonauts, not the movie but the “older than feudalism” Greek myth. > > [In Search of Myths & Heroes . Jason & the Argonauts | PBS](http://www.pbs.org/mythsandheroes/myths_four_jason.html) > Even Hercules joins them (and I always think Disney should had put a young Hercules screwing up and leaving the Jason team as the reason why he was called “Jerkules” by a few early in the movie.) You beat me to it. Not only is this in the myth, they present it as a montage in the 1960s Harryhausen film. (I don’t recall them spending much time on it in the more recent TV movie) ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/29 "2014-08-08T13:46:19Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Isn’t there fairytale where the hero picks up a bunch of companions on his way to the castle to court the princess, each of which has a weird skill. Then he’s given a bunch of seemingly impossible tasks, which happen to be exactly suited for his companions skills? > > Sorry for the vague description, but maybe someone remembers what I’m talking about. Dunno about the fairy tale, but there’s always **this flick:** > **[The Magic Sword (1962) ⭐ 4.8 | Adventure, Drama, Fantasy](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056211/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_31)** > > 1h 20m | Approved ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/30 "2014-08-08T13:57:58Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > I really want to see the Gospels filmed like this now: > > [George Clooney]"Our newest recruit is Matthew, codename “The Taxman”. His specialty is government banking and financial systems. This operation is going to need money, lots of it, it has to be unmarked and untraceable, and that’s where Matt comes in. > > Next we have Simon, also know as Peter. AKA The Rock, or Rocky. Twenty years captaining triremes for the Phoenicians, busted down for insubordination. Simon now works the fishing boats out of Galilee, and we need him to move the haul, fast and silent. If it has oars or sails, Simon’s can pilot it."[/GC] One ticket please. Judas could be the weaselly, shady character, like Cypher or Verbal Kint (ooh, in the end, he could turn out to be the Messiah). ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/31 "2014-08-08T14:00:52Z")
Jason and the Argonauts was my first thought also. The Wizard of Oz might qualify. There’s also this ancient Chinese myth: [Ten Brothers - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_Brothers) ---
**Author:** ![Apocalypso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Apocalypso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apocalypso)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/32 "2014-08-08T19:09:45Z")
Are we talking about the “ragged band of misfits pulls together as a team and after a short training montage, use their moxie and heart to beat their superior opponents against overwhelming odds” trope? If we are, please tell me you are researching this to go back in time and put a stop to it. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/33 "2014-08-08T19:13:38Z")
> [@Apocalypso](#): > > Are we talking about the “ragged band of misfits pulls together as a team and after a short training montage, use their moxie and heart to beat their superior opponents against overwhelming odds” trope? If we are, please tell me you are researching this to go back in time and put a stop to it. Do you suggest he assemble, like, some kinda team of eccentric specialists? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/34 "2014-08-08T19:42:51Z")
I’m pretty sure it started with _ **A Bug’s Life** _. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/35 "2014-08-08T20:26:46Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Keep going 🙂 #3: \*Cut to seaside cafe, Cyprus. Two dock-workers are carrying a large plate stained-glass window about to walk across a busy alley. Shouts and several whistles are heard and a man sprints in front of them clutching a handful of gold necklaces and other jewelry, narrowly missing the first workman. _Freeze frame on the man in mid leap_ _Caption text slowly appears with accompanying teletype sounds_ “Bartholomew…AKA Nathanial…AKA The Shiv of Galilee. Master thief. Knife expert. Ex-Roman Legion Special Forces. Current deployment: Classified…” _Camera un-freezes and Bartholomew runs past. The workers step into the alley only to have 2 pursuing Roman legion soldiers crash into the stained glass plate window_ OK people, 9 more apostles to go, let’s get cracking! ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/36 "2014-08-08T20:53:46Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > I really want to see the Gospels filmed like this now: > > [George Clooney]"Our newest recruit is Matthew, codename “The Taxman”. His specialty is government banking and financial systems. This operation is going to need money, lots of it, it has to be unmarked and untraceable, and that’s where Matt comes in. > > Next we have Simon, also know as Peter. AKA The Rock, or Rocky. Twenty years captaining triremes for the Phoenicians, busted down for insubordination. Simon now works the fishing boats out of Galilee, and we need him to move the haul, fast and silent. If it has oars or sails, Simon’s can pilot it."[/GC] > [@Frylock](#): > > James and John. Old Zeb’s kids. Neither turned out smart enough to run Zeb’s ‘maritime operations,’ but after a few people pissed them off, they earned their nickname–the Thunder Brothers. Dad kept them on as enforcers. > > We can get them out on loan. They’re good guys to have on call. But keep them on a leash. At the end of a pole. > [@GargoyleWB](#): > > #3: > > \*Cut to seaside cafe, Cyprus. Two dock-workers are carrying a large plate stained-glass window about to walk across a busy alley. Shouts and several whistles are heard and a man sprints in front of them clutching a handful of gold necklaces and other jewelry, narrowly missing the first workman. > > _Freeze frame on the man in mid leap_ > > _Caption text slowly appears with accompanying teletype sounds_ > > “Bartholomew…AKA Nathanial…AKA The Shiv of Galilee. Master thief. Knife expert. Ex-Roman Legion Special Forces. Current deployment: Classified…” > > _Camera un-freezes and Bartholomew runs past. The workers step into the alley only to have 2 pursuing Roman legion soldiers crash into the stained glass plate window_ > > OK people, 9 more apostles to go, let’s get cracking! Great work, folks! I just knew there had to be some way to make this work! Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/37 "2014-08-08T21:16:15Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Keep going 🙂 Actually most of the apostles apart from Judas - who really has to be played by Steve Buscemi - were really just “those other guys”. And Mary Magdalene’s part will need to be punched up a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/38 "2014-08-08T21:48:53Z")
Our next recruit is Thomas “Doubtful” the Nubian. Slave turned legionary turned centurion, turned mercenary. Stationed for a while in Londinium, where he picked up a questionable Briton accent. He’s a demolitions expert, currently freelancing for the Ptolemies: if you can build it, Doubtful can break into it. Greek Fire, mangonels, onagers, rams, sapping tunnels, you name it, he wrote the damn scroll on it. Now Christ’s only got enough air for three days in that tomb, and that’s where Doubtful comes in: we need him out, fast and silent. What’s that, Thomas? You doubt it? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/39 "2014-08-08T22:16:58Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > And Mary Magdalene’s part will need to be punched up a bit. When there’s no other choice, they build cons around her resemblance to Salome. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079/40 "2014-08-08T23:46:46Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > When there’s no other choice, they build cons around her resemblance to Salome. Get me ScarJo’s people! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-seven-samurai-invent-the-getting-the-gang-together-genre/695079.md?page=3)