The Strong Man (1926)
In the National Film Registry
•
1h 15m
Belgian soldier searches for pen pal love in America, finds adventure & true love with twist.
Harry Langdon's comedic persona is a key factor in The Strong Man (1926), a silent comedy directed by Frank Capra and starring Langdon. His character, a wide-eyed innocent named Paul, embodies a childlike wonder and vulnerability that disrupts the expected masculinity of the strongman archetype. His physical fumbling and illogical solutions create a dreamlike quality, blurring the lines between reality and Paul's skewed perception of the world.
The film's narrative structure also deviates from the norm. While there's a central goal — finding his pen pal Mary Brown — the journey is filled with surreal detours and non-sequiturs. Scenes transition abruptly, with dreamlike logic taking precedence over linear storytelling.
The Strong Man's influence can be seen in later comedic explorations of the absurd and nonsensical. It paved the way for filmmakers who embraced a more subjective and playful approach to narrative, setting the stage for the development of experimental comedy.
Up Next in In the National Film Registry
-
The Thief of Bagdad (1924)
Thief charms princess, battles evil for love. Dazzling silent adventure.
Directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Douglas Fairbanks, The Thief of Bagdad (1924) is a visually stunning spectacle unlike anything audiences at the time had seen before.
The Thief of Bagdad broke new ground in special eff...
-
The Wishing Ring, an Idyll of Old Eng...
Expelled son falls for parson's daughter. Love conquers class as he reunites with his Earl father.
Produced during a transitional period in filmmaking, The Wishing Ring, an Idyll of Old England (1914) bridges the gap between theatrical and cinematic storytelling.
While the plot is based on a s...
-
Tol'able David (1921)
Rural youth confronts outlaws, seeking manhood through legal or vengeful action.
Tol'able David, a 1921 silent film directed by Henry King, follows a coming-of-age story set in the rural Appalachians, delving into complex themes of violence, revenge, and masculinity.
The film's experimentation ...
