Seven Keys to Baldpate (1947)
** (out of 4)
The George M. Cohan play gets yet another version from RKO. This time out it's Phillip Terry playing author Kenneth Magee who agree to take a bet that he can write a novel in 24-hours. The only catch is that he must do it in the Baldpate Inn.
This here was the fourth sound version of the Cohan play and the third one made for the big screen. This one here certainly doesn't measure up with the 1917 silent version and I'd argue that it's weaker than both the 1929 and 1935 versions. There are some interesting changes done here by director Lew Landers (THE RAVEN) including the fact that they've slowed down the material.
The previous movies all had a bunch of fast dialogue and the action and comedy was done at a pretty fast pace. That's not the case here as it almost seems like the filmmakers thought viewers in 1947 wouldn't understand the material so they slowed everything down and the simplest plot points in earlier versions are fully explained here. I'm not sure why they did this but it certainly doesn't help things.
Terry is pretty bland in the lead role and he has zero chemistry with Jacqueline White who plays the love interest. Jimmy Conlin is decent in the role of the hermit but he's not given too much to work with. Margaret Lindsay appears in a small role as well. This version of SEVEN KEYS OF BALDPATE is for those who just want to say they've seen all the film versions.
** (out of 4)
The George M. Cohan play gets yet another version from RKO. This time out it's Phillip Terry playing author Kenneth Magee who agree to take a bet that he can write a novel in 24-hours. The only catch is that he must do it in the Baldpate Inn.
This here was the fourth sound version of the Cohan play and the third one made for the big screen. This one here certainly doesn't measure up with the 1917 silent version and I'd argue that it's weaker than both the 1929 and 1935 versions. There are some interesting changes done here by director Lew Landers (THE RAVEN) including the fact that they've slowed down the material.
The previous movies all had a bunch of fast dialogue and the action and comedy was done at a pretty fast pace. That's not the case here as it almost seems like the filmmakers thought viewers in 1947 wouldn't understand the material so they slowed everything down and the simplest plot points in earlier versions are fully explained here. I'm not sure why they did this but it certainly doesn't help things.
Terry is pretty bland in the lead role and he has zero chemistry with Jacqueline White who plays the love interest. Jimmy Conlin is decent in the role of the hermit but he's not given too much to work with. Margaret Lindsay appears in a small role as well. This version of SEVEN KEYS OF BALDPATE is for those who just want to say they've seen all the film versions.