Simply Perfect

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Please don't spend money on this.

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

There's nothing really wrong with this movie. And there are some positive things.On both the positive and the negative side is French actress Simone Simon. She is radiantly beautiful throughout the movie. When she appears at the window in her wedding gown, you truly believe you are seeing an angel. But her command of English is so limited, and the dialog for her often so weak, that she isn't able to make much of an impression as an actress. When she chases Gale Sondergaard out of the room with a belt in a reversal of a scene early in the movie, she doesn't convey any anger, or triumph. She's good at smiling radiantly, but that's about it.Steward does his usual fine job, but again, he has a poor script to work with.Gale Sondegaard gives perhaps the most vivid characterization in the movie as the evil sister. She is truly terrifying, an actress who could do so many very different things all very well.Too often, though, the script sinks, or comes close to sinking, this picture.I much preferred the 1927 silent. I'm no great fan of silent movies, but that one is astoundingly beautiful and very deeply moving, perhaps because there is no weak script to get in the way, perhaps because certain of the scenes are just filmed better, such as the first night "together" of Chico and Diane in his seventh-floor apartment, the 7th heaven of the title.Even if you don't generally care for silent pictures, give the 1927 version a try.Meanwhile, this one is fine for one viewing, but I doubt I'll watch it again.--------------------Actually, I did watch it again - though it took two sessions to get through it. I still agree with everything I wrote before, though I will add one thing: Especially in the early parts of the movie, there is some beautiful camera work, old-fashioned close-ups and effective shots of the staircase that keeps twisting and turning as it rises to that 7th heaven. The director, Henry King, had made a lot of movies in the silent era, and he knew how to film light and shadow poetically. It doesn't save the movie, but it's worth noticing if you decide to sit through this disappointing movie anyway.

SEVENTH HEAVEN (20th Century-Fox, 1937), directed by Henry King, is a sentimental love story of two ordinary but unlikely people in the poor district of Paris. Originated on stage in 1922 before becoming a popular 1927 silent screen Fox Film adaptation starring Janet Gaynor, directed by Frank Borzage, Gaynor's performance won her the first Academy Award ever awarded to an actress. It also marked Gaynor's initial teaming opposite Charles Farrell, with SEVENTH HEAVEN the most associated of their twelve collaborations together. Basically following the same pattern as the 1927 carnation, this new edition not only borrows heavily on the underscoring to the "Seventh Heaven" theme song, but makes every effort by using a new assortment of actors to physically resemble those from the original cast, particularly its leading players consisting of Simone Simon resembling Gaynor in both pint size and hairstyle, and James Stewart matching Farrell's height and straight-forward manner. While this latest SEVENTH HEAVEN benefits with the use of sound, history did not repeat itself with at least an Academy Award nomination for Henry King as Best Director and/or Simone Simon (best known as Irene in Val Lewton's RKO Radio 1942 classic, CAT PEOPLE) as Best Actress.Plot Summary: "Paris, 1914. On the lower left slope of Montmarte Hill lies the sinister square called 'The Sock.' Its wretched inhabitants, crowded like rats, live between Heaven and Hell. For their evil street is stopped suddenly by a church.". Chico (James Stewart), who addresses himself as a "remarkable fellow," is a sewer worker. He is also an "athiest" working by a nearby church. Down the road is the Cafe De Trou Dans Le Sac run by Nana (Gale Sondergaard) who uses her younger sister, Diane (Simone Simon) to entice and entertain men to keep the place open. Because Durand (Sig Rumann), one of the customers, forces himself on her, Diane breaks away by throwing wine in his face. After Durand threatens to close the place, Nana forces her anger on Diane by running after and whipping her continuously down the streets until breaking down unconsciously. She is then saved from further beating by Chico who chases Nana away. Diane's attempt to kill herself with Chico's knife fails as he intervenes in saving her life again. As Diane is about to be arrested, Chico steps in once again by telling the officer that she is "his wife." Knowing the suspecting policeman will be checking out his story, Chico allows Diane to move into his seventh floor walk up flat acting as his wife until the officer arrives to see his story is "true." During the course of time, Chico becomes a man of position of street washer while Diane gains confidence in herself, losing all fear she once had. Love soon takes its toll, but before they can get married, war is declared, leading to a lengthy separation and unexpected occurrences.Other than Simon and Stewart, SEVENTH HEAVEN features an assortment of capable players including Jean Hersholt as a good natured priest; John Qualen as the buck-tooth thief called the "Sewer Rat"; Thomas Beck as Brissac, a young soldier; Victor Kilian as Gobin, Chico's street cleaning neighbor, with Mady Christians Marie, Gobin's wife; and Gregory Ratoff. Gale Sondergaard makes an impressive wicked sister, a role originated on the silent screen by Gladys Brockwell.Having Simone Simon the same nationality as Diane benefits greatly, though the casting of James Stewart, on loan out assignment from his home studio of MGM, appears to be a case of miscasting. Although he does his best with in his performance, Stewart doesn't seem to be suitable in the role. Had Stewart's character been explained as an American taking up residence in France might have helped, but to accept him as someone named Chico does not. Fortunately Stewart makes no attempt in using a French accent or any sort of accent in this French setting. Charles Boyer might have worked, but his advanced age might have made his performance opposite the youthful Simon quite awkward, though casting of this very nature had been done numerous times. 20th Fox's own Tyrone Power seems the logical choice, but sources claim he was on loan to MGM in exchange for Stewart to co-star opposite Norma Shearer in the epic, MARIE ANTOINETTE (1938).Basically a scene by scene remake, with few alterations and shortening of specific ones, resulting to 100 minutes over the original's two hours, SEVENTH HEAVEN wouldn't be the same without the tender moment during the war sequence having Diane and Chico communicate daily silently to each other from their hearts, wherever they are. On a personal level, the reproduction sets of Paris is first rate while Henry King's direction keeps the pace moving. Only its closing minutes which could have been handled differently, doesn't seem to ring true to life.For anyone who's seen the original SEVENTH HEAVEN would no doubt watch this edition for comparison. Those who have never seen the original would simply accept this SEVENTH HEAVEN for what it is, judging for themselves whether or not this rarely seen love story holds up whenever it turns up on the Fox Movie Channel. (***)

I agree with the previous review. I've only seen this movie once but it has stuck with me. This is a movie about a sewer worker (a very young Jimmy Stewart) who aspires to work as a street sweeper. This is the epitome of jobs in his viewpoint. He is determined to achieve this goal as he considers himself "quite a remarkable fellow". He also falls in love with a young woman who is entranced with this remarkable fellow. He eventually achieves both of his goals.

Simone Simon glowed. She was inspired by James Stewart's character. Her character was lit up by Chico whose pure innocence and positive attitude overshadowed any shortcomings of her character. Stewart came across so well that I could not stop watching the film even though he lacked a French accent. This movie must be seen by all of Jimmy Stewart's fans. It's as if Stewart's star quality is irrepressible. Its as if his personal good character comes across better than the script can tell;therefore,I can accept this story. I have to admit I have seen many of his movies before I saw this one, including many times "Its a Wonderful Life". But, in this film "Seventh Heaven" he allows Simone Simon to make the story work. The two actors are at their best in this old fashioned melodrama. This is a rare instance where the actors pulled the story to a much higher plain. Perhaps that is why it's called "Seventh Heaven".