Seven Years Bad Luck (1921)

After breaking a mirror in his home, superstitious Max tries to avoid situations which could bring bad luck-- but in doing so, causes himself the worst luck imaginable.

Director:

Max Linder

Writer:

Max Linder

Stars:

Max Linder, Alta Allen, Ralph McCullough

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Max Linder	...	Max
Alta Allen	...	Betty - Hi's Fiancée
Ralph McCullough	...	John - His Valet
Betty K. Peterson	...	Mary - His Maid (as Betty Peterson)
F.B. Crayne	...	His False Friend
Chance Ward	...	The Railroad Conductor
Hugh Saxon	...	The Station Master (as High Saxon)
Thelma Percy	...	Station Master's Daughter
C.E. Anderson	...	A Jail Bird (as Cap Anderson)

Storyline

After breaking a mirror in his home, superstitious Max tries to avoid situations which could bring bad luck-- but in doing so, causes himself the worst luck imaginable.

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Plot Keywords:

slapstick comedy | mirror | character acts like mirror image | zoo | wedding | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Certificate:

TV-G

Details

Country:

USA France

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 February 1921 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sieben Jahre Pech

Filming Locations:

The Albert Llewellyn Cheney House, 15 Berkeley Square, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Max Linder Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

62 min (2003 alternate) 40 min (1963 cut)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The broken mirror routine is a precursor to the one in Duck Soup (Marx Brothers).

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Quotes

Max: You're very nice, but you're becoming a little too familiar.

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Alternate Versions

In 2003, Film Preservation Associates, Inc. copyrighted a 62-minute version of this film with music compiled and directed by Robert Israel.

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Connections

Featured in L'homme au chapeau de soie (1983)

User Reviews

The Paradigm Of The Elegance In Comedy Films

It is very complicated for this German Count to talk about Herr Max Linder because it is well-know among the silent film fans and even the longhaired ones, that he was the first and the greatest comedian, the paradigm of the elegance in comedy films, a world –famous star in the 10's. He had great influence with his unique style on the other comic stars that developed their careers after him including Herr Charles Chaplin. He created a genuine character, a young French idle class bourgeois boulevardier with top hat and suit ( not to be mistaken with the older German elegant and dissipated aristocracy… ), that always rather politely succeeds in the most incredible adventures… although after many efforts. This German Count thinks that it is always necessary to remember who is who in the silent film history and if this little communication is useful for some dangerous longhaired youngster in discovering these films, that's a greatest reward for this German aristocrat.

In "Seven Years Bad Luck", Max accidentally breaks his full-length mirror. As superstitious people in France, he thinks that this means seven years' bad luck; many troubles happens at that very moment, loses his fiancée Betty and even winds up in jail, but fortunately at the end, everything will be all right for Max. The film had astounding, funny and remarkable gags as, one of Max's most famous, scene in which Max mimics himself in a mirror that doesn't exists or his tricks to get onto a train without being discovered by the station master. "Seven Years Bad Luck" it is a feature film that belongs to his American period ( he went to USA in 1916 engaged by "Essanay" ) and it is an excellent example of his impeccable style: elegant sense of humour, elaborated and imaginative gags that appeals to the intelligence and complicity of the audience, a delightful and unforgettable comedy.

And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must to change his top hat for a Teutonic helmet in order to be not mixed up with that French bourgeois impostor.

Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/