Editing 7th Heaven (1927 film) (section)

==Reception==
''7th Heaven'' initially premiered at the [[Carthay Circle Theatre]] in Los Angeles replacing another Fox melodrama ''[[What Price Glory? (1926 film)|What Price Glory?]]'', which had been playing since November 1926.<ref name="eyman114" /> A second opening was held at the [[Sam H. Harris (producer)|Sam H. Harris Theatre]] in New York City on May 25.<ref name="holston">{{harv|Holston|2012|p=56}}</ref> Both openings earned a total of $14,500.<ref>{{harv|Crafton|1999|p=528}}</ref> A series of Movietone shorts featuring [[Ben Bernie|Ben Bernie and his Orchestra]], [[Gertrude Lawrence]], [[Raquel Meller]], and [[Charles "Chic" Sale]] preceded the film.<ref name="eyman113">{{harv|Eyman|1997|p=113}}</ref>

Upon its release, ''7th Heaven'' was a critical and commercial success.<ref>{{harv|Soloman|2011|p=114}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' critic stated that the film "grips your interest from the very beginning and even though the end is melodramatic you are glad that the sympathetic but self-satisfied Chico is brought back to his heart-broken Diane." The critic also praised Borzage's direction, stating that the director "has given it all that he could put through the medium of the camera."<ref name="holston" /> The film went on to play for 19 weeks in New York City and for 22 weeks in Los Angeles.<ref name="eyman113" />

Due to the film's success and the success of other Fox films featuring sound elements (''Sunrise'', ''What Price Glory?''), the studio re-released ''7th Heaven'' with a synchronized Movietone soundtrack, including a musical score arranged by Ernö Rapée and sound effects. The re-release version premiered at New York City's [[Roxy Theatre (New York City)|Roxy Theatre]] on September 10, 1927.<ref name="Melnick 2014 293" />

By 1932, ''7th Heaven'' had become the 13th-highest-grossing American silent, earning more than $2.5 million at the box office.<ref name="Variety" />