Product Description

On the eve of World War One - Two strangers will meet and discover more than they bargained for in the academy award winning 1927 classic 7th heaven. Chico (Charles Farrell) is a bold and brash sewer worker in Paris who comes to the rescue of the down and out Diane (Janet Gaynor). In a city full of loneliness and uncertainty Chico and Diane find a closeness they've never had before. There relationship is put to the test when Paris is bombed and Chico marches off to war. Directed by former actor Frank Borzage this is the first cinematic pairing for Farrell and Gaynor. There popularity at the time was so great that the two of them went on to do ten more films together concluding with the 1929 revue Happy Days.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #108120 in DVD
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Formats: NTSC, Black & White, Full Screen, Silent
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 110 minutes

Customer Reviews

"I work in the sewers. But I live near the stars." -- Charles Farrell (Chico)
"I'm not used to being happy...it's funny--it hurts!" -- Janet Gaynor (Diane)


Frank Borzage was the greatest romanticist the movies have ever had, and Janet Gaynor its greatest and most embraced waif. Their two films made together, Seventh Heaven and Street Angel, helped both win the Academy Award. People often point to Murnau's Sunrise, made at the same time, as an artistic masterpiece, forgetting that film rode the coattails of Seventh Heaven, in genuine time, and of the two, Seventh Heaven was by far the more successful and adored choice of moviegoers of the day. Both are triumphs of filmmaking. Borzage's lyricism at capturing true love was astounding, however, and reached its zenith in the silent masterwork, Seventh Heaven. It was always as if Borzage's couples lived in another world, where love resided in purity, untouched by the harsh world around it. Austin Strong's stage play fit perfectly with the lush photography of Ernest Palmer and J.A. Valentine encouraged by Borzage, who was a pioneer of the soft focus look.

A simple story of a sewer worker and an abused waif in the slums of Paris during the 1920's is transformed by Borzage and Gaynor, as Diane, into one of the most beautiful and sensitive romances the screen has ever seen. The film begins as Chico (Charles Farrell), a sewer worker, dreams of the world above the sewers, and of being a street washer like Gobin (David Butler). Diane is sweet and honest, but fallen, doing things and living a life she also wishes to escape. Her sister's harsh beatings send her out into the streets of Paris. Gaynor is not only sweet and endearing, but with an earthy sensuality seldom associated with her innocent countenance. There is despair and longing in her early moments, her soul damaged and her prospects for happiness dark. A moment when her aunt tells her she's pretty and she nearly collapses under the weight of a kind word is when the audience falls in love with Diane. Her horrible sister chases her in a murderous rage, afterward, into the streets of Paris, surely killing her if not for sewer worker Chico.

It is no fairy tale romance, however, Chico having lost his faith in God, who never answered his two prayers; one to be a street washer; the other for the love of a good wife with yellow hair. The audience already loves Diane, so Chico's rejection of her as an unwanted street girl, while he sits around with his pals dreaming about what a remarkable fellow he is is infuriating. When a despairing Diane tries to end it all, however, he intervenes and then does so once more, so she won't have to go with the police. He must then take her home until police investigate his claim that she is his wife, so he will not lose his newfound chance to be a street washer. This opportunity has come from a kindly padre passing on the street, hearing Chico's reasoning for not believing. Along with the card, a small box with religious medals is entrusted to Chico by the padre, and the viewer begins to wonder if Divine intervention is taking a hand in the lives of Diane and Chico.

Gaynor simply glows from this point on. Her acting has been marvelous, but turns softer now, as her heart sees the good heart in Chico. High above, in Chico's seventh floor dwelling, the two fall in love in their seventh heaven. It happens with charm and tenderness, Janet Gaynor wonderful and sensitive as she aches for Chico to love her, and not turn her out once the police make their visit. The world may have lost its romance in our day, but this film never has. Viewers hearts will never forget this romance, and cling to scenes of Diane mastering the catwalk; their charming ride home as man and wife in "Eloise."; Diane wrapping herself in Chico's coat with tender love while he's working; a wedding dress Chico brings to her; and their prayer together for their hasty marriage to be a true one, those religious medals serving as a bond, as Chico and his pal Gobin must leave for WWI.

