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Seven Chances (1925) - Buster Keaton

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Offline Paul Pain

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Watch SEVEN CHANCES in the box above and get the Damfino's note here:
http://www.busterkeaton.com/Films/C06_Seven_Chances.html

Required reading:
BRIDELESS GROOM thread
HUSBANDS BEWARE thread

Now, I haven't watched this movie yet but hope to do so tonight.  I want to say that I haven't watch it yet because I dread it terribly.  Read my reviews in the posted threads, as BRIDELESS GROOM was another work of CLYDE BRUCKMAN plagiarism.  I hate BRIDELESS GROOM and HUSBANDS BEWARE, so I am fearful and hopeful for this.

So, I watched it, and it wasn't too bad.  The opening was pretty good.  Watching the lawyer's effort to reach Keaton was quite humorous.

The "seven chances" was funny at parts and lackluster at others.  Somewhere around here I fell asleep briefly and had to rewind multiple times.  The stupidity of Jimmie not getting Mary's call really was mind-numbing.  The first 35 minutes were slow, almost humorless, and illogical.  At this point, we're at a "BURN IN HELL" rating.

Then Buster wakes up, and the minister opens his big, fat mouth.  And things get REALLY good.  Even the bridal chase defies logic.  But this chase was hilarious and heart-stopping.  This was by far the best part of the movie and one of the best parts of any Buster film we've reviewed thus far.

I need a drink.

5/10 [poke] [poke] [poke] [poke] [poke]
Something about income tacks season...


Offline Umbrella Sam

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As a whole, I actually consider BRIDELESS GROOM to be a better put together film than SEVEN CHANCES, though SEVEN CHANCES definitely has better elements to it than BRIDELESS GROOM. The film starts off with a brief Technicolor sequence to introduce us to the main leads. This was back when Technicolor was still in its experimental stages and usually only was used for brief sequences in features (THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is another example). It is odd, though, that they’d start with the Technicolor sequence rather than save it until later.

After that, we get to the main plot. Stooge fans, of course, will know the plot right away, so I won’t bother explaining it, though unlike in BRIDELESS GROOM, the film actually starts off with a pretty funny sequence of Snitz Edwards trying to show Keaton that he isn’t trying to serve him a summons. After that, there’s is a brief dramatic scene with Ruth Dwyer which is alright, but nothing special.

Then we get to the proposals sequence. This is basically the equivalent of Shemp’s phone calls in BRIDELESS GROOM. In BRIDELESS GROOM, though, Shemp’s quickly rejected phone calls make for a very fun gag and we get a particular focus on a funny scene of him trying to propose to Christine McIntyre, only for him to be mistaken for somebody else. In SEVEN CHANCES, Keaton goes around the club asking every girl he sees to marry him and they all reject him in various ways that aren’t particularly funny. Even the gag of someone else proposing for Keaton is not nearly done as well as in BRIDELESS GROOM. In BRIDELESS GROOM, Shemp’s face after the struggle with the nickel is what makes the gag. In SEVEN CHANCES they only play off the fact that Snitz Edwards is not good looking. Also, there are several racist gags (Mary’s hired hand is a white actor performing in blackface).

When they get to the chapel, though, is where this film really begins to pick up. This is one of, if not the greatest, chase scenes I have ever seen in a movie ever. I particularly love when the brides end up running over a football team, when they take over the trolley, and when the officers start running away from them as well. Keaton avoids as many dangers you could think of: being shot by duck hunters, getting hit by a train, getting crushed by boulders. This, combined with him having to make it to Mary’s house at a specific time, makes for a very intense and thrilling finale.

SEVEN CHANCES is a flawed film and I think that this has to do partly with the fact that Keaton was basically forced to do this film by Schenck. It clearly did not match up with his style, especially with the rejections sequence. It’s not bad, but I do think that this fit Shemp better than Buster Keaton.

7 out of 10

Also, I do consider this to be better than HUSBANDS BEWARE.

Paul Pain's note: I just fixed a mistake I made in the topic title.
« Last Edit: November 01, 2017, 05:25:43 AM by Paul Pain »
“I’ll take a milkshake...with sour milk!” -Shemp (Punchy Cowpunchers, 1950)

My blog: https://talk-about-cinema.blogspot.com


Offline Paul Pain

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My less-than-glowing review is now up.
Something about income tacks season...


