The Seven Minutes (1971)

The Seven Minutes Poster

The Seven Minutes is a steamy book written in 1969. To help with an upcoming election, a bookstore clerk is indicted for selling obscene material and most of the film centers about the trial. The defense attorneys need to find the mystery of the original publication of the book.

Intro
"The Seven Minutes" is a 1971 drama produced by Russ Meyer and 20th Century Fox. The film is based on the book of the same name by Irving Wallace, telling a dramatic courtroom trial about a questionable unique accused of inciting a sexual crime.

Plot
The movie's plot revolves around a fiction book entitled 'The Seven Minutes.' The questionable book, renowned for its explicit descriptions of sex, becomes the focal point when a teen dedicates a brutal sexual assault, declaring the novel motivated him.

As an outcome, the book is arraigned on obscenity charges by an ambitious and manipulative district attorney. The case is to identify whether the book is too obscene for the public or is an affordable expression of poetic license.

Characters
Prominent characters in the movie include Mike Barrett, played by Wayne Maunder, a defense lawyer, who represents a book shop owner charged with offering the novel. Barrett, regardless of efforts to smear his credibility, fights vigorously to exonerate his client and the book from the profanity charges.

Yvonne Griffin, played by Marianne McAndrew, an author suspected of composing 'The Seven Minutes,' plays an important role in the trial's outcome. Her actions throughout the trial trigger numerous twists in the plot, keeping the viewer engaged.

Social Themes
"The Seven Minutes" checks out essential societal themes in the backdrop of its scandal-ridden plot and gripping courtroom drama. The movie delves into the intricacies of the flexibility of speech and its restrictions, using no answers however highlighting the stress in between entities wanting to protect public morality versus maintaining creative liberties.

Additionally, it highlights the abuse of political and legal power, the adjustment of popular opinion, and the hypocrisy of social ethical requirements.

Crucial Reception
Upon release, "The Seven Minutes" got combined reviews. Critics admired the film's handling of sensitive and questionable subjects. They applauded its explicit depiction of the hardships of an obscenity trial and its expedition of liberty of speech and artistic expression.

Yet, others were dissatisfied at Meyer's departure from his normal style and opined that the movie disappointed its source product's nuanced representation of the trial and the underlying themes.

Conclusion
"The Seven Minutes" remains an appropriate piece of cinematic quality, exploring the complexities of social standards, legal structures, and political power. It serves as a powerful reminder of the continuous fight for artistic freedom and the complexities of profanity laws. Its depiction of a courtroom drama versus the background of a sex criminal activity and a profanity trial offers an exhilarating viewing experience, with multi-dimensional characters and a thought-provoking storyline.

Top Cast

  • Wayne Maunder (small)
    Wayne Maunder
    Mike Barrett
  • Marianne McAndrew (small)
    Marianne McAndrew
    Maggie Russell
  • Philip Carey (small)
    Philip Carey
    Elmo Duncan
  • Jay C. Flippen (small)
    Jay C. Flippen
    Luther Yerkes
  • Edy Williams (small)
    Edy Williams
    Faye Osborn
  • Yvonne De Carlo (small)
    Yvonne De Carlo
    Constance Cumberland
  • John Carradine (small)
    John Carradine
    Sean O'Flanagan
  • Harold J. Stone (small)
    Harold J. Stone
    Judge Upshaw
  • Tom Selleck (small)
    Tom Selleck
    Phil Sanford
  • Stanley Adams (small)
    Stanley Adams
    Irwin Blair
  • Yvonne D'Angers
    Sheri Moore