Older vs. Newer Review: Seventh Heaven

Hello, my fellow movie lovers!

It is a big trend right now to remake movies that have already been made previously. Maybe it's to turn it into a series, or to go from animated to live action. I know that a lot of people are getting tired of this and want new ideas instead of reusing the old ones. Though I haven't done it a lot, I love to compare the older to the newer. Today I will be talking about a movie that was remade in 1937. Yep, you read that correctly, the remake was in 1937. So, hold up, you say, when was the original made? 1927. They converted it from a silent film, into a talkie! Remakes are not a new thing, almost as long as we've been making movies, others have wanted to do it again in their way.
Anyway, couple months ago I found these gems of films that are so sweet and no one knows about! I'm going to review them to let people know that it exisits!

My guarantee: On ALL of my reviews there are NO spoilers unless I give you warning. This is spoiler free!


7th Heaven (1927):

Based on: the play by Austin Strong.
A sewer worker saves a girl from her abusive sister and then has to pretend that he's married to her because he lied to the police. All will be fine as soon as she can leave. With a new job everything seems to be going well, but is something else going to be put in his way?

Genre: Drama, Silent.
Length: approx. 110 minutes.
Costumes: 7, we see one person without a shirt, and others in underclothes. There is nothing fancy.
Script: N/A, as this is a silent movie. I did like the opening title card:
"For those who will climb it, there is a ladder leading from the depths to the heights---from the sewer to the stars---the ladder of Courage."
Crew:
Directed by: Frank Borzage.
Written by: Austin Strong, Benjamin Glazer, Katherine Hilliker, & H. H. Caldwell.
Starring:
Charles Farrell as Chico.

Janet Gaynor as Diane.

Gladys Brockwell as Nana.

David Butler as Gobin.
Albert Gran as Papa Boul.

Marie Mosquini as Madame Gobin.
Emile Chautard as Father Chevillon.
Ben Bard as Colonel Brissac.

George E. Stone as Sewer Rat.
Cinematography: 9, I was so impressed by the actions and expressions of the actors because with a silent movie you really have to show what they are thinking because they can't talk. There was also one part with climbing stairs where the cinematography was just so neat!
Cinematography by: Ernest Palmer & Joseph A. Valentine.

Music: I'm going to mark this as N/A because while the background music in silent movies can change a lot.
Quotes: Again, N/A.
Oscars won: 3: Best Directing (Dramatic Picture), Best Writing (Adaptation), & Best Actress (Janet Gaynor). This film was nominated for Best Picture for the first Oscar ceremony! Janet Gaynor's award was for a combination of three performances Street Angel, Sunrise, and Seveth Heaven.
Content: 8, there is a suggestive thing (just one with the Street Rat, the rest is so clean), war scenes, smoking, and some violence and abuse, but is shown as bad.
Originality: 10, I'll talk about this later, but I love this storyline so much!
Good For: Silent movie lovers, everyone.

Age Range: It is pretty clean, as I mentioned in my content section. It might be a bit boring for younger viewers, but it depends on the individual person.
Overall Score: 8.5!

VS.



Seventh Heaven (1937):

Based on: the play by Austin Strong and the 1927 silent movie.
In Pre-World War I France, an aethiest is tired of working in the sewers. When he saves an abused and suicidal girl, a priest helps him out. After lying about her to the police to save her from being arrested he is in a tough situation. He figures out a temporary situation, but with the world always changing will his plans be stopped?
"You aren't dead! Unless you keep thinking you're dead, then you are dead."

This is the picture that made me want to watch it!

Genre: Drama.
Length: approx. 102 minutes.
Costumes: 8, Nothing indecent at all, but nothing eye-catching.
Script: 10, no bad words!
"Street workers never speak to sewer men, that's part of the social system."
Crew:
Directed by: Henry King.
Written by: Austin Strong and Melville Baker.
Starring:
James Stewart as Chico.

'"One day you'll be yourself."
"Myself? What would that be? Myself?"'
Simone Simon as Diane.

Jean Hersholt as Father Chevillon.
Gale Sondergaard as Nana.
J. Edward Bromberg as Aristide.
Gregory Ratoff as Boul.
John Qualen as Sewer Rat.
Victor Kilian as Gobin.

Thomas Beck as Brissac.
Cinematography: 8, ah, I love black and white!
Cinematography by: Merritt B. Gerstad.
Music: 8, a nice score.
Music by: David Buttolph & Cyril J. Mockridge.

Quotes: 8,
'"You have a great head!"
"You have a great heart!"'
Content: 9, as with the original, there are war scenes, a suggestive thing, and violence and abuse, though shown as bad.
Originality: 10, Ah, this story makes me so happy!
Good For: James Stewart fans! Everyone!

Age Range: Same as the older one, but younger viewers might find a talkie more interesting.
Overall Score: 9!

Sorry, there is a lot of pictures of the same people because my skills at finding good ones were not up to par today!



Character comparison:

Chico:

L: Charles Farrell. R: James Stewart.

I love Chico so much! He's a sewer worker who claims to be a "very remarkable fellow" and is not scared of anything. He thinks that he doesn't need God, and therefore doesn't believe in him. He's tired of being treated like dirt and actually, to be on dirt, on the ground would be a step up in the world. This is my biggest complaint, that Gobin isn't nice to him because of that. I love his character, and I completely understand the need to seem big and "untouchable" and in charge because you are scared of people seeing your weakness.
Charles Farrell did really well with his facial expressions and everything, but (surprise surprise) James Stewart is my favorite. It is so funny, because in the talkie everyone has a French accent except him, but I still love it.


Diane:

L: Janet Gaynor. R: Simone Simon.

Diane is such a sweet loveable dear who I want to hug. She has been through so much and is tired of being what she is. She is scared and hurt, and so afraid of hurting others or being a burden. She just wants to thank people as she can and is so beautifully faithful.
As I said, Janet Gaynor won the first Best Actress Oscar for her performance, and it was so good, but Simone Simon was such a sweetheart, I just have to say that she is my favorite.


These two darlings are so precious! I love their reverse character arcs as Chico begins to show his fears and Diane becomes so brave. AH. These two deserve all the love!! Please, I need someone to love them as much as I do.

Conclusion:
Ah!! This story is so sweet! You know those books or movies that just make you so incredible happy and get warm fuzzies? This is one of them for me. When I watched this it has been awhile since I was so obsessed with a movie, and an older one, too! These plot lines are pretty much identical. The only differences are:
1. Diane's backstory. Her sister is still very abusive, but for slightly different reasons.
2. The added character of Aristide.
That's basically it! You might wonder, "Why would they remake a movie and not change any of it except by adding sound?" The answer: James Stewart. Jimmy makes every movie 100X better. But, he is my favorite actor so I might be biased. I saw the 1937 version first and absolutely loved it. It wasn't until a few days ago that I watched the original. The original is really good, I just kept imagining everything with the other actors. Haha! So yeah, both are great, but my favorite is the 1937.
I know that these movies might not be the thing for everyone, but they are so sweet, I would love for you, my readers, to watch them! I would recommend the 1937 first, but if you do that then you spend the whole time watching the 1927 thinking about it, hehe!

The Newer Wins!


Well, I'm off to rewatch the 1937 because all of this talk about it has made me so happy and I want to just laugh, cry, and full out "fangirl". Thanks for reading! Favorite silent movie? Favorite James Stewart movie? Tell me in the comments! And please, if anyone has seen either of these, WE NEED TO TALK.

MovieCritic