Seven Keys to Baldpate

In the second sound version of George M. Cohan's play based on the Earl Derr Biggers novel, Gene Raymond is the novelist come to a closed hotel. He has bet a friend he can write a novel in 24 hours, and has been offered the site, free from distraction, because he has the only key. As the title tells you, there are six others, and a variety of beautiful, wacky and threatening characters keep him amusedly distracted from his typewriter.

There are, fittingly, a total of seven big-screen version of this story, although a couple seem missing in action. I don't think this is the earliest source novel in the Old Dark House genre. I believe it arose as a burlesque of the Gothic Romance. However, it seems to have seniority in the movies. The supporting cast, includes Moroni Olsen, Margaret Callahan, Erin O'Brien-Moore, Eric Blore, Grant Mitchell, Walter Brennan, and Henry Travers as a woman-hating hermit and part-time ghost.

I had seen this movie several years ago and recall not liking it much but thought I would give it another try as I do like Gene Raymond and 1930s mysteries. Writer Bill Magee (Raymond) is on his way to the closed-for-the-season Baldpate Inn. Supposedly, there is only one key to the inn and Magee has it. Magee has to write a novel in 24 hours and requires the peace and quiet that a closed inn will give him (he should be so lucky). As is repeated often "there is only one key to the inn and I have it." The "I" is Magee and six other people. The movie drags at first but does pick up towards the end. Gene Raymond does a nice job and the there is a strong supporting cast (with the exception of the bland Margaret Callahan). My two favorites were Walther Brennan as the Station Agent (one could close one's eyes and still know it was Walter Brennan speaking as his voice was so distinctive) and Henry Travers as the Hermit. I thank the other reviewers for adding the fascinating information about the play and Cohan. I liked this movie better at the second watching but it sure isn't going make my "top 1,000 favorite movies" list.

Baldpate Inn is closed for the season when mystery writer Gene Raymond arrives on a cold, windy night. He's looking for a lonely place to write a novel but quickly discovers that the dark hotel is anything but deserted. Over the course of a madcap evening, he encounters a steady stream of crooks and eccentrics.

Gene Raymond is dashing and funny as the writer who seems delighted with each new character who sneaks into the inn. When a gangster threatens him with a gun and a snarl, Raymond just laughs - "I've written this sort of thing a hundred times," he says, to the gangster's confusion.

The series of visitors includes, among others, Henry Travers as the neighborhood crank who masquerades as a ghost to scare people off; Eric Blore as a mysterious gentleman who may be a professor looking for a quiet place to read exams; and Margaret Callahan as the beautiful young woman who won't tell Raymond why she's there but stops him when he tries to phone the police.

The plot involves a stolen treasure, some crooks who are after it, and an insurance claim. It's not always clear who's who, and hardly matters, really. There are a few surprises, the dialog is good, and there's a bit of romance thrown in as well. It's not highbrow but this one is a lot of fun.

"Seven Keys to Baldpate" (1935) is the fifth version of this story from Earl Derr Biggers (originator of the Charlie Chan character) and George M. Cohan. It's the second sound version and an additional sixth version was released in 1947. In other words, it's been done again and again and again....and definitely a few times too many. This is because the story might have seemed fresh and enjoyable back in the day, but by 1935 it was incredibly dated.

A writer has rented an old mansion in the middle of nowhere in order to write a novel in some peace and quiet. However, from almost the minute he arrives, one person after another interrupts his peace and quiet. Many of them seem to be criminals looking for some stolen loot in the house...and at the end of the picture, there's a long explanation as to who everyone REALLY is and, of course, there are lots of contrived surprises and a happy ending.

To say this is old fashioned is like saying the pyramids in Egypt are a tad old! The story originally was a book (by Derr Biggers) and the play by Cohan debuted in 1913. For its time, it might have been original and enjoyable....but times change. To have such a long exposition at the end was sloppy by 1935 and so much of the story came off as stagy and dull...and very talky. Again, for an old play, this might have been okay...but the film needed a massive re-write to make it work well on the big screen.

As for the acting, it's hard to say who is good and who isn't because so many are simply caricatures...not realistic people. Henry Travers, for example, is one-dimensional...always talking about how he hates women (which will likely offend a lot of folks). And the crooks are all crooks...nothing more. Gene Raymond in the lead is very enjoyable...but his taking everything in stride and enjoying all this did seem strange. Overall, a film that is a bit dull and too old fashioned to be taken seriously. It is better than the 1929 version...but this isn't saying much. I really would love to see the silent versions (if they exist) to see if they work any better.

Seven Keys to Baldpate (1935)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Author William Magee (Gene Raymond) shows up at the Baldpate Inn to write a novel in twenty-four hours. The crime writer has a bet to win but before long he finds himself in a real-life mystery as there are crooks, missing money and ghosts to worry about.

This George M. Cohan play was a huge hit on the stage and it led to screen versions in 1916, 1917, 1925 and the first sound version in 1929. RKO remade it yet another for this version, which goes for more laughs, although, to its credit, it does slightly play up the ghost factor, which was somewhat overlooked int he 1929 version.

If you're a fan of the play (or novel for that matter) then you should find this to be a slightly entertaining adaptation. The main focus are laughs as Raymond delivers a fine performance, which goes for the fast-talking and loud approach that so many films did during this era. You know, those films with the reporter who knows more than anyone else and is smarter than everyone else. On that level this is mildly charming but there's no question that a lot of jokes fall flat.

The film does offer up some mild entertainment thanks to the cast, which includes Henry Travers as a sexist hobo who is constantly putting down women and rooting for their deaths! I'm sure this sexist humor was quite funny in 1935 but I'm sure some will be shocked by it. It actually makes the film seem a bit more fresh today.