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 (screen version)

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:

IT'S A SURE THING FOR YOU! (original newspaper ad- all caps)

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 March 1925 (USA)

Also Known As:

As Sete Ocasiões de Pamplinas

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Constance Talmadge: Popular actress and sister of Buster Keaton's wife at the time, Natalie Talmadge, has a small uncredited role.

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Goofs

In the scene with the rolling rocks, the knees of Jimmie's trousers are out in some shots and intact in others.

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Quotes

Jimmie Shannon: (looking at a list of possible brides) Who bats next?

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood (1980)

User Reviews

Buster Keaton Races to the Finish

Desperate for money to save his failing business, junior stockbroker Buster Keaton (as James "Jimmie" Shannon) is understandably pleased to learn his recently deceased grandfather has tentatively left him $7 million. In order to inherit the money, Mr. Keaton must get married by 7 pm. After a misunderstanding with girlfriend Ruth Dwyer (as Mary Jones), Keaton gets "Seven Chances" to propose, but each woman turns him down. When a newspaper article reveals Keaton's potential, every woman in the vicinity decides to pursue him. Keaton decides marrying Ms. Dwyer is the correct way to go, if he can get away from a landslide of eager women...

Lost on modern audiences is a moment when Keaton visits a theater to propose marriage to a showgirl, who we're told is Julian Eltinge; filmgoers in 1925 would have known this was a female impersonator. Another of Keaton's prospects in young Jean Arthur (as "Miss Smith"). The colorful opening gives "Seven Chances" a great start, but frequent "ethnic" humor is not funny. It's hard to believe Keaton considered this film substandard. Even before it gets going, it's a top quality production. There are enough chuckles before the famous chase scene, which really begins when Keaton falls asleep in church and the women start rushing to meet him.

******** Seven Chances (3/11/25) Buster Keaton ~ Buster Keaton, Ruth Dwyer, Snitz Edwards, T. Roy Barnes