On this day in movie history - 7th Heaven (1927):

7th Heaven

a.k.a. Seventh Heaven,

directed by Frank Borzage,

written by Benjamin Glazer, Katherine Hilliker, H.H. Caldwell and Bernard Vorhaus,

based on the play Seventh Heaven by Austin Strong,

was released in the United States on May 6, 1927.

Music by R.H. Bassett, Erno Rapee, William P. Perry.

Cast:

Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell, Albert Gran, David Butler, Marie Mosquini, Gladys Brockwell, Emile Chautard, Ben Bard, George E. Stone, Henry Armetta, Lewis Borzage Sr., Dolly Borzage, Mary Borzage, Sue Borzage, Italia Frandi, Venezia Frandi, Frankie Genardi, Lois Hardwick, Jessie Haslett, Brandon Hurst, Lily Tietelbaum, Lillian West.

Recommended reading - Seventh Heaven: A Play in Three Acts, by Austin Strong (1922)

Seventh Heaven

A Play in Three Acts

By Austin Strong.

Filmed as 7th Heaven a.k.a. Seventh Heaven (1927), directed by Frank Borzage.

Published by Samuel French.

First published 1922.

ASIN: B000EEXEJQ

Paperback.

Description:

Seventh Heaven was written by Austin Strong and produced by John Golden. It ran at the Booth Theatre from October 30, 1922, to July 1924 for a total of 704 performances.

Chico works in the sewers of Paris. He dreams of becoming a street sweeper and therefore lights candles in the church.

One day Chico saves the young prostitute Diane, who is suffering from her unscrupulous sister Nana. The police want to arrest the prostitute, who is innocent in spite of her job, but Chico saves her by pretending to be her husband. Now the two have to maintain the facade and act as spouses. So Chico allows Diane to move into his attic with him. In fact, the two find each other. But when the war breaks out, Chico is called up. Diane works in an ammunition factory. Complications arise before the play comes to its dramatic conclusion.

Two films have been made based on the original Broadway play. A 1927 silent film of the same title was written by Benjamin Glazer and directed by Frank Borzage. A 1937 remake was produced as a sound film starring Simone Simon, James Stewart, Jean Hersholt, and Gregory Ratoff, with Henry King directing.

On this day in movie history - Seventh Heaven (1937):

Seventh Heaven

directed by Henry King,

written by Melville Baker,

based on the play Seventh Heaven by Austin Strong,

was released in the United States on March 25, 1937.

Music by David Buttolph and Cyril J. Mockridge.

Cast:

Simone Simon, James Stewart, Jean Hersholt, Gregory Ratoff, Gale Sondergaard, J. Edward Bromberg, John Qualen, Victor Kilian, Thomas Beck, Sig Rumann, Mady Christians, Rollo Lloyd, Rafaela Ottiano, Georges Renavent, Edward Keane, John Hamilton, Paul Porcasi, Leonid Snegoff, Adrienne D'Ambricourt, Carol Adams, John Bleifer, Eugene Borden, Marcelle Corday, Joe De Stefani, Constant Franke, Alphonse Martell, Gene Massett, John Picorri, Frank Puglia, Evelyn Selbie.