Seven Sinners (1925 film)
Encyclopedia
Seven Sinners is a 1925
black-and-white silent
crime
comedy film
directed by Lewis Milestone
and written by Milestone and Darryl F. Zanuck
. The film was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Although Milestone had directed short training films for the U.S. War Department in 1918 and 1919, and acted as assistant director
on the 1921 William A. Seiter
film The Foolish Age, this was his feature film
directorial debut.
) and Joe Hagney (John Patrick
) break into the Vickers mansion on Long Island
and loot the safe but are caught in the act by another crook, Jerry Winters (Clive Brook), who takes the money from them. The three are confronted by Pious Joe McDowell (Claude Gillingwater
) and his wife Mamie (Mathilde Brundage
), also crooks, but who assert themselves as friends of the Vikers family. Moly, Joe, and Jerry introduce themselves in turn as Vickers' household servants. A doctor (Dan Mason) arrives with his patient (Heinie Conklin
) and quarantines the house. Unknown to the first five, the Doctor and patient are also crooks who use the ruse of a "quarantine" as part of their own methodology. During the brief quarantine, Molly ends up fallng in love with Jerry and the two pledge to go straight. When the police (Fred Kelsey
) finally arrive, Pious Joe takes responsibility for the robbery so that Molly and Jerry can escape.
wrote the idea "has been worked out in an interesting fashion, with disappointing penitence as a closing touch," and that "picture is quite diverting, and it would have been even better if the humor were lighter in some sequences and if a touch of satire had been included at the finish."
1925 in film
-Events:*November 5: The Big Parade holds its Grand Premier*December 30: premier of Ben-Hur the most expensive silent film ever made costing 4-6 million dollars -Top grossing films :...
black-and-white silent
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
crime
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
directed by Lewis Milestone
Lewis Milestone
Lewis Milestone was a Russian-American motion picture director. He is known for directing Two Arabian Knights and All Quiet on the Western Front , both of which received Academy Awards for Best Director...
and written by Milestone and Darryl F. Zanuck
Darryl F. Zanuck
Darryl Francis Zanuck was an American producer, writer, actor, director and studio executive who played a major part in the Hollywood studio system as one of its longest survivors...
. The film was produced by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Although Milestone had directed short training films for the U.S. War Department in 1918 and 1919, and acted as assistant director
Assistant director
The role of an Assistant director include tracking daily progress against the filming production schedule, arranging logistics, preparing daily call sheets, checking cast and crew, maintaining order on the set. They also have to take care of health and safety of the crew...
on the 1921 William A. Seiter
William A. Seiter
William A. Seiter was an American film director. He was born in New York City. After attending Hudson River Military Academy, Seiter broke into films in 1915 as a bit player at Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios, doubling a cowboy...
film The Foolish Age, this was his feature film
Feature film
In the film industry, a feature film is a film production made for initial distribution in theaters and being the main attraction of the screening, rather than a short film screened before it; a full length movie...
directorial debut.
Plot
Burglars Molly Brian (Marie PrevostMarie Prevost
Marie Prevost was a Canadian-born actress of the early days of cinema. During her twenty year career, she made 121 silent and talking pictures.-Early life:...
) and Joe Hagney (John Patrick
John Patrick
John Patrick was an American playwright and screenwriter.- Biography :Born John Patrick Goggin in Louisville, Kentucky, his parents soon abandoned him and he spent a delinquent youth in foster homes and boarding schools. At age 19, he secured a job as an announcer at KPO Radio in San Francisco,...
) break into the Vickers mansion on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
and loot the safe but are caught in the act by another crook, Jerry Winters (Clive Brook), who takes the money from them. The three are confronted by Pious Joe McDowell (Claude Gillingwater
Claude Gillingwater
Claude Benton Gillingwater was an American stage and screen actor. He first appeared on the stage then in 92 films between 1918 and 1939....
) and his wife Mamie (Mathilde Brundage
Mathilde Brundage
Mathilde Brundage was an American actress. She appeared in 87 films between 1914 and 1928.She was born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA and died in Long Beach, California.-External links:...
), also crooks, but who assert themselves as friends of the Vikers family. Moly, Joe, and Jerry introduce themselves in turn as Vickers' household servants. A doctor (Dan Mason) arrives with his patient (Heinie Conklin
Heinie Conklin
Heinie Conklin was an American actor of the silent film era, who appeared in nearly 400 films. Claimed to be one of the original Keystone Kops, Conklin's silent screen makeup consisted heavy eyebrow lining and a thinnish, upside-down, painted-on variation of Kaiser Wilhelm's moustache...
) and quarantines the house. Unknown to the first five, the Doctor and patient are also crooks who use the ruse of a "quarantine" as part of their own methodology. During the brief quarantine, Molly ends up fallng in love with Jerry and the two pledge to go straight. When the police (Fred Kelsey
Fred Kelsey
Frederick Alvin "Fred" Kelsey was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. He appeared in 404 films between 1911 and 1958, often playing policemen or detectives . He also directed 37 films between 1914 and 1920...
) finally arrive, Pious Joe takes responsibility for the robbery so that Molly and Jerry can escape.
Cast
- Marie PrevostMarie PrevostMarie Prevost was a Canadian-born actress of the early days of cinema. During her twenty year career, she made 121 silent and talking pictures.-Early life:...
as Molly Brian - Clive Brook as Jerry Winters
- John PatrickJohn PatrickJohn Patrick was an American playwright and screenwriter.- Biography :Born John Patrick Goggin in Louisville, Kentucky, his parents soon abandoned him and he spent a delinquent youth in foster homes and boarding schools. At age 19, he secured a job as an announcer at KPO Radio in San Francisco,...
as Handsome Joe Hagney - Heinie ConklinHeinie ConklinHeinie Conklin was an American actor of the silent film era, who appeared in nearly 400 films. Claimed to be one of the original Keystone Kops, Conklin's silent screen makeup consisted heavy eyebrow lining and a thinnish, upside-down, painted-on variation of Kaiser Wilhelm's moustache...
as Scarlet Fever Sanders - Claude GillingwaterClaude GillingwaterClaude Benton Gillingwater was an American stage and screen actor. He first appeared on the stage then in 92 films between 1918 and 1939....
as Pious Joe McDowell - Mathilde BrundageMathilde BrundageMathilde Brundage was an American actress. She appeared in 87 films between 1914 and 1928.She was born in Louisville, Kentucky, USA and died in Long Beach, California.-External links:...
as Mamie McDowell - Dan Mason as Doctor
- Fred KelseyFred KelseyFrederick Alvin "Fred" Kelsey was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. He appeared in 404 films between 1911 and 1958, often playing policemen or detectives . He also directed 37 films between 1914 and 1920...
as Policeman
Reception
The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
wrote the idea "has been worked out in an interesting fashion, with disappointing penitence as a closing touch," and that "picture is quite diverting, and it would have been even better if the humor were lighter in some sequences and if a touch of satire had been included at the finish."