Seven Chances

Jimmie Shannon is the junior partner at Meekin and Shannon, living under the shadow of impending ruin unless he marries by 7:00 p.m. on his 27th birthday to inherit seven million dollars. He is ambitious and quick-witted, but bumbling under pressure, which fuels the film's physical comedy. His loyalty to Mary clashes with the crumbling business and his partner's plans, driving him to improvise.

Mary is Jimmie's sweetheart who initially agrees to marry him but breaks it off when she learns of the necessity to wed that day. She shows resolve and moral conviction, wavering between love and social risk. Ultimately she chooses to marry Jimmie for love, even if money is involved, reflecting the film's romantic core.

Meekin is the shrewd, unscrupulous partner who only cares about saving the business and the inheritance by pressuring Jimmie to marry as many times as possible. He uses plans and public notices to manipulate outcomes, treating marriage as a strategic move rather than a union of hearts. His schemes create the crisis that drives the comedy.

The lawyer informs Jimmie of the will's terms and helps reveal the stakes, acting as the catalyst who exposes the deadline. He presents the legal framing of the inheritance and the consequences of failure. His role anchors the plot in the reality of the contract and the countdown.

Miss Smith is the Country Club Receptionist who becomes part of the social tapestry Jimmie navigates. She embodies the era's petite social interactions and the daily humor around club life. Her presence adds to the series of comedic rejections that define the seven-chance premise.

The clergyman appears at the key wedding moment, provoking the reveal that it might be a joke and then witnessing the ensuing panic. He embodies the formal rituals that intersect with farce and social expectation in the plot. His presence catalyzes the chaotic chase toward the final ceremony.

The Hired Hand is among the colorful cast of would-be brides, contributing to the farcical crowd that descends on the church and the subsequent chaos. He represents the ordinary working characters drawn into the spectacle of the deadline. His interactions add to the film’s layered physical humor.