SEVENTH HEAVEN (20th Century-Fox, 1937), directed by Henry King, is a sentimental love story of two ordinary but unlikely people in the poor district of Paris. Originated on stage in 1922 before becoming a popular 1927 silent screen Fox Film adaptation starring Janet Gaynor, directed by Frank Borzage, Gaynor's performance won her the first Academy Award ever awarded to an actress. It also marked Gaynor's initial teaming opposite Charles Farrell, with SEVENTH HEAVEN the most associated of their twelve collaborations together. Basically following the same pattern as the 1927 carnation, this new edition not only borrows heavily on the underscoring to the "Seventh Heaven" theme song, but makes every effort by using a new assortment of actors to physically resemble those from the original cast, particularly its leading players consisting of Simone Simon resembling Gaynor in both pint size and hairstyle, and James Stewart matching Farrell's height and straight-forward manner. While this latest SEVENTH HEAVEN benefits with the use of sound, history did not repeat itself with at least an Academy Award nomination for Henry King as Best Director and/or Simone Simon (best known as Irene in Val Lewton's RKO Radio 1942 classic, CAT PEOPLE) as Best Actress.
Plot Summary: "Paris, 1914. On the lower left slope of Montmarte Hill lies the sinister square called 'The Sock.' Its wretched inhabitants, crowded like rats, live between Heaven and Hell. For their evil street is stopped suddenly by a church.". Chico (James Stewart), who addresses himself as a "remarkable fellow," is a sewer worker. He is also an "athiest" working by a nearby church. Down the road is the Cafe De Trou Dans Le Sac run by Nana (Gale Sondergaard) who uses her younger sister, Diane (Simone Simon) to entice and entertain men to keep the place open. Because Durand (Sig Rumann), one of the customers, forces himself on her, Diane breaks away by throwing wine in his face. After Durand threatens to close the place, Nana forces her anger on Diane by running after and whipping her continuously down the streets until breaking down unconsciously. She is then saved from further beating by Chico who chases Nana away. Diane's attempt to kill herself with Chico's knife fails as he intervenes in saving her life again. As Diane is about to be arrested, Chico steps in once again by telling the officer that she is "his wife." Knowing the suspecting policeman will be checking out his story, Chico allows Diane to move into his seventh floor walk up flat acting as his wife until the officer arrives to see his story is "true." During the course of time, Chico becomes a man of position of street washer while Diane gains confidence in herself, losing all fear she once had. Love soon takes its toll, but before they can get married, war is declared, leading to a lengthy separation and unexpected occurrences.
Other than Simon and Stewart, SEVENTH HEAVEN features an assortment of capable players including Jean Hersholt as a good natured priest; John Qualen as the buck-tooth thief called the "Sewer Rat"; Thomas Beck as Brissac, a young soldier; Victor Kilian as Gobin, Chico's street cleaning neighbor, with Mady Christians Marie, Gobin's wife; and Gregory Ratoff. Gale Sondergaard makes an impressive wicked sister, a role originated on the silent screen by Gladys Brockwell.
Having Simone Simon the same nationality as Diane benefits greatly, though the casting of James Stewart, on loan out assignment from his home studio of MGM, appears to be a case of miscasting. Although he does his best with in his performance, Stewart doesn't seem to be suitable in the role. Had Stewart's character been explained as an American taking up residence in France might have helped, but to accept him as someone named Chico does not. Fortunately Stewart makes no attempt in using a French accent or any sort of accent in this French setting. Charles Boyer might have worked, but his advanced age might have made his performance opposite the youthful Simon quite awkward, though casting of this very nature had been done numerous times. 20th Fox's own Tyrone Power seems the logical choice, but sources claim he was on loan to MGM in exchange for Stewart to co-star opposite Norma Shearer in the epic, MARIE ANTOINETTE (1938).
