Having made a bet that he can write a novel in twenty-four hours, William Magee (Gene Raymond) takes a train to an isolated inn called Baldpate. When he arrives at the station he sees a beautiful woman, Mary Norton (Margaret Callahan) alone crying. He leaves the station and makes his way to the inn through the snow.
When he arrives at the inn he is greeted by the caretakers of the inn Elijah Quimby (Harry Beresford) and his wife (Emma Dunn). The inn is closed for the winter and no one is there. The Quimbys set a fire in his room, give him what they say is the only key, and leave. Magee begins to set up his typewriter when he hears a noise.
When he investigates he finds a man he later finds out is named Bland (Ray Mayer). Bland makes a call and puts an envelope in the hotel safe. When Magee confronts him Bland pulls a gun. Magee manages to trick the crook by locking him into a room. He then tries to call the police but is interrupted when he hears a scream. Mary, the aforementioned crier, rushes into the hotel and tells Magee that she saw a man escape out of a window.
Soon after Mary arrives another man with a key enters the inn. He doesn’t give a name so Magee names him Professor Boulton (Eric Blore). The professor is happy with his new moniker and takes up residence in an empty room. Magee shows Mary to another room and goes back to his original room.
Magee finds a local hermit named Peters (Henry Travers) in his room. Before you know it another person with a key enters the hotel. She says she is Mrs. Hayden (Erin O’Brien-Moore). She asks Magee for his help. She says that her jewels were stolen and that there is $200,000 in the safe that belongs to her. Bland returns with Thomas Hayden (Grant Mitchell). Shortly after that Jim Cargan (Moroni Olsen) shows up letting himself and his henchmen in with another key.
After that what results is a mad grab for the money and a slow unwinding of everyone’s ulterior motives, basically proving the old adage of "No Honor Among Thieves".
“Seven Keys to Baldpate” was released in 1935 and was directed by William Hamilton and Edward Killy. This is the fifth movie version of Earl Derr Biggers novel and the second sound version. Originally taken from George M. Cohen’s stage play of the movie this version seems to have a few changes from Cohen’s silent movie version done in 1917 and is quite different from the 1929 version with Richard Dix. This version has an added character of Professor Harrison Boulton (Eric Blore). There are several other differences as well but the main plot is there, a bet, a novel and a parade of crooks and henchmen as well as a woman reporter.
The movie was OK. Having seen several different versions of the tale I did find this version a little jumbled. It was good all by itself but when you start to compare it with some of the other versions it just wasn’t my favorite. Still Henry Travers, as Adlebert Peters or “Hermi”, as Magee began to call him, was fun as the Hermit and Ghost of Baldpate. Gene Raymond, as William Magee, played his role tongue in cheek. Most of the other characters were stock characters which is fine. It’s certainly worth watching if you like Old Dark House mysteries.
The station master is played by Walter Brennan.
There also seems to be a little controversy as to how long the film actually is. I’ve seen 80 minutes, 68 minutes, and 90 minutes. I’ve only seen one that is 68 minutes long. I do not know if there are other versions of the film around or not.
**As noted in my 1917 review: “Seven Keys to Baldpate” has had many adaptations. It first started as a novel by Charlie Chan creator Earl Derr Biggers. Since then there were the following adaptations: “Seven Keys to Baldpate” (play), a 1913 play by George M. Cohan based on the novel. “Seven Keys to Baldpate” 1916, an Australian silent film. “Seven Keys to Baldpate” 1917, an American silent mystery/thriller film starring Cohan. “Seven Keys to Baldpate” 1925, a lost silent film. “Seven Keys to Baldpate” 1929, the first sound adaptation of Cohen’s play starring Richard Dix. “Seven Keys to Baldpate” 1935, a film adaptation based on Cohen’s play. “Seven Keys to Baldpate” 1947, another adaptation based on the play. Altogether there were somewhere around six feature films made, three silent and three talkies. There were also some TV movies made and radio plays as well. I believe there was also a version done in 1983 called “House of Long Shadows”. I think Britain may have done a version as well.