The Freshman was my first Harold Lloyd picture and I am totally on board with his brand of comedy. He may run a somewhat distant third to Chaplin and Keaton's maverick silent cinema, but there's just as much craft on show. In this one, Lloyd is a naive college freshman whose classmates are consistently putting on, making him think he's popular while actually laughing behind his back. Lloyd is the everyman, nervous and eager to please, and so easily duped, and yet his spirit triumphs and we can be hopeful that good will triumph over bullying. Jobyna Ralston is engaging as the doe-eyed woman who understands him best. It's a gentler type of comedy, character-driven and though Lloyd takes his spills (especially in the football-related stuff), it's less reliant on physical prowess than better-known silent comedies. In fact, I think it would have worked almost as well as a talky. Only almost, because I would have missed the frankly witty interstitial cards. If The Freshman is indicative of his output's quality, I'm going to be seeking more of Lloyd's movies.
Add your comment
Comments 1 - 6 of 6
mightysparks
I would like to buy this film, not Rites of Autumn 1 & 2!Dieguito
Good movieDuke of Omnium
Harold Lloyd has been unjustly overshadowed (in retrospect) by Keaton and Chaplin, but he may have been their equal.coffeejazzlofi
(comment removed by mod, please post in English)wowwee123
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mH6N-TbddcSiskoid
The Freshman was my first Harold Lloyd picture and I am totally on board with his brand of comedy. He may run a somewhat distant third to Chaplin and Keaton's maverick silent cinema, but there's just as much craft on show. In this one, Lloyd is a naive college freshman whose classmates are consistently putting on, making him think he's popular while actually laughing behind his back. Lloyd is the everyman, nervous and eager to please, and so easily duped, and yet his spirit triumphs and we can be hopeful that good will triumph over bullying. Jobyna Ralston is engaging as the doe-eyed woman who understands him best. It's a gentler type of comedy, character-driven and though Lloyd takes his spills (especially in the football-related stuff), it's less reliant on physical prowess than better-known silent comedies. In fact, I think it would have worked almost as well as a talky. Only almost, because I would have missed the frankly witty interstitial cards. If The Freshman is indicative of his output's quality, I'm going to be seeking more of Lloyd's movies.