Seventh Heaven (1937)

Having been made famously as a silent film that won Janet Gaynor the first ever Best Actress Oscar (along with several other films made around the same time), this remake is beautifully remade, but in many ways, appears to have been meant to be silent. The era of World War I Paris is the setting for this romance of two outsiders: a sewer worker (James Stewart) who wants to work above ground, and a cabaret "hostess" (Simone Simon) whose cruel sister (Gale Sondergaard at her most sinister) passes her off to male clients as if she was a pair of old shoes. Tired of her sister's cruelty, Simon longs to get away, and thanks to Stewart who catches Sondergaard beating her, she does, threatening to dump her into the sewer if she doesn't stay away from her sister. Determined to protect the innocent young Simon, Stewart claims to be married to her, and moves her into his apartment building where their romance expands into love. But with the onslaught of World War I and Stewart's sudden draft, that leaves Simon open to the machinations of the vengeful Sondergaard, and tragedy rears its ugly head as Simon gains the strength to stand up for herself and find her own inner heaven.This has some fantastic moments throughout, from the beautiful but dangerous setting to the sequence where Stewart nearly dumps Sondergaard into the abyss of the Paris underground, to those small romantic moments between Simon and Stewart, and then Simon's response to Sondergaard's return and the tragic situation of Stewart being off at war and believed to be dead. Simon's girlish performance makes her seem weak at first, but even in a dooey eyed doe is a mama lioness in the making, and her roar is unforgettable in a triumphant scene that will have you cheering her on. Jean Hersholt is memorable as a local priest who questions Stewart on his atheism, and Sig Ruman is hilariously piggish as a customer of Sondergaard's who takes his date with Simon too far. Other memorable cast members include Gregory Ratoff as a local rebel, Rafaela Ottiano as a nosy neighbor of Stewart's, and Mady Christians as a motherly woman in Stewart's building who becomes Simon's protector, for as long as she needs one. For all of the silent elements transferred over with the use of dialog, this is still a very memorable melodrama that will leave you touched, right up to the inspiring fadeout.

This is a Love story among members of the Poor People of Paris, where Jimmy Stewart plays a working class sewer worker. Given his lot in life, Stewart's character expresses little faith in God, but after he befriends an abused prostitute (Diane), in her he finds the catalyst for an improved prospective on life. This symbolizes the potential power of positive relationships. This is a remake of the silent film of the same name from 10 years earlier that won three Academy awards, including one for Janet Gaynor for best actress.Interesting of note is the romantic music theme "Diane" which plays throughout the film. Although the tune was written in 1927 for the original silent movie version of this film, most today will remember it from the pop hit the Irish group 'The Bachelors' had in 1964. Singer Billy Daniels had actually previously made the tune popular in the 1940's, when he made it his #1 song to sing on his NY radio broadcasts. Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis was later perceptive enough to have recorded the tune with John Coltrane on his classic 1956 album "Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet." The lyrics are never heard in the film, but a review of the lyrics find them spot-on with the story: "I'm in Heaven when I see you smile; smile for me my Diane. And though everything is dark all the while; I can see you Diane. You have lighted the road leading home; Pray for me when you can. For no matter wherever I roam; Smile for me my Diane."

A very moving and excellent movie version of the Seventh Heaven play that was the "talkie" remake of the silent version made 10 years earlier. James Stewart (Chico) and Simone Simon (Diane) play the street cleaner and prostitute whose paths cross and develop a special bond with each other. The movie presents a much gritty view of life in the 1914 Paris streets before World War I and has so many deep messages about life. The Chico character is an atheist who became cynical when his prayers were not answered. He helps Diane when she is beaten by her prostitute sister for not being sociable with potential clients. To prevent her from being arrested, Chico takes her in as his wife to live in his apartment. The climb is up 7 flights of steps, but the apartment becomes their own heavenly abode. As their feelings deepen between the two, Chico eventually proposes marriage to Diane. However, World War I intervenes and Chico must leave Diane to go to war. The two vow to think about each other at 11 AM every day. As the war comes to a close, Chico is injured in a gas attack and is reported to have died by his comrades and a priest (Jean Hersholt whose name is attached to the Humanitarian Academy Award given out every year during the Oscar award show). Another injured war veteran also is introduced during the time that Diane is working in the war hospital and appears to be the "other man" character who tries to win her over. As the end of the war is imminent, Diane refuses to believe that Chico was killed in the war. She, in turn, almost becomes an atheist when she feels that God could have let him die and to have abandoned her. She receives another revelation at 11 AM on November 11, 1918 as the armistice news is celebrated and races back to climb up the seven flight of stairs past all of the revelers to get back to her home. The ending of the movie could have been with a sad ending. But even if it did, the love that tied the two of them would still have resonated strongly at the end. Chico had given Diane a new outlook on life and she could have carried on in the future for the both of them.The movie had many closeups of Simone with the type of lighting that you would expect to showcase her beauty. It looked like you were seeing a photographer shifting the lights in the background when a closeup was called for. She has such an angelic face. Jimmy Stewart may have not fit the French sanitary worker role exactly since he spoke with no French accent. But, his acting fit the role of the street cleaner perfectly and you could see how his later movie roles in "Shop Around the Corner" and "It's a Wonderful Life" were an extension of his role in this movie.The movie was made just two years before World War II began. It showed the horror of battle in the trenches and is a sad reminder of the upcoming war that would soon envelop Europe again.This movie version provides many simple messages about life in general and also affirms the daily life struggles of the lower classes. Everyone has their own heaven if they look hard for it. Sometimes you have to look deep into your own heart. The most poignant scene in the movie for me is right after the policeman comes to visit Chico's apartment to verify his story that Diane and he were married. After he is satisfied when checking the apartment and leaves, Diane then knows that the charade about being married is over and that it is time for her to leave. She tidies up the kitchen area one more time and then takes a last look at the room as she heads out the door. Priceless moment. Highly recommended even though it is a little known movie.

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.