The Freshman (1925)
In the National Film Registry
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1h 15m
Harold joins college hoping for fame, but clumsy attempts & mistaken identity land him as waterboy.
The Freshman (1925) by Harold Lloyd follows Harold Lamb, a wide-eyed freshman yearning for popularity, through a series of outlandish situations. Lloyd's signature brand of physical humor takes center stage, with elaborate stunts and gags defying logic and gravity.
However, The Freshman goes beyond slapstick. The film incorporates dream sequences and surreal imagery, particularly in scenes influenced by Harold's movie idol. These moments break the film's realism and introduce a layer of metafiction, blurring the line between character and audience expectations.
The Freshman's editing techniques are also noteworthy. Fast-paced cuts and innovative camerawork, particularly during football game sequences, create a frenetic energy that keeps the audience engaged. These techniques, while not uncommon today, were groundbreaking for silent cinema.
The Freshman stands as a testament to the comedic possibilities of silent film. Its inventive use of slapstick, surrealism, and editing techniques paved the way for future generations of filmmakers to push the boundaries of the genre.
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