"Seven Keys to Baldpate" is an important film for two big reasons. First, it's one of the very few films in which George M. Cohan, the legendary Broadway performer, appeared in during his very brief film career. This role was created by Cohan for the 1913 play of the same name...so it's fitting he stars in it. Second, for a 1917 film, it's amazingly good...with nice sets and acting. The exaggerated acting you see in some silents is mostly missing and the film looks far better than most of the films of the 1910s.
The film is about a strange proposition. A very prolific writer, George Washington Magee (Cohan), is bet he cannot write an entire book in 24 hours. So, to make it easier, Magee heads to the small town of Baldpate to work on his book in the peace and quiet. Oddly, however, there is anything but peace and quite--and one crazy character after another come into the place where he's staying an Magee is pulled into a world of intrigue instead of working on his book.
The film is free to download from archive.org and it's worth it. A well made film that might seem a bit old fashioned today, but it's quite engaging.
The film is about a strange proposition. A very prolific writer, George Washington Magee (Cohan), is bet he cannot write an entire book in 24 hours. So, to make it easier, Magee heads to the small town of Baldpate to work on his book in the peace and quiet. Oddly, however, there is anything but peace and quite--and one crazy character after another come into the place where he's staying an Magee is pulled into a world of intrigue instead of working on his book.
The film is free to download from archive.org and it's worth it. A well made film that might seem a bit old fashioned today, but it's quite engaging.