dbborroughs Review of Seven Keys to Baldpate

Seven Keys to Baldpate (1947)

Jokey tone makes this a film thats going to play better if you haven't seen the story before

[5/10 · 25 October 2008]

Sixth or seven go round for the "classic" tale from the pen of the creator of Charlie Chan about a writer who goes to a deserted inn to write a story in 24 hours (on a bet) only to have interruption after interruption as people show up, guns are fired, secret doors open and bodies fall. It was a creaky tale (George M Cohan was doing a stage version in 1913) when this film was made which may explain the slightly jokey tone, personified by the leads knowing nod and a wink way of acting. I like the story and I've seen a couple of other versions of the tale, and I find that when its done right you forget that you know what's going on and lose yourself in the telling. Unfortunately here the ability to lose myself was diminished by direction that didn't seem to want to really play up the mystery elements, despite great sets and a lead that signaled he knew what was going on. There was no way I was going to forget I knew how this was all coming out. Its not a bad film, but unless you've never seen any version of the story before you're more than likely to be extremely unimpressed. Worth a look, more so for those who don't know the tale (if you know it wait until you're in a high tolerance mood)