|
College (1927) |
||||
|
R E V I E W |
1927. Joseph
M. Schenck Productions. Released by United Artists. 6 reels.
Joseph M. Schenck presents Buster Keaton in "COLLEGE" A United Artists Production. Directed by James W. Horne. Story by Carl Harbaugh and Bryan Foy. Supervised by Harry Brand. Photographed By Dev Jennings and Bert Haines. Film Editor, Sherm Kell. Lighting Effects, Jack Lewis. Technical Director, Fred Gabourie. The Cast: Buster Keaton, Anne Cornwall, Flora Bramley, Harold Goodwin, Snitz Edwards, Carl Harbaugh, Sam Crawford, Florence Turner. |
One of the most original silent filmmakers, Buster
Keaton was forced to scale back his aspirations after the disappointing
reception to his most ambitious feature, The General. For a surefire
subject, Keaton chose college sports, and the result is timeless, appealing,
and often hilarious. The emphasis on gags over plot is reminiscent of Keaton's
best two reelers, and his earnest college freshman is a solo performance
for much of the film. Many scenes feature Keaton battling with athletic
equipment, with the other athletes oblivious to his presence. A number
of hilarious sequences, such as Keaton's struggle with an umbrella that
refuses to close, are peripheral to the plot.
Buster, a stiff, maladroit high school valedictorian, goes to college solely to be near coed Ann Cornwall. She is not attracted to Buster's brains, but might be interested if he excels in athletics. The thin plot revolves around Keaton's part time jobs, the athlete who is his rival for her affections, and Buster's unobserved attempts to learn a variety of solo sports. Fortunately, the girl appreciates hard work as much as accomplishment. When Buster rescues her by pole vaulting through her window, the girl is not even aware that he has just led the rowing team to victory. Keaton was encroaching on Harold Lloyd's turf, as this comedy invited comparison to Lloyd's The Freshman of two years earlier. While Lloyd was at the center of his universe, Keaton is on the periphery, ignored by the world. Keaton is so completely inept as an athlete, that no amount of effort will help him, and his success is due to persistence and ingenuity. Lloyd triumphs in the climactic football game in The Freshman by demonstrating previously unrecognized ability. While they approach college life differently, the two films share a very similar sequence where the comedians speak before other students- Keaton at his high school commencement, and Lloyd before a student assembly. They are each tormented- Lloyd by pesky cats, and Keaton by a suit that has shrunk in the rain. Keaton's battle with his clothing is reminiscent of another sequence in The Freshman where Lloyd goes to the Fall Frolic in a suit that is only basted together. Overall, Lloyd's film reaches for a much greater emotional effect, while Keaton is content with continuous gags, The 1995 Kino on Video/Image Entertainment release of College is far superior to copies available from other sources. It features a 1992 organ score by John Muri. College is included in the Image laserdisc set "The Art of Buster Keaton Volume Three." The Killiam Shows edition was prepared in 1972, and features an original piano score by William Perry. All the title cards in the Killiam version have been replaced. (Review © 1997 David Pierce) |
||
Silent Film Sources Home | News | Video | Laserdisc | Rental in 16mm/35mm | Sale in 16mm
Send additions, suggestions, comments or questions to David Pierce, prizma@onetel.com
© 1996, 1997 David Pierce