Seven Keys to Baldpate

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!!!

The first sound adaption of George M. Cohan's only non-musical work is this production from RKO that stars Richard Dix. There would be two more sound versions of this popular work.

Dix is a popular author of hack novels and he bets a friend $5000.00 that he can turn out a work in 24 hours with just some peace and quiet. He's assured that he's given the only key to the friend's summer resort in the dead of winter.

Of course t seems like every one and his brother has a key as fanciful tales are told as to why they are there. The place for peace and quiet turns into a regular convention.

This century old chestnut still has a lot of laughs courtesy of Mr. Cohan and original author Earl Derr Biggers. Dix has some comic moments and the well typed cast fully supports him.

This and the two subsequent sound versions hold up well.

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.

THE STORY & (Pseudo)GENRE -- Fakery in the old inn with supposed ghost. Richard Dix stars.

THE VERDICT -- Jaunty and spicy. In my opinion, this is the best film version of this title. Dix pours it on.

FREE ONLINE -- Yes, foreign websites at the correct 72 minutes.

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