MovieChat Forums > Seven Chances (1925) Discussion > Why did he hate it so much?

Why did he hate it so much?

posted 18 years ago by supernan-1
15 replies | jump to latest

While I realize that Buster had Seven Chances forced upon him, and it isn't really his style, I still can't fathom why he disliked it so much. The story is very cute, he got to show off his athletic abilities, and, most important in my opinion, Buster's acting was very good. Some of his scenes have the most subtle, genuine performances I've ever seen from him, balanced very well with the usual hilarious pantomime.
Ah, well. I don't care what he thought, I'm still going to watch it and enjoy it. So there.

"You can't be a successful dictator and design women's underclothing."

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jewellrunner 17 years ago

I enjoy it as well. Cary Grant has always said that Arsenic and Old Lace was his least favorite performance and I love that as well. Sometimes the pros just don't know what's really good. ;)

My Reviews - http://www.rottentomatoes.com/vine/journal_view.php?journalid=195926&view=public

[–] meteor_storm 11 years ago

Cary didn't realize he was overacting to such an extreme, from what I understand.

tinyurl.com/meteorstorm

[–] grizzledgeezer 11 years ago

Grant's performance in "Arsenic" is dreadful. He apparently wasn't aware how much Capra was pushing him over the top (rather than just exaggerated). Such a ludicrous approach isn't appropriate, even for a farce.

[–] Can_a_bitch_get_a_donut 17 years ago

I kid you not, this is George Lucas' list of his favorite Star Wars movies from his most favorite to his least favorite:

1. The Phantom Menace (<--HIS FAVORITE!)
2. Attack of the Clones
3. Revenge of the Sith
4. Return of the Jedi
5. A New Hope
6. The Empire Strikes Back (<--HIS LEAST favorite!)

Yes, it's pretty much the opposite of most fans' favorites.

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We come into the world naked, screaming and covered in blood. Why should the fun end there?

[–] MisterWhiplash 14 years ago

"Star Wars the Phantom Menace is the most disappointing thing since my son."- Red Letter Media

The official website for Whiplash Films: http://www.whiplashfilm.com/

[–] solex10 9 years ago

Lucas hated The Empire Strikes Back because it finished late and went over budget-he doesn't like that, since that's waste and a lot of money down the drain (at least it earned enough at the box office to recoup the waste.) Return Of The Jedi was more efficient because he could control it better to his specifications, and The Phantom Menace is considered by him to be the same thing.

Not everybody's a big hater of The Phantom Menace and there's a great defense for it and the other two prequel movies: http://www.lardbiscuit.com/lard/ilovetpm.html

As for the main question about Keaton and why he hated this movie, I'd say that looking back in hindsight, he realized how silly and racist it was in the treatement of one of the women in the movie he's supposed to meet (http://moviemorlocks.com/2014/12/13/slapstick-while-black/#comment-606 09 and http://150597036.r.cdn77.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/x-pan1-oval1.j pg) The critics of the day weren't too pleased either.

[–] daroy68 16 years ago

Buster changed his mind in the sixties, when Rohauer was busy circulating his films around Europe. I think it was in Italy -- he popped into a theatre showing "Seven Chances", saw the audience roar with laughter, looked at the movie as it unfolded... And decided it was not so bad after all!

Yes, the funniest parts for me are definitely the subtle facial expressions we see from Buster and Snitz. There was much more dialogue and characterisation here (you can tell it was an adaption from the stage) than his original movies generally displayed, but the Buster touch is felt throughout.

[–] bibospice2001 16 years ago

i think his performance, is great and did anyone else notice jack pickford at the scene at the resturant, you can hardly miss him i think as the camera pans out he is the only boy they showing sitting with a girl. really awesome i heard they indeed were friends and used to hang out, one of buster's drinking buddies.

[–] Chrissie 15 years ago

"Yes, the funniest parts for me are definitely the subtle facial expressions we see from Buster and Snitz."

Absolutely! My absolutely favorite scene is in the church, when it starts to dawn on him what's going on.

[–] SanityLapse 15 years ago

"Yes, the funniest parts for me are definitely the subtle facial expressions we see from Buster and Snitz."

I loved the part when he gets rejected by the very first girl at the table. His "Stone Face" name really lives up there as he just kind of blankly stares at her and looks around, knowing that she, nor probably anyone, will ever take him seriously.

---
I know what gold does to men's souls.

[–] danny_mcguire2001 15 years ago

This will always be a personal favorite because it was my first Keaton movie. I think Buster was uncomfortable in this role because it really could have been played by Harold Lloyd! These great comedians, Lloyd,Chaplin and Keaton, really were good friends, and were not above sharing gags they thought the other could use. This is a Brilliant romantic comedy with a wonderful chase at the end that I still cannot stop laughing at!

[–] marvel88 12 years ago

I heard on TCM that Keaton viewed this film as a disappointment until he watched it at a New York film festival some forty years later with a crowd who loved it.

You don't hear about this film much among the classics of Keaton, but I definitely thought it was among his most amusing and entertaining movies! For sure one of his best!

"I know you're in there, Fagerstrom!"-Conan O'Brien

[–] gribfritz2 11 years ago

The first half of the movie would have been better served as a talkie. Not much going on. From what I've seen, Keaton didn't usually have such dry stuff for 30 minutes straight. It's like a 30-minute short with no big name in it (if you've ever seen some of those relatively mediocre things). Then the second half kicks in and it becomes the typical silent short ending. Except for a drawn-out 30 minutes. Man, those brides were insane. It really felt like two films, which may be why he wasn't a fan. I've seen the whole thing and enjoyed it a bit, but if it's ever on again, you can bet I'd skip to right after the church scene.

[–] leadingrole344 8 years ago

I disagree with most people here, believing this to be one of Keaton's best, with the sustained sequence of escaping the angry brides and racing to his wife-to-be before 7pm being the most amazing series of stunts in all of silent comedy. I have a version with French and English subtitles that has a wonderful musical score which adds greatly to the film's enjoyment.