just watch it!

A Major Disappointment

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

"Seven Chances" contains one of the best and funniest chase sequences ever filmed. Having said that, the film does have some flaws.Beginning with the prologue filmed in two strip Technicolor, which I think was put in there more as a novelty because it serves no useful purpose in respect of the story. All the scenes are filmed at seasonal intervals where Buster Keaton is shown with his leading lady Ruth Dwyer in front of her house, afraid to express his love for her. The early part of the film kind of drags as Buster learns of his inheritance and begins his search for a bride.The story has Financial broker James Shannon (Keaton) and his partner (T. Roy Barnes) whose firm is on the brink of ruin, receiving news of Shannon's inheritance of seven million dollars from the estate of Shannon's grandfather. The news is delivered by the family lawyer (Snitz Edwards). The only proviso is that Shannon must be married by 7PM that very day.First Shannon unsuccessfully proposes to his girl friend Mary Jones (Dwyer). Next the trio (Keaton, Barnes and Edwards) visit their country club where they draft a list of seven (i.e. chances) women that Shannon could ask to marry. Naturally all turn him down unaware of the potential fortune awaiting them.The partner and the lawyer hit upon the idea of advertising for a wife for Shannon in the afternoon newspaper. Then the fun begins. Hordes of prospective brides show up at the church, Shannon flees and................................................The chase sequences at the climax of the film have become legendary. First the brides (where did Keaton get all those extras?) pursue him through the streets of 1925 Los Angeles then Buster accidentally starts a rock slide forcing him to try to outrun the falling rocks. I don't know how fast Buster could run but these scenes are expertly choreographed and are a highlight of Keaton's career. He also manages to throw in an array of patented Keaton sight gags and pratfalls, particularly in the climatic scenes.Highly recommended, particularly for the final third of the film.

SEVEN CHANCES (1925) is a Buster Keaton vehicle, wherein a young man receives an inheritance from his grandfather – with the condition that he marry on his 27th birthday. His quest to find a wife in time to make the deadline is the driving force behind this comedy. Directed by Buster Keaton.This film takes some time to really develop its comic potential to the full. At first it proceeds rather slowly, but then the laughs slowly start to build up…and the payoff in the final act is spectacular. The various rejections he encounters in his quest for a wife are quite amusing. Unfortunately, some of the comedy relies on stereotype-driven blackface humor, which was considered funny at the time but is cringe- inducing now. In the last act, Keaton again shows his mastery of outrageous sight gags and athleticism, all done in his trademark deadpan persona. An ad in the paper brings many prospective brides to a church, and then the pastor convinces them that it was a prank, resulting in one of the most hilariously inventive chase sequences ever, treating us viewers to a raging torrent of hysterical sight gags and daring athleticism by Keaton. You'll have to see it to believe it. And the ending is just what you wished for, all done in a nice compact 56 minute runtime. SCORE: 8/10

I have always heard Buster Keaton was a genius. He may be but in my Silent movie revival I have not really enjoyed any of his movies before this one.So honestly I was not so exited when I saw it was a Buster Keaton movie I was going to see. But my doubt was proved very wrong.I was laughing through most of the movie and especially the last half part was amazing. It was not like they reused the comical situations. All the time new and wonderful things happened, and it was not really hard to see this movie have inspired a lot of other movies over time.If you love a great comedy you definitely need to see this movie. By far the best Buster Keaton movie I have seen. I would also place it in my top 3 with Silent movie comedies. Even fun for people not used to Silent movies.

This is a charming comedy directed by and starring Buster Keaton. T. Roy Barnes, Snitz Edwards, and Ruth Dwyer have starring roles as well, but Buster is the main attraction.Buster and his partner are brokers who have been duped into a scheme and need money fast. It doesn't matter. Suddenly a lawyer turns up and says Buster will inherit $7,000,000 if he's married by 7:00 PM that day. Fortunately, he's in love, but there's many a slip twixt cup and lip as my grandmother used to say, and we have about an hour and a half of pratfalls, slapstick, and tricks before Buster finally gets the dough. And the girl. And the dog.It's a 1925 movie, so some of the bits are racist, and in one scene he rejects a woman because she's Jewish. The movie is a product of its time, which is a dual-edged sword, I'm sorry to say.The opening scene was shot in Technicolor, and that version is available on Netflix streaming. I understand Jean Arthur, one of my favorite actresses, is the telephone operator, but I did not recognize her.