‘7th Heaven’ from 1928: A Silent Film Comes to Life

Lobby card for the American romantic drama film "7th Heaven" (1927). Public Domain

Commentary

Classic movies are an amazing way to visit past eras. Although films from the 1930s to 50s often need to be remastered after all these years, they can basically be watched just as they were upon first release once restored to their former glory. It’s not so simple with movies made before the late 1920s. After the introduction of the soundtrack in 1927, many silent films and partial talkies were released with synchronized soundtracks during the last few years of the decade, even if they only featured background music and perhaps a few sound effects. The silent films made before that were just that, completely silent.

However, music was just as important a component of the movie experience before the technology for synchronized soundtracks became mainstream. Silent films were screened with live musical accompaniment. Big theaters sometimes used full orchestras, but smaller movie houses often featured accompaniment on organ or piano. While some filmmakers sent sheet music along with movies as accompaniment, most theaters used local musicians to compose something or frequently improvise on the spot! It was common for these musicians to weave in appropriate classical or popular tunes which fit the mood. Perhaps this was the beginning of certain themes being stereotypically used to evoke a mood. (Cue the Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture for the love scene!)

Theatrical poster for the American release of the 1927 film "7th Heaven." Public Domain

In recent decades, restorations of silent films have been released with newly composed soundtracks. Although well synchronized and evocative of the era, it’s clear from the sound quality and instrumentation that the scoring is not original. These scores are nice for home media releases, but the ultimate way to see a silent film is at a theater screening with live accompaniment. I had my first chance to see a silent film with live accompaniment at the Turner Classic Movie Film Festival in April 2022. Screened on the festival’s final evening, it was the last of fourteen movies I watched at the event. It was also the festival’s only silent film, so I wanted to be sure to see it. The movie was “7th Heaven” from 1927, and it was accompanied by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra.

A Tender Story

The story of “7th Heaven” is very simple yet beautifully touching. It’s the tale of a young man and woman in 1910s Paris who transform each other. The leading man is Chico (Charles Farrell), a sewer worker who dreams of becoming a street cleaner. One day, he sees Diane (Janet Gaynor), a young woman of the streets, being ruthlessly attacked by her older sister, Nana (Gladys Brockwell). Although he saves her life, he doesn’t want anything more to do with the pathetic waif. However, the police soon arrive and try to arrest her for prostitution. Not wanting the poor girl to go to jail, he says that she is his wife. They have to keep up the ruse, though, or they will both be arrested. He reluctantly takes her to his attic flat, where he allows her to stay while treating her with gruff indifference. However, they gradually grow fond of each other in the passing days, as the threat of World War I looms on the horizon.

Actor Charles Farrell in a scene from "7th Heaven" (1927). Public Domain

The first Academy Award ceremony took place in 1929 at the Blossom Ballroom in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, which, interestingly, served as the festival’s headquarters, Club TCM. In their first year, the Oscars were very different from the grand extravaganza they would become in just ten years. Only a few awards were given at this short private ceremony, including Best Actress. Rather than bestowing this award for a female performance in just one movie, the Academy chose the recipient based on her overall performance in every film she made that year. Movies were produced quickly in the 1920s, so this could equal up to three films a year.

Janet Gaynor was the first Best Actress winner in Academy Award history. She won for three films on May 16, 1929: “Street Angel,” “Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans,” and “7th Heaven.” I haven’t seen her other two performances, but if they are anything like her interpretation of Diane, the award was well-deserved. At age 22 at the time of the ceremony, Miss Gaynor would remain the youngest Best Actress Oscar winner for almost sixty years. Her record was finally broken when 21-year-old Marlee Matlin was named Best Actress for her performance in “Children of a Lesser God” in 1986. “7th Heaven” was the first of eleven movies Janet Gaynor would make with Charles Farrell; the duo was affectionately dubbed “America’s Favorite Love-Birds.” In all, “7th Heaven” won three Academy Awards at that first ceremony and was nominated for two more.

Janet Gaynor in a scene from "7th Heaven" (1927). Public Domain

Silent Beauty

Seeing a silent film with live orchestral accompaniment for the first time was a magical experience. The Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra has been playing live accompaniment for silent movies for over thirty years. The orchestra is conducted by Rodney Sauer, who also composes scores to accompany silent films. The five-piece ensemble accompanies silent films at film festivals and movie screenings throughout the United States. It’s a very specialized expertise, but they’ve distinguished themselves in this niche by studying and excelling in this unique style of music. At the screening of “7th Heaven,” the five musicians were joined by a foley artist, who provided sound effects such as honking horns and whistles.

In September 1927, just four months after its original release, “7th Heaven” was re-released with a synchronized Movietone soundtrack, which included a background score and sound effects. Although that version has been restored and is available to watch, it was an amazing experience to see the movie with live accompaniment, as the filmmakers originally intended it and as audiences first experienced it in May 1927. The separate instruments quickly melded together into a soothing soundtrack for the beautiful imagery which enhanced the movie but never distracted.

Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra performs at the screening of 7th Heaven at the Chinese Multiplex during the 2022 TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood, California. Courtesy of the TCM Classic Film Festival

Eddie Muller, the TCM host nicknamed the “Czar of Noir” for his expertise in the “film noir” genre, introduced the movie. In his opening talk, he observed that silent movies are “pure cinema.” Without the aid of dialogue, silent moviemakers focused on the visual experience. Muller declared that director Frank Borzage was the greatest romanticist in cinema history. That’s because he had the biggest heart in cinematography, and he lovingly translated his romantic vision to the screen. Muller declared that this talent was perhaps best displayed in the tender, sentimental “7th Heaven.” He happened upon the “electric chemistry” of Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell by accident, but the result was pure, romantic magic which makes this movie beautiful and touching 95 years after its original release.

Experiencing Silent Films

If you’ve never seen a silent film before, watching one with live accompaniment is a wonderful introduction to the genre. After almost a century of talking pictures, silent movies can seem unrelatable, like an archaic relic from the past. However, a silent movie comes to life when it’s accompanied by live musicians. Their energy imbues the art of long-deceased screen performers with the magic of live performance. Even if you’ve seen many silent films already, I guarantee you’ll enjoy a heightened experience from a live screening.

Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra performs at the screening of 7th Heaven at the Chinese Multiplex during the 2022 TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood, California. Courtesy of the TCM Classic Film Festival

I look forward to watching more silent movies in screenings with live accompaniment. Film festivals, especially those dedicated to old movies, are usually the best places to see a silent film with live orchestra accompaniment. Nevertheless, many historic movie theaters throughout the country host occasional and sometimes even frequent screenings of old movies, including silent films with live accompaniment, perhaps even on a historic organ.

In the meantime, you can enjoy “7th Heaven” at home by watching it for free on YouTube.