Seven Sweethearts (1942)

A New York reporter (Van Heflin) is assigned to cover a small Dutch town tulip festival in Michigan. He finds himself attracted to the youngest (Kathryn Grayson) of seven sisters but family tradition declares that the daughters must marry chronologically from oldest to youngest. But the calculating and pretentious oldest daughter (Marsha Hunt) has no intention of getting married anytime soon. Based on the play SEVEN SISTERS by Ferenc Herczeg and directed by Frank Borzage (HISTORY IS MADE AT NIGHT). This theme appears to have been popular in 1942 as YOU WERE NEVER LOVELIER had the same theme except there were only three sisters in that one. The Oscar winning Frank Borzage's MGM period was all over the place. Some decent stuff like THE MORTAL STORM and THREE COMRADES but mediocrities like FLIGHT COMMAND, THE VANISHING VIRGINIAN and this were more the norm. Heflin makes for an obnoxious male lead and though it's not a musical, Grayson shrieks her way through several songs. Thanks heavens for the always reliable S.Z. Sakall as the father and Marsha Hunt's bitchy sister who give the film a much needed shot in the arm. With Isobel Elsom, Cecilia Parker, Peggy Moran, Frances Rafferty, Carl Esmond and Louise Beavers.