Seven Keys to Baldpate

There are several film versions of this George M. Cohan play based on a novel by Earl Derr Biggers, the writer of Charlie Chan novels. Of the many movie versions that I have seen, this is the best-balanced production.

I read part of the book, this play starts with much of the book portrayed as we see a lady (Margaret Callahan) crying in the waiting room and being discussed by a male passenger (Gene Raymond) and the station agent (Walter Brennan.)

The story is of a writer who picks Baldpate Inn, a quiet place, closed for the winter, as an ideal place for writing a quick novel. He is given the "only key" to the Inn. The film slowly unfolds and makes you wonder why you are watching. Soon it picks up the pace as we find "Seven Keys to Baldpate" and discover who has them both the characters and the familiar actors of the time. It takes time to get used to the cavalier attitude of the writer.

We may find an interesting twist in the end.