Donen solidified his solo career and scored another hit with the musical '' Seven Brides for Seven Brothers '' ( 1954 ) . Based on a short story by Stephen Vincent Benét , the film 's music is by Saul Chaplin and Gene de Paul , with lyrics by Johnny Mercer and choreography by Michael Kidd . Jane Powell plays Milly , an 1850s frontierswoman who marries Adam ( Howard Keel ) only hours after meeting him . When she returns with Adam to his log cabin in the Oregon backwoods , Milly discovers that her husband 's six brothers are uncivilized and oafish . She makes it her mission to domesticate them and , upon Milly 's sarcastic suggestion , the brothers kidnap six women from a neighboring town to marry them . The film was shot in the new CinemaScope format and is remembered for its dance sequences , particularly the " barn raising scene " in which architecture and construction become acrobatic ballet steps . '' Seven Brides for Seven Brothers '' was one of the highest-grossing films of 1954 and appeared on many critics ' 10 Best Films lists . It was nominated for five Academy Awards , including Best Picture and Best Music ( Scoring of a Musical Picture ) , which it won . Its success was a surprise to MGM , which invested more money in two other musicals : '' Rose Marie '' and '' Brigadoon '' , starring Kelly . '' Seven Brides for Seven Brothers '' was more profitable than either of the other films , as well as '' On the Town '' and '' Singin ' in the Rain '' , and its success was a major turning point for Donen 's career . The film was later criticized by novelist Francine Prose , who described it as anti-woman , calling it " one of the most repulsive movies about men and women that has ever been made " and a musical about rape
Academy Awards
27th Academy Awards
Stanley Donen