Gary Cooper in a kilt and a lot of feelings in Seven Days Leave (1930)

If you have a soft spot for Gary Cooper before he became the 'strong silent' icon, this is probably for you. It is a 1930 talkie, so it is a bit creaky, but the emotion actually works if you are in the right mood. 🍿

Don't watch it if you cannot stand old movies where people talk like they are on a stage. It is very much a play adaptation and it shows in every room.

Cooper plays Kenneth Dowey. He is a Canadian soldier who gets wounded and ends up in London during the Great War.

There is this lady, Mrs. Dowey, played by Beryl Mercer. She has told everyone her 'son' is a hero, even though she does not actually have one.

The whole setup is kind of a lie. A YMCA worker basically tricks Kenneth into playing along to make the old woman happy.

Seeing Gary Cooper in a kilt is the highlight. He looks massive and slightly uncomfortable in it, which actually fits the character.

There is a scene where he fights some sailors because they are making fun of his outfit. The choreography is clumsy, but it feels like a real scrap.

The way Beryl Mercer looks at him is what sells the movie. She has these watery eyes that make you feel guilty for even thinking the plot is a bit silly.

It is not all sunshine and fake family dinners. Kenneth actually considers deserting at one point because he is scared.

The movie moves like it is stuck in mud sometimes. Some scenes in the kitchen go on for about three minutes too long.

You can hear the hiss of the early sound recording. It adds a weird ghostly vibe to the whole thing that I actually liked.

It reminds me a bit of the heavy atmosphere in A Christmas Carol. Just that cold, wintery British feeling where everyone is slightly miserable.

The ending is a total gut punch. It is not the happy reunion you might expect from a movie this old. 😭

The medals scene at the end is what people usually talk about. It is quiet and honestly a bit devastating to watch her sit there alone.

There is a weird bit where the Scottish accents get so thick I could barely understand what was happening. I think they were just winging it.

Cooper is just so tall compared to everyone else in this movie. He towers over the 'mother' character like a giant toddler.

It is a small movie. Not a masterpiece, but it has soul and does not try to be bigger than it is.

I forgot that John Farrow helped write this. You can see some of that sharper writing in the moments where Kenneth is being a jerk.

It is definitely better than some of the other stuff from that year, like The Show. At least this one makes you feel something in your chest.

Go in expecting a stage play and you will be fine. Just bring a tissue for the last ten minutes.