About

This screening of Seven Sinners 1925 at the Australian Cinematheque will mark the world premiere of the restoration of the long-lost debut feature film of Academy Award winning director Lewis Milestone. The film has been carefully restored by the Academy Film Archive, who have put together a presentation that lovingly weaves together the largely complete print of the film, production stills of moments from the few missing scenes, along with valuable explanatory intertitles to ensure narrative cohesion. The result is a smooth flowing restoration of an uproariously funny crime-caper presented for the first time in decades.

Seven Sinners is set within a grand Long Island mansion. Two sets of burglars have broken in to steal a collection of valuable jewels from the owners' safe. When unexpected guests arrive to occupy the house while the owners are away, the crooks must pretend to be the new house staff while they figure out how to get away with the loot undetected. Little do they know that the "guests" are themselves criminals, hoping to steal away with the big score - and they won't be the last to join them.

Milestone (in his directorial debut, after working as Assistant Director on a series of military shorts) brings a talented comic touch to proceedings, with the film barrelling through deceit upon deceit while every character tries to get out on top. He would go on to win two Academy Awards: for his 1927 film Two Arabian Knights and then later for the classic All Quiet on the Western Front 1930. The film further flourishes on the chemistry between its two leads: Clive Brook and Marie Prevost, who bring a wonderful sense of liveliness to their roles.

The film itself is largely complete and well preserved and is seemingly missing only a few minutes from its original runtime. However, there is a roughly 12 minute section within Seven Sinners where there has been fairly significant damage to the print. The team at the Academy Film Archive have preserved this section and retained it within the film. Although there is significant on-screen emulsion (which distorts the frame), there is still plenty of information and action within these moments. It is a brief interlude that showcases the potential dangers of unpreserved film stock, while assisting in keeping the film's cohesion together.

Seven Sinners is a wonderfully entertaining silent crime-comedy that deserves the tremendous attention-to-detail that it has been given by the Academy Film Archive in their restoration.

Ages 12+