Offline metaldams

       It is true that Keaton was forced to do this film because his producer, Joseph Schenk, bought the rights.  Most Keaton films were written by Keaton and his team, but this was a pre-written property that was basically a drawing room comedy any comedian could have done.  Put it to you this way...in addition to Keaton, Schenk thought this might also work for the Talmadge sisters.  Keaton is usually writing a film that suites his character, not having a property any comedian could handle.

      So basically, we know the drill, first two thirds....meh.  Final third....genius.  Those first two thirds would score no higher than a 6 based on material alone, and we'd need a good comedian to get the score that high.  Well, Keaton is that, his underplaying comedic style a breath of fresh air from the greasy haired Valentino wanna be who would normally play this kind of role.  Without the chase, this would be the kind of film you'd watch once.  Keaton getting rejected by seven different girls, without much variety, takes too much time and is not best suited for him.  I too prefer Christine mistaking Cousin Basil.  Much better than any rejections here.  As far as the racial gags, there are a few...and the I'll date anything but a black woman gag does quickly show up.  I've seen Larry Semon do this gag too, and it does lack humor....obviously.  Definitely the kind of thing you'd never see in a film today!

      Highlights of the first two thirds include the technicolor opening.  Yes, like Umbrella Sam said, also done briefly in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA the same year, and for a whole feature using this early technicolor process, check out Douglas Fairbanks in THE BLACK PIRATE (1926).  Cool film.  Snitz Edwards trying to deliver the letter mistaken as a summons is the comedic highlight, milked very well and the most Keatonesque moment.  Love Snitz Edwards and also want to add that T. Roy Barnes, who plays Keaton's business partner, is the same actor who played the hilariously annoying life insurance salesman looking for Carl LaFong in W.C. Fields IT'S A GIFT, one of my all time favorite movies.

      OK, two thirds mostly standard comedy, but then the chase!  One of Keaton's great works.  Just the volume of brides in itself is a sight to behold, coming in all different sub sections and angles in an equally brilliant way as the policemen do in COPS.  My favorite bride bit would be them trampling over the football players.  Keaton himself is brilliant with his facial expressions in the church, and just runs away for an extended period of time, going through barbed wire, bees, pulled up by a crane, falling on top of a chopped down tree the moment the man below yells timber....and then there's that boulder chase.  Keaton dodging those boulders is one of those things words don't do justice, it is physical comedy after all.  But it's another case of Keaton's great athleticism and timing.

The chase more than enough makes this film worth watching again and ups the score considerably.

9/10
- Doug Sarnecky


Offline metaldams

Watching this film again for the first time since my review and am quite enjoying it.  The reason for the post is to explain an outdated gag.  There is one part where Keaton is looking for a bride and sees a poster of a girl in front of a stage entrance.  He pays the guard to go inside so he can ask the girl to marry him.  As Keaton is inside, we see the guard remove something blocking the bottom of the picture of the girl to reveal the name “Julian Eltinge.”  We then see Keaton come out with his hat busted and a black eye.  Below is the Wikipedia page for Julian Eltinge, which should make the joke obvious.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Eltinge
- Doug Sarnecky


Offline Dr. Mabuse

"Seven Chances" is a fine example of Keaton placing his stylistic imprint on material not specifically tailored for him. In fact, the premise appears ideal for Harold Lloyd. What could have been a traditional thrill comedy emerges as a surreal nightmare — featuring one of the great climaxes in movie history, with hundreds of potential brides (and an avalanche of boulders) chasing Buster through the Southern California landscape. The 20-minute sequence is propelled by Keaton's stunning athleticism and a remarkable editing precision. Like many Keaton silents, "Seven Chances" seamlessly fuses his deadpan expressiveness with an expert command of the film medium. He transforms a simple farce into a provocative examination of ruthless romance in which deadly boulders are preferable to devouring women. A masterpiece.

10/10


Offline NoahYoung

I just found out that this was restored for Blu-ray yet again late last year. It was previously released in 2011, and in 2019 on Blu-ray -- all different restorations. This one is from Kino, the one before that Cohen, the one before that Kino. So if you like this film, you've plenty of choices! And it had been released on Dvd before that.

As an aside, 30 years ago was a big deal for Keaton fans like myself. In 1995, Kino released on VHS (and later on laser disc) all of Keaton's independent silent shorts and features. This was the first time most of the films were available on video for collectors. They came out in 3 waves. I bought all 3. I thought that would be the last word on the restorations of these films -- little did I know about future video formats, and re-restorations! I think I spent around $150 - $200 for the whole shebang. I never fell into the trap of double-dipping. I still own the tapes.

