Seven Keys to Baldpate

Always enjoyed veteran actor Richard Dix and was very surprised to view this 1929 film, which tells the story about Dix leaving New York and going to a far away place in a very cold and lonely resort mansion. Dix accepted an offer of $5,000.00 if he could write a novel in this isolated place. He was given the only key and housekeepers were informed of his arrival and heated up the place for him. Dix sits at his typewriter and starts to work on his book which he has to complete in 24 hours in order to win the bet with his friend who owns the resort.

You will never be able to figure out just what happens and it is a real comedy as well as, a drama and a crime to be solved.

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.

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.

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!!!

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