Seven Years Bad Luck

Trailer—Seven Years Bad Luck

source: Seven Years Bad Luck

Yes, that American movie shot by the French genius Max Linder is 100 years old, and sadly not very well known. As I already said in my reviews about his short movies, Max Linder was a pioneer in slapstick. After a nasty period for ML (WWI and personal depression), he tried a long feature in United States, and directed a masterpiece with lot of gags and some genius sequences : of course the mirror scene, and also the station scene when he finds a way to get in the train without ticket, that scene proves how much he thinks how to place intelligently his camera. Max Linder was handsome, funny, charming, precise. In all his movies I saw, they were all brilliantly shot and edited, really fast paced. Despite a DVD box, he still remains forgotten. But not with the kids in my family, they love Max.

French comedian Max Linder was looking for a big hit in the United States after his spotlight dimmed following World War One. The once-immensely popular filmmaker formed his own production company in the States, and in his first feature film where he wrote, directed and starred in, Linder released February 1921's "Seven Years Bad Luck." In retrospect, film critics have hailed the movie concerning a wealthy man about to be married who breaks a mirror, setting off a series of adverse events, as his best. The movie contains a series of farcical situations displayed by a superstitious Max who always has his guard up. His staff realizes his anxieties when they break his dressing glass. To cover up the accident, they have a lookalike on the staff mimic his actions on the other side of the mirror's frame while Max is preparing for the day. Although his famous 'human mirror' sketch is not cinema's first to show such a complex technique, Linder's is the longest of its kind. The Marx Brothers, Lucille Ball, among others have mimic his classic routine to great success. Another sequence analyzed for decades is Linder's escape from the police towards the end of the movie where he seeks refuge in a lions' cage. His friendliness with these large cats scare the police squad off. It's remarkable Linder not only shares the same space as the lions, he gets particularly friendly with one of them. Chaplin, a friend and an admirer of the French comic and met frequently in California developing gags for one another, has been noted adapting the lion cage scene in his 1928 "The Circus." "Seven Years Bad Luck" failed to capture the enthusiasm of American audiences. Linder's popularity, which peaked from 1912 to 1914, was interrupted by the Great War. He was a dispatch driver between Paris and the front lines early in the war after trying to enlist in the French Army. In a number of differing accounts, Linder either was gassed, shot through the lungs, or came down with pneumonia. In any case, he was dismissed from the front and ended up entertaining troops. It was during this period he suffered from depression. After a post-war Essanay Studio gig in the United States and a return home to France to open a movie theatre, both unsuccessful ventures, Linder decided to give it one more try to amuse American audiences. Thus was spawned 'Seven Years Bad Luck,' a film which later assessments proved very positive but failed to generate any contemporary interest in the States.

Seven Years Bad Luck (1921) : Brief Review - Max Linder's Classic Kaleidoscope Comedy that reflects multangulous characteristics. Max Linder known as the first international movie star is one of those early legend who helped setting up the comedy in silent era alongside lengends like Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd and Charlie Chaplin. He had his own ways to make comedies with different situations and of course different humour than those three. Seven Years Bad Luck is one of the finest example of classic comedy with real great writing. Mostly, comedy films rides on gags and number of laughing moments it provides but Linder was far more than kinder to take care of storyline too. This film proves that smart writing can bring those situations which will provide organic comedy without the help of physical and expressional acts. After breaking a mirror in his home, superstitious Max tries to avoid situations which could bring bad luck, but in doing so, causes himself the worst luck imaginable. How fantastic this Idea was for 1921, i mean it still feels so relatable even after 100 years. Full marks to Linder, the writer. That fake mirror image scene was ICONIC! Sorry, IS ICONIC! Now coming to th actor Linder.. he's on a Riot mode. That first scene when he falls down the door steps, then the mirror clone scene and then non-stop charade and multiple personalities one after another, everything is top grade. I may not remember this film for anyone else except Max Linder but let me be reasonable for Alta Allen for looking so pretty. In a nutshell, Seven Years Bad Luck is a Good Luck comedy for cinema world in early 20s. That's exactly when Chaplin, Keaton and Lloys delivered theirs early comedy classics and Linder's laugh riot is nowhere less than theirs. Watch it to know how an organic comedy should be written, performed and presented. RATING - 8/10* By - #samthebestest.

After drinking too much at his bachelor party, wealthy Max Linder stumbles home, disoriented. He confuses his window and closet. Servants accidentally break Max' full-length mirror and conceal the fact by having a Max look-alike (Harry Mann) pose as his reflection. The ruse works through his morning shave, but Max realizes the glass is missing and throws a shoe at the mirror. Unfortunately, the new glass arrived and repairs were made. Max broke the mended mirror and fears "Seven Years Bad Luck" will follow... The "mirror scene" in the opening minutes wasn't the first or last time this "bit" was done; however, it was the best. There are other great moments in this feature. The main story involves "false friend" F.B. Crayne trying to steal pretty Alta Allen (as Betty) from luckless Max. You'll lose track of the plot while marveling at how Max is able to sneak on a train and evade pursuers. Note how his disguise as a Black porter avoids the stereotypical qualities common for the time; there are no exaggerated lips or eyes, and Max' stance is explained by his over-sized pants. A female passenger is unable to accept the "masked" Max... There are those who like Max with the lions, but the scenes do look forced. Much better is the finale. When Max in thrown in jail, he meets an inmate (Cap Anderson) who demands, "Scratch my back!" Max initially declines, but taking care of the other man's "itch" becomes pleasurable when they dose off and Max dreams his new companion is female. When they wake up, Max wants "Mary" again, but his new partner has a hard time giving up the relationship. In the end, switching partners appears to solve the problem. ********* Seven Years Bad Luck (2/6/21) Max Linder ~ Max Linder, Alta Allen, F.B. Crayne, Harry Mann, Cap Anderson

