Seven Chances (1925)

A man learns he will inherit a fortune if he marries by 7 p.m. that same day.

Director:

Buster Keaton

Writers:

Roi Cooper Megrue (adapted from David Belasco's famous comedy by), Clyde Bruckman

Stars:

Buster Keaton, Ruth Dwyer, T. Roy Barnes

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Buster Keaton	...	James Shannon
T. Roy Barnes	...	Billy Meekin - James' Partner
Snitz Edwards	...	James' Lawyer
Ruth Dwyer	...	Mary Jones - James' Girl
Frances Raymond	...	Mrs. Jones - Mary's Mother (as Frankie Raymond)
Erwin Connelly	...	The Clergyman
Jules Cowles	...	The Hired Hand

Storyline

Financial broker Jimmie Shannon is nearly bankrupt when an attorney presents grandfather's will leaving him seven million dollars. In order to inherit the money Jimmie must marry before 7 pm on his 27th birthday - today!

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Plot Keywords:

desperate to marry | deadline for marriage | marriage for money | country club | slapstick comedy | 

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Taglines:

Cupid plays a lot of pranks on an unsuspecting young man in this uproariously funny film play. (Print Ad- Easton Free Press, ((Easton, Penna.)) 9 June 1925)

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Buster Keaton had this project foisted upon him by producer Joseph M. Schenck, who had bought the rights to the hit Broadway show. Keaton later called it his least favorite feature and tried to keep film historian Raymond Rohauer from restoring the only known copy of the movie.

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Goofs

The stage doorman clearly vest-pockets his bribe as Buster enters to go backstage--yet then has the money in his hand again when Buster emerges to reclaim it. The doorman also pockets the money twice between shots.

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Quotes

Jimmie Shannon: Would you marry me?

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Connections

Referenced in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

User Reviews

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!

Based on the hit Broadway show by David Belasco and foisted upon him by his longtime collaborator and producer John M. Schenck, Buster Keaton regarded Seven Chances as his least favourite of his films, so much so that he tried to prevent a restoration from the one known copy. This is all considerably surprising and perhaps indicative of the professionalism the former vaudeville daredevil regarded his film work with, that despite his personal disaffection for the project, Buster Keaton turned it into a bonafide classic so very representative of his work. The basic story of a young man who must get married by seven o'clock that afternoon in order to inherit a vast fortune left to him by his deceased grandfather, becomes a setup, as Keaton tries his luck proposing to "anything that wears a skirt, including a Scotchman", for a huge uproarious chase scene in the second half on roads, mountains, land and water. Keaton being chased by an irate throng of brides through city streets and countryside is as iconic an image as Keaton being chased by the swarm of cops in his one-reeler Cops while many of the pratfalls and visual gags recall the breathtaking daring-do and ingenuity of his earlier SHERLOCK JR.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

None English

Release Date:

15 March 1925 (USA)

Also Known As:

Seven Chances

Filming Locations:

Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$210,748

Company Credits

Production Co:

Buster Keaton Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

56 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White Color (2-strip Technicolor) (opening sequence)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1