} Crítica Retrô: Sete Anos de Azar (1921) / Seven Years Bad Luck (1921)

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Monday, October 18, 2021

Sete Anos de Azar (1921) / Seven Years Bad Luck (1921)

 

Você é supersticioso? Devo confessar que sou um pouquinho supersticiosa - não gosto muito do número sete, por exemplo. Pessoas muito supersticiosas são uma inspiração para o cinema desde a era muda: o IMDb lista mais de mil filmes com a palavra-chave “superstição”. Alguns destes filmes são comédias sobre o quão absurdo é ser supersticioso, que é o caso de “Sete Anos de Azar”, de Max Linder.

Are you superstitious? I must confess that I’m a bit superstitious - I don’t really like the number seven, for instance. Very superstitious people have been a big inspiration for films since the silent era: IMDb lists over one thousand movies with the keyword “superstition”. Some of these films are comedies about the absurdity of being too superstitious, which is the case of Max Linder’s “Seven Years Bad Luck”.

Praticamente todo mundo conhece a superstição que diz respeito a quebrar um espelho e ter sete anos de azar. No filme, Max (Max Linder) é um homem que está prestes a se casar. Sua criada e mordomo quebram seu espelho e o substituem, mas Max quebra o espelho e fica apreensivo com o mau presságio.

Practically everybody knows the superstition about breaking a mirror and this bringing you seven years bad luck. In the movie, Max (Max Linder) is a man about to be married. His maid and butler break his mirror and replace it, but Max breaks it again and gets nervous because of the bad omen.

De início, a superstição mostra-se verdadeira, pois Max briga com sua noiva Betty (Alta Allen) e vai para o campo, criando uma oportunidade para que seu melhor amigo (F.B. Crayne) roube sua garota. Max é roubado antes de pegar um trem, e isso leva a várias estripulias numa estação de trem, no zoológico e na cadeia - e há até uma sequência de sonho!

Initially the superstition proves to be true, as Max has a fight with his fiancée Betty (Alta Allen) and goes to the countryside, creating an opportunity for his best friend (F.B. Crayne) to steal his fiancée. Max is robbed before he gets in the train, and this leads to various shenanigans in a train station, a zoo and a jail - and there is even a dream sequence!

Design de cartelas de títulos era uma arte, e isto pode ser visto em “Sete Anos de Azar”: sempre que um personagem fala ao telefone, a cartela de texto tem as palavras emolduradas por linhas telefônicas. É algo simples mas muito eficiente que adiciona charme ao filme.

Title card design was an art, and this can be seen in “Seven Years Bad Luck”: whenever a character was talking on the phone, the title card has the words framed by drawings of phone lines. It’s something simple yet very effective that adds charm to the movie.

No comecinho do filme há a famosa cena cômica do espelho, mais tarde feita pelos irmãos Marx e também por Lucille Ball. A origem da cena dos espelhos é a peça “My Friend from India”, de 1894. Max Linder tentou filmar esta cena já em 1911, mas a dupla alemã dos irmãos Schwartz ameaçou processá-lo por copiar o show deles. Eles de fato processaram Max quando “Sete Anos de Azar” estreou, mas o caso nunca foi julgado.

In the very beginning of the movie there is the famous mirror comedy routine, done later by the Marx brothers and also by Lucille Ball. The origin of the mirror routine is the play “My Friend from India”, first staged in 1894. Max Linder tried to add this routine to a film as early as 1911, but the German duo Schwartz Brothers threatened to sue him for copying their act. They did sue Max when “Seven Years Bad Luck” was released, but the case never made it to the court.

Max Linder pode ser considerado o primeiro astro internacional do cinema. Ele fez seu primeiro filme em 1905 e em 1912 era o atos mais bem pago do mundo, conhecido por todo o globo graças ao seu personagem Max, um homem elegante. Havia um star system rudimentar construído ao redor de Max já em 1909. Desde 1908 ele também dirigia e escrevia alguns de seus filmes. Linder teve duas fases da carreira nos EUA: da primeira vez ele fez três curtas-metragens para a Essanay entre 1916 e 1917, e nesta segunda vez ele fez três longas-metragens que foram mal recebidos na época, mas que hoje são considerados clássicos da comédia.

