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What's the deal about this, if any?

You seem to have everyone stymied.
Care to elaborate on your question, David?

Gary J.

Sure,

Glenn Mitchell says Blystone directed Seven Chances in The Laurel & Hardy Encyclopedia.

I was wondering if I missed something.

DBP

Blystone gets screen credit for Our Hospitality, but not for Seven Chances. Anyone seen Keaton Studio records to confirm who directed what?

Unfortunately, John Blystone (like too many prolific silent comedy veterans) died young, in 1938; he helmed many Alice Howell comedies and no doubt had some great stories to tell.

Paul F Etcheverry wrote:Blystone gets screen credit for Our Hospitality, but not for Seven Chances. Anyone seen Keaton Studio records to confirm who directed what?

Unfortunately, John Blystone (like too many prolific silent comedy veterans) died young, in 1938; he helmed many Alice Howell comedies and no doubt had some great stories to tell.

Yes PFE,

I am aware of who's credited with directing what in the Keaton silent canon.

However, that really doesn't answer the question -- especially when it's a Keaton silent.

Blystone, BTW, died while finishing up Block Heads.

DBP

I've never heard Blystone's name associated with SEVEN CHANCES in any other source.

The only other director I have ever heard associated with SEVEN CHANCES at all is John McDermott. The LA Times (Sept. 9, 1924) reports that McDermott was "set to direct Buster Keaton's newest comedy, 'Seven Chances'" (p. A11). Marion Meade, whose book on Keaton, Cut to the Chase is notoriously unreliable in places, mentions that McDermott was promised he could direct the film when Schenck bought the rights to the play from him (153). However, she also refers to McDermott as the "codirector", noting that when the shooting of the film began, Keaton's "first order of business was to get rid of McDermott", going out of his way to make McDermott feel he was not needed on the set, and finally driving him to quit the picture when he felt that money was being wasted (154).

I fear Matt is taking his life in his hands quoting Marion Meade to David.

Gary J.

Gary Johnson wrote:I fear Matt is taking his life in his hands quoting Marion Meade to David.

Gary J.

Nah... I think everybody knows the score on Marion Meade by now.

DBP