7th Heaven (1927)
7th Heaven (1927)
„7th Heaven“ is a 1927 silent romantic drama directed by Frank Borzage based on the Broadway play „Seventh Heaven“ by Austin Strong.
Chico works in the sewers of Paris. He dreams of being elevated to the position of street sweeper, and lights prayer candles in the church, in the hope that God will give him another chance. He also asks a blonde woman to be his wife. But his prayers evoke no response, and his wishes are not granted, which makes him bitter.
One day Chico saves the young prostitute Diane, who has been victimized by her unscrupulous sister, Nana. The police want to arrest the prostitute, who is innocent, in spite of her job. But Chico saves her from the police by pretending to be her husband. Now the two have to maintain their facade and act as man and wife.
So, Chico allows Diane to move into his attic with him. Their love is finally realized in a seventh floor apartment that represents heaven for a couple seeking to escape from time and the outside world. But when the war breaks out, Chico is called up, and their romance is interrupted by the call to arms.
Diane braves the war working in an ammunition factory, and following the Armistice, news of Chico’s death reaches her. However, Chico is not dead. He returns home to Diane, wounded and blinded, to restore the girl’s faith and love.
A 1927 American synchronized sound romantic drama directed by Frank Borzage, produced by William Fox, screenplay by Benjamin Glazer, based on Austin Strong’s Broadway play „Seventh Heaven“, cinematography by Ernest Palmer and Joseph A. Valentine, starring Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell, Ben Bard, Albert Gran, David Butler, Marie Mosquini, Gladys Brockwell, and Emile Chautard. George E. Stone’s makes his screen debut.
The pairing of Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell in the lead roles proved to be so popular, the two went on to star in 11 more films together and were dubbed „America’s Favorite Lovebirds“.
While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the Movietone sound system. It was initially released as a standard silent film in May 1927. The film went on to play for 19 weeks in New York City and for 22 weeks in Los Angeles.
Due to the film’s success and the success of other Fox films featuring sound elements, „Sunrise, What Price Glory?“ (1926), the studio re-released this film with a synchronized Movietone soundtrack, including a musical score arranged by Ernö Rapée and sound effects. The re-released version premiered at New York City’s Roxy Theatre on September 10, 1927, with a synchronized Movietone soundtrack with a musical score and sound effects.
Upon its release, this film was a critical and commercial success and helped to establish Fox Film Corporation as a major studio. It was one of the first of three films to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture (then called „Outstanding Picture“) at the 1st Academy Awards held on May 16, 1929. It received the most nominations of any film, with five. Janet Gaynor won the first Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film (she also won for her performances in „Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans“ (1927) and „Street Angel“. Director Frank Borzage also won the first Academy Award for Best Director while screenwriter Benjamin Glazer won the first Academy Award for Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay).
For the Movietone release, a theme song „Diane“ was added, featuring the voice of soprano opera singer Zari Elmassian. The song was composed by Ernö Rapée and Lew Pollack, and would go on to become a popular tune and American standard. This was the first hit song to be introduced as part of the soundtrack for a feature-length film.
The film is based upon the 1922 play Seventh Heaven, written by Austin Strong and produced by John Golden. It ran at the Booth Theatre from October 30, 1922, to July 1924 for a total of 704 performances, and was one of the most popular Broadway plays of the 1920s. The leads were played by George Gaul as Chico and Helen Menken as Diane. Also in the cast of the play was Frank Morgan as Brissac.
By 1932, the film had become the 13th-highest-grossing American silent film, taking in more than $2.5 million at the box office. This established Fox as a major film studio.
A 1937 remake was produced as a sound film.
In 1955 the musical adaptation Seventh Heaven opened on Broadway starring Gloria DeHaven, Ricardo Montalbán, Kurt Kasznar. Bea Arthur, and Chita Rivera. It ran for only 44 performances.
The New York Times review, „grips your interest from the very beginning and even though the end is melodramatic you are glad that the sympathetic but self-satisfied Chico is brought back to his heart-broken Diane.“ The critic also praised Borzage’s direction, stating that the director „has given it all that he could put through the medium of the camera.“
Cast:
- Janet Gaynor – Diane
- Charles Farrell – Chico
- Albert Gran – Boul
- David Butler – Gobin
- Marie Mosquini – Madame Gobin
- Gladys Brockwell – Nana
- Emile Chautard – Père Chevillon
- Ben Bard – Brissac
- George E. Stone – The Rat
„Im siebenten Himmel“ (Original: 7th Heaven) ist ein romantisches Stummfilmdrama aus dem Jahr 1927 unter der Regie von Frank Borzage, das auf dem Broadway-Stück „Seventh Heaven“ von Austin Strong basiert.
Ein Straßenreiniger rettet einer jungen Frau das Leben, und die beiden verlieben sich langsam ineinander, bis der Krieg dazwischenkommt.
