7th Heaven (1927 film)

7th Heaven
7th Heaven
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Frank Borzage
Written by	Harry H. Caldwell (titles); Katharine Hilliker (titles); Bernard Vorhaus (uncredited);
Screenplay by	Benjamin Glazer
Based on	Seventh Heaven; by Austin Strong
Produced by	William Fox
Starring	Janet Gaynor; Charles Farrell; Ben Bard;
Cinematography	Ernest Palmer; Joseph A. Valentine;
Edited by	Barney Wolf
Distributed by	Fox Film Corporation
Release dates	May 6, 1927 (Los Angeles); May 25, 1927 (New York City); September 10, 1927 (New York City (re-release));
Running time	110 min
Country	United States
Language	Sound (Synchronized) (English intertitles)
Budget	$1.3 million
Box office	$2.5 million

7th Heaven (also known as Seventh Heaven) is a 1927 American synchronized sound romantic drama directed by Frank Borzage, and starring Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell. While the film has no audible dialog, it was released with a synchronized musical score with sound effects using the Movietone sound system. The film is based upon the 1922 play Seventh Heaven, by Austin Strong and was adapted for the screen by Benjamin Glazer.^[3] 7th Heaven was initially released as a standard silent film in May 1927. On September 10, 1927, Fox Film Corporation re-released the film with a synchronized Movietone soundtrack with a musical score and sound effects.

Upon its release, 7th Heaven was a critical and commercial success and helped to establish Fox Film Corporation as a major studio. It was one of the first of three films to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture (then called "Outstanding Picture") at the 1st Academy Awards held on May 16, 1929. Janet Gaynor won the first Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film (she also won for her performances in 1927's Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans and 1928's Street Angel).^[4] Director Frank Borzage also won the first Academy Award for Best Director while screenwriter Benjamin Glazer won the first Academy Award for Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay).

In 1995, 7th Heaven was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".^[5]^[6] The film entered the public domain in the United States in 2023.

^ (Eyman 1997, p. 114)
^ "Biggest Money Pictures". Variety. June 21, 1932. p. 1.
^ (Goble 1999, p. 447)
^ Bird, David (September 15, 1984). "Janet Gaynor Is Dead At 77; First 'Best Actress' Winner". nytimes.com. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
^ American Society of Cinematographers (February 1996). "Films Chosen for Library of Congress National Film Registry". American Cinematographer. 77 (22). ASC Holding Corp.: 114. ISSN 0002-7928.
^ "Complete National Film Registry Listing". Library of Congress. Retrieved May 15, 2020.

[eyman114-1] (Eyman 1997, p. 114)

[Variety-2] "Biggest Money Pictures". Variety. June 21, 1932. p. 1.

[3] (Goble 1999, p. 447)

[nyt-4] Bird, David (September 15, 1984). "Janet Gaynor Is Dead At 77; First 'Best Actress' Winner". nytimes.com. Retrieved March 30, 2015.

[5] American Society of Cinematographers (February 1996). "Films Chosen for Library of Congress National Film Registry". American Cinematographer. 77 (22). ASC Holding Corp.: 114. ISSN 0002-7928.

[6] "Complete National Film Registry Listing". Library of Congress. Retrieved May 15, 2020.

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