Talkie remake of the silent classic about the romance between a sewer worker and an abused woman in WWI-era Paris. The original is one of my favorite silent films, with beautiful performances by Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, and excellent direction by Frank Borzage. This one is good on its own but it's lacking the magic the first film had.Some are going to balk at Stewart playing a Frenchman but it was common for American actors back then not to attempt accents when playing foreign parts. It doesn't bother me. I never really get that criticism anyway. How is using an accent but speaking English instead of French any better or more authentic? Stewart does a fine job. Not one of his best performances but nothing to be embarrassed about. Simone Simon is one of the most beautiful women to ever appear on film. The camera is absolutely in love with her. She's also great in this role, bringing sensitivity and gentleness to the part like few other actresses of the time could have done. Jimmy and Simone, while individually appealing, don't have much romantic chemistry. Still, I defy anyone's heart not to melt when Simone gets the soft light treatment & begs Jimmy to say sweet things to her. The supporting cast is good. Gale Sondergaard, Jean Hersholt, Gregory Ratoff, J. Edward Bromberg, John Qualen, and Sig Ruman are among the top-notch actors in this.It's an entertaining movie with a lot to like about it. It probably helps if you haven't seen the original, which is just perfect. Still, I adore any movie with Simone Simon so I definitely recommend you check this out for her, if nothing else.

James Stewart's first film assignment for 1937 was a loan out from MGM to 20th Century Fox for a remake of their silent classic Seventh Heaven that starred Charles Farrell and Janet Gaynor and won for Gaynor the first Best Actress Oscar. Based on a play by Austin Strong that ran for 704 performances on Broadway during the 1922-24 season, the silent film also boasted the classic film theme Diane which was one of the biggest selling instrumental recordings during the Twenties.The Diane theme was retained for the sound version, the movie-going public would have not paid a nickel to see this film if it were otherwise. In keeping with the French location of the film, French import Simone Simon took Janet Gaynor's place and gave a luminescent performance. But why Darryl F. Zanuck couldn't get Charles Boyer for the male lead is beyond me. If I had been Zanuck I'd have waited until Boyer was available. He would have been perfect for the role. The very American James Stewart, try though he does, just doesn't cut it as the French sewer worker Chico. Even Zanuck's two best male contract players, Don Ameche and Tyrone Power, would also have been better than Stewart.The plot is essentially the same with sewer worker Chico rescuing Diane after she's been thrown out of a brothel managed by her sister Gale Sondergaard. Simone's heart just is not in the job of sex worker. Sondergaard gives one her patented bad girl performances, she really has some bite in her role. Also to be noted is Jean Hersholt in the role of sympathetic priest.The sound version of Seventh Heaven might have been a classic had a player who was French or one who was cast as foreign types been in the lead. Jimmy must have wondered what he was doing in this film.

Watching this movie, I can't understand why Simone Simon didn't become a great star. In this movie she's luminous on a level with Ingrid Bergman & Audrey Hepburn. Watch the scene where Jimmy Stewart really look at her for the first time as she turns her face to his with the melody of 'Diane' playing softly; movie magic!She made two other well-known movies: Cat People & Curse of the Cat People, then her career dwindled into nothingness. Perhaps if she'd had more charismatic co-stars like James Stewart to play off against. She should have been James Cagney's unrequited love in "The Roaring Twenties" instead of that insipid Priscilla Lane (or was it Rosemary Lane?)James Stewart is superb as Chico. He's awkward, gruff, reluctant to get involved with other people yet his core decency compels him prevent Diane's mistreatment and stop her suicide attempt. Stewart was probably that way in real life. I don't agree that he's miscast or that he should have a French accent. There are people like that in all countries. It's not about France or French people. Any urban setting like London, Rome, New York etc. would have done equally well.I found the character played by J. Edward Bromberg rather disturbing. He kept showing up to rain on Diane's parade with those strange eyes. I kept hoping Diane would give him a beating like she did to Gale Sonergaard.

I thought it was a very sweet movie. It made me believe in true romance, that there is such a thing as making love without...you know what I mean. It was uplifting because bravery and heaven were big in this movie. "Chico, Diane, Heaven" for example. That phrase kept me hanging on. Their bravery helped them achieve their heaven.