A remarkable movie about life and love,a wise poor cleaner drains underground who are in clash with God's existence and help a young prostitute that is about to goes to the jail saying to police officer that actually she is your wife and take her to own home and to cheat the police a while,along these few days together something grow up between them...a tale about true love and how it convert the people to another path,Simone Simon as Diane and James Stewart made a unmatched performance and a powerful set design to be a real Paris at this period of time,sweet and amazing story to all mankind!! Resume: First watch: 2017 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 9

Jimmy Stewart, as Chico, a sewer cleaner, periodically expresses the quote in my title, not in a bragging tone, and this is a rather remarkable film, certainly among my favorite Jimmy Stewart films, along with another sleeper: "Pot o' Gold". Yes, I know the latter film was his least favorite film role, but it's funnier than this film, and includes some nice informal music. I would characterize the present film as a comedic drama. The film is cute, but has serious aspects as well and, of course, the lead actors are cute. I think of it as a blue-collar version of "It Happened One Night". Both Simone and Stewart seem incredibly young and innocent for their ages. I would have guessed Simone to be a mid-teen, but was 27. Despite the low status of his job, Stewart's Chico is brimming with cheerful confidence, yet Stewart clearly exhibits his classic "aw shucks" persona. John Qualen, as his pal "Sewer Rat" is also charismatic. Gale Sondergaard, as Simone's bigger, probably older, sister, Nana, is characterized as mean to Simone, beating her with a belt when she treated a fresh customer badly. In the early going , Simone, as Diane, seems very depressed, slothful(or just tired?), suicidal(as Chico discovers) and unfriendly to the customers. Not sure why, but she clearly has very low esteem. Thus, she is the very antithesis of Chico. Hence, she can't believe that Chico offers to marry her, suspecting it is out of pity rather than love. Chico denies this.Chico's flat is on the 7th(top, I think) floor of the apartment building, hence the title of "7th Heaven". Of course, it's also derived from the belief of some that there are 7 tiers to heaven, the highest being the best. Chico remarks that those who work in the sewers by day like to be as close to the stars as possible at night. It is said that the people on that street lived between heaven and hell, there being a cathedral at the end. Despite these several references to heaven, Chico keeps repeating that he's a confirmed atheist. The last part of the film is an emotional roller-coaster. Chico is drafted into the army(This being 1914 Paris): the same day he hoped to marry Diana. We see him subjected to a gas attack, then later, he's on a stretcher. There's no obvious injury, but he doesn't open his eyes when he speaks. Come armistice day, Diane is told by several friends that Chico was killed in action a few weeks ago.(He is lucky to have survived that long!) But Diana claims she spoke with him each of those days(not by telephone). Of course, given the prejudice of movies to end on a happy note, we suspect that these reports are somehow wrong. And they are, but he has an important handicap now. Nonetheless, Diana accepts him back into her life. She makes a living as a laundress.

I can't describe how much of an effect this film had on me. I thought, before taking a chance, "ah...a minor Jimmy Stewart effort"...wow was I wrong. This film is Simone Simon's from start to finish.The film comes from a Romance play with hints of Socialism/Communism before the 1st World War taking place in Paris. Chico is a sewer cleaner/street sweeper and Diane is a poor girl who's sister treats her like property. Her sister beats her in the streets one day publicly and Chico saves her. He takes her in and there's just no possible way he can't love her by the end. She entrances him with her shyness and willingness to love and he's hooked...but...WWI steps in. From this point on you should see what true love is and should be. It's a magical little film.For a fleeting time there was a rage on about Simone Simon. In the late 30's to early 40's she was a wanted actress by the studios and I can see why. If she's not the most adorable actress in film history I don't know who was...('cept maybe Shirley Temple). Watching this you'll wanna take her home and take care of her the rest of her life. Every guy in the world has a dream he always keeps before he settles down and the dream is always this..."I want a girl who's beautiful inside and out and doesn't know it...one who's not pretentious".. Simone Simon fills the bill in this film....big time.If your not crying throughout this film you might want to use some eye drops to establish some semblance of tears cause you'll need em. A really wonderful film. Can't recommend it any higher.

This is a Love story among members of the Poor People of Paris, where Jimmy Stewart plays a working class sewer worker. Given his lot in life, Stewart's character expresses little faith in God, but after he befriends an abused prostitute (Diane), in her he finds the catalyst for an improved prospective on life. This symbolizes the potential power of positive relationships. This is a remake of the silent film of the same name from 10 years earlier that won three Academy awards, including one for Janet Gaynor for best actress.Interesting of note is the romantic music theme "Diane" which plays throughout the film. Although the tune was written in 1927 for the original silent movie version of this film, most today will remember it from the pop hit the Irish group 'The Bachelors' had in 1964. Singer Billy Daniels had actually previously made the tune popular in the 1940's, when he made it his #1 song to sing on his NY radio broadcasts. Jazz trumpeter Miles Davis was later perceptive enough to have recorded the tune with John Coltrane on his classic 1956 album "Steamin' with the Miles Davis Quintet." The lyrics are never heard in the film, but a review of the lyrics find them spot-on with the story: "I'm in Heaven when I see you smile; smile for me my Diane. And though everything is dark all the while; I can see you Diane. You have lighted the road leading home; Pray for me when you can. For no matter wherever I roam; Smile for me my Diane."