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 by)

Stars:

Buster Keaton, Ruth Dwyer, T. Roy Barnes

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Buster Keaton	...	James Shannon
T. Roy Barnes	...	His Partner
Snitz Edwards	...	His Lawyer
Ruth Dwyer	...	His Girl
Frances Raymond	...	Her 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:

MARRIED IN HASTE- He had to do it. To save his fortune. Is it funny? You'll have the time of your life. (Print Ad- Breckenridge Daily American, ((Breckenridge, Texas)) 27 August 1925)

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the film is based on a 1916 play written by Roi Cooper Megrue, it was most likely inspired by pioneer film maker Alice Guy-Blache's 1913 short film Matrimony's Speed Limit (1913). The film portrays a man whose girlfriend makes him think he has to marry before noon to inherit from his aunt.

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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

Billy Meekin - James' Partner: How many of these girls do you know? You have seven chances.

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Connections

Featured in The Great Buster (2018)

User Reviews

Hard To Top This For Silent Film Laughs

Buster Keaton, a businessman who is about to get into some serious trouble and lose all his money, finds out his fortunes might change rapidly as a relative dies and leaves him $7 million. One hitch: he has to be married by his 27th birthday to qualify for the cash....and - surprise - today is his 27th birthday.

Well, he frantically searches for anyone to marry him, starting with his girlfriend and then working down to others. He has a list of seven women - all very pretty, I might add, even with that stupid 1920s overdone makeup. Poor Buster quickly strikes out on all seven of those.

Then - and here is where the real fun starts - his business partner puts a story in that day's newspaper saying his buddy is looking to marry a woman and collect $7 million. All you have to do is meet him at the church at 5 o'clock to marry him. Well, hundreds - maybe a thousand - women all storm the church! When Buster sees this - and then gets a note from his girlfriend saying she WILL marry him - he escapes from the church to meet her. Unfortunately, the chase is on as the multitude of women chase him all over town.

The hordes of women pursue him the main street, through a railroad yard, past the suburbs and finally into the countryside where he loses them. He still isn't home free as giant boulders start chasing him down a hill and then chase him for miles. Keaton keeps running and running through all of it. He has more endurance than an Olympic marathon runner! It's touch-and-go whether he can make it to see his girl by the 7 p.m. deadline and get married.

All of this takes place in a 56-minute film with the last 15 minutes being total insanity with that great chase scene.

Silent movie comedy entertainment.does not get much better than this.

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