Basically a scene by scene remake, with few alterations and shortening of specific ones, resulting to 100 minutes over the original's two hours, SEVENTH HEAVEN wouldn't be the same without the tender moment during the war sequence having Diane and Chico communicate daily silently to each other from their hearts, wherever they are. On a personal level, the reproduction sets of Paris is first rate while Henry King's direction keeps the pace moving. Only its closing minutes which could have been handled differently, doesn't seem to ring true to life.
For anyone who's seen the original SEVENTH HEAVEN would no doubt watch this edition for comparison. Those who have never seen the original would simply accept this SEVENTH HEAVEN for what it is, judging for themselves whether or not this rarely seen love story holds up whenever it turns up on the Fox Movie Channel. (***)
Plot Summary: "Paris, 1914. On the lower left slope of Montmarte Hill lies the sinister square called 'The Sock.' Its wretched inhabitants, crowded like rats, live between Heaven and Hell. For their evil street is stopped suddenly by a church.". Chico (James Stewart), who addresses himself as a "remarkable fellow," is a sewer worker. He is also an "athiest" working by a nearby church. Down the road is the Cafe De Trou Dans Le Sac run by Nana (Gale Sondergaard) who uses her younger sister, Diane (Simone Simon) to entice and entertain men to keep the place open. Because Durand (Sig Rumann), one of the customers, forces himself on her, Diane breaks away by throwing wine in his face. After Durand threatens to close the place, Nana forces her anger on Diane by running after and whipping her continuously down the streets until breaking down unconsciously. She is then saved from further beating by Chico who chases Nana away. Diane's attempt to kill herself with Chico's knife fails as he intervenes in saving her life again. As Diane is about to be arrested, Chico steps in once again by telling the officer that she is "his wife." Knowing the suspecting policeman will be checking out his story, Chico allows Diane to move into his seventh floor walk up flat acting as his wife until the officer arrives to see his story is "true." During the course of time, Chico becomes a man of position of street washer while Diane gains confidence in herself, losing all fear she once had. Love soon takes its toll, but before they can get married, war is declared, leading to a lengthy separation and unexpected occurrences.
Other than Simon and Stewart, SEVENTH HEAVEN features an assortment of capable players including Jean Hersholt as a good natured priest; John Qualen as the buck-tooth thief called the "Sewer Rat"; Thomas Beck as Brissac, a young soldier; Victor Kilian as Gobin, Chico's street cleaning neighbor, with Mady Christians Marie, Gobin's wife; and Gregory Ratoff. Gale Sondergaard makes an impressive wicked sister, a role originated on the silent screen by Gladys Brockwell.
Having Simone Simon the same nationality as Diane benefits greatly, though the casting of James Stewart, on loan out assignment from his home studio of MGM, appears to be a case of miscasting. Although he does his best with in his performance, Stewart doesn't seem to be suitable in the role. Had Stewart's character been explained as an American taking up residence in France might have helped, but to accept him as someone named Chico does not. Fortunately Stewart makes no attempt in using a French accent or any sort of accent in this French setting. Charles Boyer might have worked, but his advanced age might have made his performance opposite the youthful Simon quite awkward, though casting of this very nature had been done numerous times. 20th Fox's own Tyrone Power seems the logical choice, but sources claim he was on loan to MGM in exchange for Stewart to co-star opposite Norma Shearer in the epic, MARIE ANTOINETTE (1938).
Basically a scene by scene remake, with few alterations and shortening of specific ones, resulting to 100 minutes over the original's two hours, SEVENTH HEAVEN wouldn't be the same without the tender moment during the war sequence having Diane and Chico communicate daily silently to each other from their hearts, wherever they are. On a personal level, the reproduction sets of Paris is first rate while Henry King's direction keeps the pace moving. Only its closing minutes which could have been handled differently, doesn't seem to ring true to life.
For anyone who's seen the original SEVENTH HEAVEN would no doubt watch this edition for comparison. Those who have never seen the original would simply accept this SEVENTH HEAVEN for what it is, judging for themselves whether or not this rarely seen love story holds up whenever it turns up on the Fox Movie Channel. (***)