Film Review
The Freshman is one of the
most enduring of Harold Lloyd's silent comedies, a masterpiece of comic
mayhem that continues to resonate down the ages, most probably because
what it depicts - the unbridled optimism of youth, the triumph of the
under-dog, learning to be who you are and not what you want to be - are
universal themes that will always strike a chord. Whilst the film
is considerably more plot- and character-driven than the vast majority
of Lloyd's films, it is packed with visual gags that never fail to get
a laugh, even gags that are repeated ad nauseum. Lloyd was not
only a giant of silent comedy, he was also an accomplished actor, and
The Freshman contains one of his
finest screen performances, beautifully supported by his co-stars
Jobyna Ralston and Brooks Benedict, admirably well cast as the hero's
sweetheart and his nasty tormentor.
The film has two notable set pieces. The first is a varsity ball
which Lloyd's famous 'glass character' turns up to in a suit that
hasn't yet been completed by his tailor. As the eponymous
freshman attempts to socialise and dance with his peers, his jacket and
trousers predictably start to come apart at the seams, and his tailor
is seen trailing behind him trying in vain to rectify the situation
with a needle and thread. Unfortunately, the tailor suffers from
recurring dizzy spells... The second set piece is one of the
grandest (and funniest) of any Harold Lloyd comedy - a masterfully
staged comedy football match in which Lloyd's eternally optimistic
alter-ego suffers untold humiliations before he ultimately manages to
save the day and become the hero he so badly wants to be. By the
end, you just cannot help cheering Lloyd on, and the final shot in
which Lloyd, basking in the warm glow of success, gets both his girl
and a cold shower, is the most perfect ending to any of his
films. Without a doubt,
The
Freshman ranks along side Lloyd's best work -
Safety
Last! (1923)
, Grandma's Boy (1922),
Why Worry? (1923) and
Never Weaken (1921) - and deserves
a place on anyone's syllabus.
© James Travers 2013
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Film Synopsis
Harold Lamb can hardly wait to begin his first term as a student at
Tate University, one of America's leading educational establishments
which prides itself on being a football stadium with a college
attached. Having seen a film about student life, Harold sees
himself as a college hero and sets out to make himself the most popular
man on campus. The College Cad takes advantage of Harold's
naivety to make him the butt of a series of increasingly cruel jokes,
which include getting him to deliver a speech to the student body
whilst being molested by a kitten. Harold soon realises that the
only way he can achieve his aims is to make his mark on the sports
field, so he gets himself included in the football team, not realising
that he is only the water boy. The only person who shows Harold
any sympathy is Peggy, his landlady's pretty daughter. But even
she cannot bring herself to shatter his illusions...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.