Seven Sweethearts

Seven Sweethearts, released in 1942, is a captivating movie to watch with an array of star-studded cast, charm, romance, and a dash of humor. As the title suggests, the movie revolves around seven sisters, who live with their eccentric father, an aged innkeeper from the Dutch-contoured town of Little Delft, Michigan.

The central plot of the movie starts when a reporter from New York City, Bill Seacroft, played by Van Heflin, checks in at their Tulip Inn during the city's annual Tulip festival. In an unexpected encounter, he stumbles upon the Van Maaster family, presided by the patriarch with seven unmarried daughters. Since that day, the otherwise peaceful inn becomes a place of amusement, chaos and with an unexpected turn of events, love blossoms there.

Henry Van Maaster runs the inn while remaining strictly observant of an old Dutch tradition which dictates that his daughters must marry in order of their age, starting from the eldest Regina (Marsha Hunt). The tradition puts his youngest daughter, Billie Van Maaster (Kathryn Grayson), the only musically gifted one amongst all, in a dilemma, as she falls in love with Bill, the reporter. Bill reciprocates her feelings, but to act on their romantic passions would mean disturbing the patriarch's uncontested rule and also the happiness of her six sisters. Adding to the complexity of the plot, there’s an additional twist of surprising romantic interests within the sisters themselves.

Kathryn Grayson, in her third movie role, plays the youngest daughter who dreams of going to New York to broaden her musical career. Her operatic voice is expertly showcased in "Tulip Time", among several compositions in this musical-romantic drama. A lot of her character’s charm also extends to her chemistry with Van Heflin where he perfectly complements her naive but determined character by playing the ambitious yet kind-hearted reporter.

While the narrative arcs primarily around Kathryn Grayson's journey, Marsha Hunt does not fail to impress. Playing the eldest sister, she aptly handles her role of a quiet and burdened character who patiently waits for her turn to be married off as per their father's wishes.

Each sister, played by a talented cast, has their own unique personality traits and aspirations which are beautifully built into the storyline. It's these singular characteristics of each character that add layers, depth and a distinct flavor to the movie. The audience can enjoy the varied (and sometimes competitive) interaction between the other daughters including Frances Rafferty as Martha, Cecilia Parker as Albertine, Peggy Moran as Kaatje and Dorothy Morris as Victoria. The movie’s charm and humor are notably enhanced by S.Z.Sakall who aptly portrays the amusing and old-fashioned, yet indeed lovable father.

Juxtaposed with the modern romance drama is a quaint portrayal of Little Delft, Michigan, an old-world town, teeming with tulips and largely inhabited by Dutch immigrant-descendants. The settings add a vibrant and unique backdrop to the story which is anything but common. Furthermore, the movie’s original score is unforgettably rich, colorful, and lively that adds a delightful musical treat to its narrative which remains one of the major highlights of the film.

Directed by Frank Borzage, the movie showcases ample moments of lighthearted comedy blended with romantic melodrama. Marred with cinematic clichés of its era, the movie largely leans on the formulaic, but its entertaining plot complete with song & dance numbers, romance, and comedy makes it a delightful watch. The well-detailed and convincing performances of the entire cast are a welcome addition to the story, making Seven Sweethearts much more than just a musical romance.

Getting an in-depth glimpse into this van Maaster family unravels not just a stringent tradition and romantic entanglements of these seven sisters, but also sensitively sketched out conflicts and unspoken emotions. The film’s magic lies in its ability to merge the simplicity of the old-world charm with engaging and complex love stories, making it a memorable visual and emotional journey for the viewers. Seven Sweethearts is definitely the kind of movie that leaves one nostalgic for the golden days of Hollywood’s musical romance dramas.