Seven Keys to Baldpate

Seven Keys to Baldpate (1929)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

William Magee (Richard Dix) makes a bet that he can write a novel in twenty-four hours but the deal is that he does it at the Baldpate Inn. He's given what he believes is the only key but before long others are showing up with keys to enter the creepy mansion.

George M. Cohan's play of the Earl Deer Biggers novel was one of the biggest hits of its time and it got turned into three silent film adaptations including one from 1917 where Cohan played the lead role. This 1929 film from RKO was the first sound adaptation and it's honestly not too bad, although I didn't find it nearly as entertaining as the 1917 version. With that said, the film is certainly worth watching if you're a fan of the material or Dix.

The best thing going for this version is the fact that there's a good cast here that manages to make some of the snappy dialogue work extremely well. There's one sequence where seven characters are gathered up in the frame discussing the money trail and the deliver was perfect and made for the highlight of the picture. Dix also manages to turn in a fun performance here as his comic timing is right on the mark and he certainly helps keep the film moving.

The biggest problem with this version of SEVEN KEYS TO BALDPATE is the fact that it just runs out of steam around the forty-minute mark and never picks back up. Director Regionald Barker doesn't add too much flair to the picture and it's another example of an early talkie that just doesn't have too much going for it style wise.

Just a lot of fun. For those of us that can't analyze movies. Must see.

The story Seven Keys to Baldplate is truly one for the spectators of the first half of the 20th century. It was originally an Earl Derr Biggers novel (author of Charlie Chan) and then a popular stage play in the teens. It was filmed 6 times between 1917 and 1947. None of the available versions are particularly interesting today.

The 1917 George M. Cohan film (one of his few starring roles in a film) was solid and gave a better overview of the story of the book. This 1929 Richard Dix version is like many early talkies, basically a filmed stage play. What is best about this one is that there is a germanic influence on the lighting and sets. There are some wonderful shots of Dix, when he arrives at the Inn, sitting in the dark next to the moody light of the fireplace. The story is never enthralling enough and we really feel like we are watching a stage play. It is interesting to look at it from that aspect, however.

Ultimately a curio, this 1929 film is worth watching if you are in the mood for an early talkie. The 1935 version is actually not as good as it is too light and whimsical and truly disappoints as it was made in the heyday of horror and mystery films.

Many of the early "Talkies" were very, very stilted and looked like stage productions. Typically, they had little action and people talked way too much--trying to show off the latest innovation (sound). As a result, most of the early Talkies were actually pretty poor films and tough to watch today. This film is a wonderful example of an early lousy Talkie. Richard Dix is the only one in the film with any energy in his delivery. Otherwise, they all sound like they are in a High School play--delivering stilted dialog in a very stilted manner. And instead of acting to show the plot progressing, the actors just talked and talked and talked!! Because of this I was bored stiff and really had to force myself to keep watching. Additionally, it was really hard to enjoy the film because the plot, up until the excellent ending, was terrible--something that some chimps might be able to replicate or even surpass had they been allowed to write the movie!!!

Author William Magee (Richard Dix) is bet by a friend that he cannot write a complete novel in 24 hours. The bet is five thousand dollars, but Magee says he needs absolute quiet to complete the task. The friend thus arranges for Magee to spend from midnight to midnight at a remote summer inn in upstate New York called Baldpate. It is winter so the place is closed and abandoned except for the caretakers. Before he leaves for Baldpate, Magee sees a beautiful woman, meets her, and they arrange to eat breakfast together there when he returns from his task.

At Baldpate the wind whistles, the snow blows, and the place is silent as Magee works in his room upstairs. The caretakers have assured Magee that there is only one key to Baldpate and that he has it, thus he will not be disturbed. But then he hears a noise downstairs. It is a man talking on the phone to another man about hiding some bribery money in the safe there. It turns out the man has a key to Baldpate too. But he's not the last to arrive or have a key. Throughout the night strange characters arrive, most with nefarious motives. One who seemingly does not is the girl Magee met in New York that he arranged to have breakfast with. She shows up claiming to be a reporter, and she - in fact all of these people - have keys to Baldpate. What goes on here? Watch and find out.

What really impressed me about this film and caused it to rise above an amusing but non-essential of 6/10 was the natural style of acting by everyone involved. In a year - 1929 - when a big studio like MGM was still making silent films, the players here have the acting style of those in a screwball comedy of circa 1940. If not for the women parading around in the skullcaps and ostentatious fox skins typical of the 1920s, without knowing anything else I would have guessed it to have been made much later than it was. Ironically, director Reginald Barker had a long resume of directing silent films and did not do that many sound films, but this good effort was one of them. I'd recommend this, especially for fans of Richard Dix.