One has only to look at Borzage's A Farewell to Arms and Three Comrades from the sound era to see how the Great War intruding upon a pure and otherworldly love is a recurring theme in his films. Those familiar with this great director's work, recognize it as a trilogy of sorts; Seventh Heaven dealing with special and pure love being intruded upon by the outbreak of WWI, A Farewell to Arms showing a love found during the Great War, and doomed by it, and Three Comrades a love found too late, WWI having stolen lives and the time two people could have enjoyed together as another war looms on the horizon. Seventh Heaven is the most unabashedly romantic of the three, however. Their first night together in their seventh heaven takes on a charm and tenderness never reached when sound came along, and is sustained throughout the entire film. At 11:00 every day, their two hearts meet in their seventh heaven apartment, his eyes still filled with her in her wedding dress. She can feel him as though he is there, so is disbelieving, then crushed when people converge on their seventh heaven to inform her that her Chico has fallen in battle.

I cannot reveal anything further, as one must see this film to really appreciate the fresh and pure ray of light it shines on faith and love. It is beautifully sentimental and startlingly wonderful. Janet Gaynor has been sort of forgotten today, but should not be. The public adored her, and she and Charles Farrell became "America's Favorite Lovebirds" making a dozen or more pictures together. Her contribution to Seventh Heaven cannot be overstated. Her performance is perfect. Even without Sunrise or Street Angel she would easily have walked away with the Academy Award, at a time before it was tainted. By 1934 she was the top box office star, and had been close to it for several years. At the very least, a boxed set of the films she and Farrell made together is long overdue. Seventh Heaven is a masterpiece of romantic sentimentality, and is one of the greatest made during the silent era of film. It remains as beautiful today as it was in 1927.

This edition is a very good print, for a film this age, and can be obtained separately from the more expensive Borzage boxed set, should you wish to view this timeless masterpiece of silent art. The music by Keith Taylor, apparently recorded at a library showing, works quite well with everything onscreen. Not having heard the original score, which contains the famous "Diane" theme, I have no frame of reference. But it is quite nice and blends well with the story. Everyone who views this will feel a tug to experience their own piece of heaven. It is thanks to my Seventh Heaven I was able to view this most beautiful and romantic of films. A must see.

Unique
If you are a grammy collector, this cd must be on your shelves. One of the earliest sample of grammy winner movie.

A Beautiful Gem and Classic of the Silent Era
The release of this exceptionally beautiful film has been long overdue, but with all such gems of early cinema, it has been worth the wait. An impressive cast and crew combined to win "Seventh Heaven" three Academy Awards: for Best Screenplay, Best Director and Best Actress, namely Janet Gaynor. Director Frank Borzage, who had been acting in silent films since 1913, brought all his acquired skills and talents to films like this and later ones in the 30s and 40s, giving them his special touch of soul-stirring sentiments concerning love, hope and faith. They are also often set during the war when lovers were separated and endured anguish by having hope and faith, and "Seventh Heaven" is a shining example. Struggling with poverty and poor conditions, a couple comes together under unusual circumstances, sharing a flat on the seventh floor in Paris - a traditionally romantic setting of old streets, houses and rooftop views from the cosy and charming home the man calls `heaven'. Charles Farrell, who went on to star opposite Janet Gaynor in other successful films, put in quite a dynamic performance as the lively and optimistic Chico, always looking upwards and telling himself he is `a very remarkable fellow', which helped him rise from being a sewer worker to a street cleaner. This vibrant optimism and confidence infected the homeless and abused young woman played superbly by Janet Gaynor, who rises above her miserable past and circumstances because of Chico.

Capturing certain images and moments with the right light and camera angle makes "Seventh Heaven" more than just a standard war-time love story, and in particular the references to something spiritual and even godly about the couple's love and devotion make this film even more moving, even for the non-religious. When Chico is called to war, the couple seem to have a spiritual bond and connection, particularly at eleven o'clock every morning, at which time he had promised to `talk to her' as he left. Suspense slowly but surely escalates towards the end as it becomes uncertain what will become of Chico, by which time the viewer has become fully involved in the delightful story and likeable characters.

This DVD by Hollywood Attic has no special features, and the picture quality is surprisingly good, being just a touch below the standard of Kino Video or Image releases of similar silent films. The piano accompaniment is beautifully and skilfully played by Keith Taylor, blending perfectly with the settings and moods and thereby enhancing this beautiful film even more, making it a movie well worth having in either a silent or classic film collection.