Seven Chances
Categories: [ TV/Cinema/Buster Keaton ]
Jimmie is in love with Mary but does not dare telling here. The brokerage firm where he's a junior partner is in financial difficulties. When a lawyer visits him to tell him he's going to inherit money, he and his partner Meekin first run away believing he is summoning them to a trial. They finally sit together and read the will, that would give Jimmie seven million dollars if he gets married before 7 PM on the day of his 27th birthday, which is today. Jimmie immediately asks Mary in marriage, but clumsy wording about his motivations causes her to immediately break up with him. She however changes her mind and sends a hired hand to deliver a note to Jimmie. Meanwhile, Meekin convinces Jimmie to propose to any of the seven women he knows at the country club restaurant, to save the firm. One by one, they refuse and mock him. Meekin then publishes Jimmie's predicament and potential inheritance in the evening newspaper, announcing that Jimmie would marry any woman who presents herself at the church at 5 PM. A crowd of veiled woman gathers at the church, but the priest refuses to perform any ceremony, announcing it was a bad prank. Escaping the angry women, Jimmie finally receives Mary's note. Followed by the mob of women, Jimmie runs first through the city then through the countryside (escaping an avalanche of rocks) to reach Mary's house where Meekin is also waiting. Alas, Meekin's clock show he's a few minutes too late. Mary still wants to marry him, money or not, but Jimmie refuses to let her share his impeding disgrace. As he leaves, he sees from the church's clock that Meekin's watch was fast. He and Mary wed just in time.