------

Due to an abridged version of this film being included in Youngson's 4 CLOWNS, I became a Keaton fan. I really think it is one of his best features.






Burt Lancaster was too short!
- The Birdman of Alcatraz


Offline metaldams

I just found out that this was restored for Blu-ray yet again late last year. It was previously released in 2011, and in 2019 on Blu-ray -- all different restorations. This one is from Kino, the one before that Cohen, the one before that Kino. So if you like this film, you've plenty of choices! And it had been released on Dvd before that.

As an aside, 30 years ago was a big deal for Keaton fans like myself. In 1995, Kino released on VHS (and later on laser disc) all of Keaton's independent silent shorts and features. This was the first time most of the films were available on video for collectors. They came out in 3 waves. I bought all 3. I thought that would be the last word on the restorations of these films -- little did I know about future video formats, and re-restorations! I think I spent around $150 - $200 for the whole shebang. I never fell into the trap of double-dipping. I still own the tapes.

------

Due to an abridged version of this film being included in Youngson's 4 CLOWNS, I became a Keaton fan. I really think it is one of his best features.

You and your wallet are better off being satisfied with what you have.  I got into Keaton in the early 2000’s and have the same Kino restorations as you - on DVD.  I bought The Art of Buster Keaton set, a beautiful thing.  I finally caved in about a decade later and bought the Serge Bromberg Kino restoration of the shorts because of the newly found footage in THE BLACKSMITH.   Finally bought the features on blu ray for the Cohen remasters.  You know what though?  I’m still never letting go of that original set I bought.

Barring any new footage being found, I will remain satisfied with my Keaton collection going forward.
- Doug Sarnecky


Offline NoahYoung

You and your wallet are better off being satisfied with what you have.  I got into Keaton in the early 2000’s and have the same Kino restorations as you - on DVD.  I bought The Art of Buster Keaton set, a beautiful thing.  I finally caved in about a decade later and bought the Serge Bromberg Kino restoration of the shorts because of the newly found footage in THE BLACKSMITH.   Finally bought the features on blu ray for the Cohen remasters.  You know what though?  I’m still never letting go of that original set I bought.

Barring any new footage being found, I will remain satisfied with my Keaton collection going forward.

And you can see most of the stuff for free online. And 1929 films and earlier are all PD now anyway, even though you could see them for free before they went PD.

A couple of years before the Art of Keaton VHS boxsets, Kino had THE GENERAL, COLLEGE, and STEAMBOAT BILL, JR. in release, since they were PD. I had all but the latter on tape from TV broadcasts, but I wanted to see the latter. I was working in Manhattan, and I went to a big video store around 49th st -- I think it was called RKO-Warner (where I once met Spanky when he appeared there to promote the Our Gang Republic VHS releases), and they didn't have it in stock, so they ordered it for me. Weeks went by, and they still didn't have it. So I looked up Kino in the phone book -- they were on 39th st. So I called them and explained that I was waiting for the video store to get it. I asked if I could swing by at lunch and buy it from them. They said sure, though they weren't a retail store, just offices. So I went there and got it. I asked why it was taking so long to send a tape 10 blocks away. They said because the store probably ordered it from their west coast warehouse or something like that. You can't make this stuff up! I still have the tape!

I did buy the Image DVD that contained both THE GENERAL and STEAMBOAT BILL, JR. some 20+ years ago, since at the time it was supposed to be the ultimate restoration. I still have that DVD, too. I also bought the KEATON PLUS DVD from Kino that had the fuller version of HARD LUCK with the final pool-dive scene. It was an extra in the ART OF KEATON box set, but I found someone on eBay selling it separately.

Do you know that before the end of 1995, AMC on cable showed everything in the ART OF KEATON boxsets, including the shorts? Boy, did that piss me off after all the money I spent! A year or 2 later, then OK, but I mean -- come on! They even showed the Kino logo and the little "Art of Buster Keaton" prelude before the films!

I now have the following in Super 8:

OUR HOSPITALITY
SHERLOCK JR.
THE GENERAL
COLLEGE
STEAMBOAT BILL JR.
COPS
ONE WEEK
THE BLACKSMITH
THE BALLOONATIC
MY WIFE'S RELATIONS
THE HAUNTED HOUSE
THE PLAYHOUSE
CONEY ISLAND
THE GARAGE
JAILBAIT (16MM)
THE PEST FROM THE WEST
NOTHING BUT PLEASURE
THE SILENT PARTNER



Burt Lancaster was too short!
- The Birdman of Alcatraz