ABOUT THE AFI CATALOG
|
FAQ
|
CONTRIBUTORS
Search For:
Search In:
Title
Personal Name
Character Name
Company Name
Genre
Subject
Summary
Note
Literary Source
Music Source
Song Source
Name & Title
Using:
Exact Phrase
Any of the Words
All of the Words
Limited To:
Video Availability
Advanced Search
Movie Detail
Name Occurs Before Title
Offscreen Credit
Print Viewed By AFI
Stub Record
7th Heaven
Director:
Frank Borzage
(Dir)
Release Date:
30 Oct 1927
Premiere Information:
Los Angeles premiere: 6 May 1927
Duration (in reels):
12
Print this page
Display Movie Summary
Available Formats
Facets
DVD
VHS
LaserDisk
Cast:
Janet Gaynor
(Diane)
Charles Farrell
(Chico)
Ben Bard
(Colonel Brissac)
David Butler
(Gobin)
Marie Mosquini
(Madame Gobin)
Albert Gran
(Boul)
Gladys Brockwell
(Nana)
Emile Chautard
(Père Chevillon)
George Stone
(Sewer Rat)
Jessie Haslett
(Aunt Valentine)
Brandon Hurst
(Uncle George)
Lillian West
(Arlette)
Summary:
Chico, a Paris sewer worker, desiring to be elevated to the position of street cleaner, burns prayer candles in the hope that God will give him another chance; he becomes embittered when his prayer for a blonde wife evokes no response. He rescues Diane, who has been victimized by her unscrupulous sister, Nana; and when denounced, Diane is saved from the police by Chico's claim that she is his wife. Their love is finally realized just as war breaks out, but their marriage is interrupted by the call to arms. Diane braves the war as a munitions worker and following the Armistice receives word that Chico is dead. He returns, however, though blinded, to restore the girl's faith and love.
Production Company:
Fox Film Corp.
Director:
Frank Borzage
(Dir)
Lew Borzage
(Asst dir)
Producer:
William Fox
(Pres)
Writer:
Benjamin Glazer
(Scen)
Katherine Hilliker
(Titles)
H. H. Caldwell
(Titles)
Photography:
Ernest Palmer
(Dir of photog)
Film Editor:
Katherine Hilliker
(Film ed)
H. H. Caldwell
(Film ed)
Set Decoration:
Harry Oliver
(Settings)
Country:
United States
Language:
English
Source Text:
Based on the novel
Seventh Heaven
by Austin Strong (New York, 1922).
Authors:
Austin Strong
Copyright Claimant
Copyright Date
Copyright Number
Fox Film Corp.
19/6/1927
dd/mm/yyyy
LP24098
Physical Properties:
b&w:
Si:
Sd, also Si:
Reduced to 9 reels, 8,500 ft.
Genre:
Romance
Subjects (Major):
Blindness
Courtship
Paris (France)
Religion
Sanitation workers
Sisters
World War I
Note:
Janet Gaynor won the first Best Actress Academy Award for her work on this film, as well as for her work on
Sunrise
and
Street Angel
(see below). Frank Borzage won for Best Directing (Dramatic Picture), and Benjamin Glazer won Best Writing (Adaptation). The film also received certificates of honorable mention for art direction (Harry Oliver) and outstanding picture.
Bibliographic Sources:
Date
Page
Film Daily
29 May 29
p.6.
MPW
28 May 27
p. 288.
New York Times
26 May 27
p. 22.
Variety
11 May 27
p. 14.
Display Movie Summary
© 2010 American Film Institute
all rights reserved
terms of use