Seven Years Bad Luck (1921) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Max Linder wrote, directed and stars in this comedy about a superstitious man who breaks a mirror and does anything he can to avoid falling into bad luck. Of course, the more he tries staying away from the bad luck the more he falls victim. There's no question Linder had an influence on Chaplin and various others but this film here doesn't show too much greatness. The film starts off with some incredibly funny moments but it slowly gets rather tiresome even with its short running time of just over a hour. The opening gags with the cat and one dealing with a servant trying to fool Linder into thinking the mirror isn't broke. There's an outrageous blackface joke, which is one of the most offensive I've seen and things went downhill from here. Things went down for Linder as well as he committed suicide in a pact with his wife four years later.

I never heard of Max Linder before--a jaunty little Frenchman with a mustache, cane and top hat, a wealthy man with servants, who reacts when his full-length mirror is inadvertently broken by his hired help. He then goes to extremes to avoid seven years of bad luck. While the rest of the plot is thin on inspiration, it does prove that SEVEN YEARS BAD LUCK is a watchable little silent film with a frisky score by Ralph Israel that perfectly fits the on screen action. Numerous gags involve plenty of acrobatic stunts aboard a train, an escape from the cops by making himself comfortable inside a lion's den, pretending to be the stationmaster at a train station and wooing the agent's daughter, and a footchase aboard the running train to escape being a stowaway without a ticket. Not a bad comedy for 1921, it's one of a hundred Max Linder films that have survived, out of some 400. Gassed during World War I, Max's health problems interfered with his budding career. He committed suicide in 1925 in a pact with his wife when the public response to his films was only lukewarm. TCM showed a decent print of this one, along with a couple of other much less impressive shorts.

Max Linder does ... well, anyway, he was six years older than Chaplin, and Chaplin did give him credit for influencing some of Chaplin's work, which is evident in some scenes in this movie. But Charlie was making movies in Hollywood as early as 1914, Keaton as early as 1917, and "Seven Years" was made in 1921. Granted, Linder made other movies as early as 1905, the year America saw "The Great Train Robbery." This movie, "Seven Years Bad Luck," is a joy. Even after nearly a hundred years, it is still funny, still clever, still creative. It covers a lot of ground, from a servant-staffed mansion to a railroad station, with lots of action, and, more important, lots of laughs. The mirror scene is, literally, classic -- incredibly well done, in fact so well done it was copied by the Marx Brothers and by Lucille Ball in a scene with Harpo on her "I Love Lucy" series. That scene alone makes this movie worth watching. Let me add this: This movie is fun, but there is an element of historicity that also makes this worth watching. Linder was a model for other film comics; he was a creator; he was inventive. That he is not better known speaks badly of motion pictures and their heritage.

Real comedy never grows old, and even 100 years later, 'Seven years bad luck' very well illustrates that Max Linder was a genius. Situational humor, sight gags, exaggerated characters and performances, a touch of physical comedy, and witty dialogue imparted through intertitles all help to build a funny, solidly enjoyable romp that never drags or wears out its welcome. The early mirror scene, revisited in later years in many other films and TV series, is essential and classic, and only one of the plentiful laughs to be had. Save for those who just can't abide silent films (I was one such person, once upon a time), this is a must-see for everybody. Linder possessed a brilliant mind and keen eye as writer, director, producer, and actor alike. In an era when technological limitations in some ways restricted the construction of a feature, and the slow march of time constrained films' lasting fidelity, 'Seven years bad luck' feels like a title that was ably and precisely realized just as it was conjured in the first place, and perfectly preserved thereafter. With that, we're treated to exceptional craft in every regard: rich, robust scene writing, and a fun, engaging narrative as the course of events spirals out of control. Wonderfully vibrant, spirited performances from all involved - full of terrific physicality, and slyly rounded out with range and nuance. Fetching costume design, set decoration, and filming locations. Some sharp editing, expert orchestration of each and every moment. And swell guidance of a delightful cast. Truly, in every way, this is such a blast! A couple passing scenes are borderline indelicate in either how they present or in how one must assume they came to be filmed, or overly silly, and the narrative climax is maybe a hair too neat in its resolution. Yet at any given time that our investment may marginally flag, in the very next instant we're greeted with still more outstanding, lively humor in this tremendous farce. From start to finish the movie works hard to ensure audiences have a good time, and everyone that had a hand in the production is to be commended for their contributions to such a strong, enduring comedy. Any possible subjective shortcomings are handily outweighed by the unceasing, ridiculous entertainment: 'Seven years bad luck' is worth well more than the hour it takes to watch, and anywhere that you can find it, this earns my enthusiastic recommendation.