Max Linder can be considered the first international movie star. He made his first movie in 1905 and in 1912 was the highest paid actor in the world, recognized all over the globe thanks to his character Max, a dapper man. There was a rudimentary star system built around him as early as 1909. Since 1908 he also directed and wrote some of his movies. Linder had two phases of filmmaking in the US: the first time he did three shorts for Essanay between 1916 and 1917, and in this second time he made three features that were poorly received at the time, but are now considered comedy classics.

Outra comédia muda sobre superstição é “O Supersticioso” (1919), estrelando Douglas Fairbanks como Daniel Boone Brown, um homem muito supersticioso que se torna vítima de um psiquiatra do mal. Este filme é famoso por outra cena curiosa: a do quarto que gira, que seria repetida por Fred Astaire em 1951.

Another silent comedy about superstition is “When the Clouds Roll By” (1919), starring Douglas Fairbanks as Daniel Boone Brown, a very superstitious man who becomes the victim of an evil psychiatrist. This film is famous for another visual routine: the one of a revolving bedroom, that would be done again by Fred Astaire in 1951.

Como dito anteriormente, “Sete Anos de Azar” teve um mau desempenho nas bilheterias mas foi elogiado pelos críticos na época da estreia. Com apenas 62 minutos, tem muitos momentos cômicos, dignos de gargalhada. É também uma introdução perfeita ao gênio Max Linder, que merece mais reconhecimento - afinal, o primeiro astro internacional do cinema não pode simplesmente desaparecer. Seria muito azar se Max fosse esquecido.

As stated, “Seven Years Bad Luck” did poorly at the box-office but was praised by critics when it was released. At only 62 minutes, it packs plenty of comic, laugh-out-loud moments. It’s also a perfect introduction to the genius of Max Linder, who deserves to be more recognized - after all, the first international movie star can’t simply disappear. It’d be the worst luck if Max was forgotten.

This is my contribution to the Laughter is the Best Medicine blogathon, hosted by the Classic Movie Blog Association.

10 comments:

Caftan Woman said...

I haven't seen much of Max, but what I have seen I have enjoyed. Thanks for the introduction to Seven Years Bad Luck - it sounds like a very funny movie.

FlickChick said...

Oh yes, it would be a tragedy if Max Linder were forgotten. I am on the look out for this one, because this lovely gentleman has a special place in my heart. He's a keeper, for sure. Delightful post, my friend.

Marianne said...

I first learned of Max Linder when I took TCM's online class called "Salute to Slapstick." I'm so glad that you are bringing him some recognition! Such a wonderful comedian.

Citizen Screen said...

I am criminally Max-deficient. Great choice and an important recommendation for many of us, sure. By your discussion this sounds like a must-see.

Aurora

The Lady Eve said...

Fascinating stuff, Le. I have been only marginally aware of Max but you've piqued my interest to explore his films.

Karen said...

I've never heard of this one, Le! I loved your write-up!

carygrantwonteatyou.com said...

I really enjoyed this post. I haven't seen it, but I find superstition very interesting, and love when films manage to be short! I'll have to add this to my list.

Jocelyn said...

I so appreciate the focus on lesser-known films or stars that need to be rediscovered. Max Linder is one of those—when I get around to checking out his filmography I’ll return to your post and choose this one as one of the first ones I watch.

Silver Screenings said...

I haven't seen a lot of Max's films, and this is one I can't wait to see – for the comedy, but also for the revolving walls.

Max was made for the screen, wasn't he?

Virginie Pronovost said...

Another great review Le! I believe I saw this film because the title and plot really rings a bell but honestly I'm not 100% sure. Will have to revisit anyway!

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