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Sat 11 Nov 2002As an actor Coburn made the word laconic sound verboseOne scene in John Sturges's film The Magnificent Seven (1960) plugs directly into the power of its source, The Seven Samurai: the entrance of James Coburn, who died this week, aged 74, as Britt, "the best with gun and knife".He does little, unfolding himself like his own jackknife from post-cattle-drive repose to answer an unsought challenge to a duel, and shouldering his saddle to move on after winning effortlessly. He says less: just "You lost" and "Call it". Coburn made the word laconic sound gabby.