Sherlock Jr.

April 30, 2009

Title: Sherlock Jr.
Year: 1924
Director: Buster Keaton
Writers: Clyde Bruckman, Jean C. Havez, Joseph A. Mitchell
Starring: Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, Erwin Connelly, Ward Crane
Music: Club Foot Orchestra (for video release)
Distinctions: currently #148 on IMDb’s Top 250
Synopsis: a theater projectionist dreams (literally) of being a detective
Length: 45 minutes
How I saw it: on video (rented from Netflix), yesterday
Subjective Rating: 8/10
Objective Rating: 9/10 (1 point off for characters)

Brilliant. There’s nonstop silliness, impressive magic tricks, and most of all a bizarre, clever story. The post-modern score played by a jazz ensemble is delightful. It’s also over-the-top and inappropriate, but I don’t care; it adds a lot to the movie.

Leave a Comment » | 1924, buster keaton, club foot orchestra, clyde bruckman, erwin connelly, jean c. havez, joseph a. mitchell, kathryn mcguire, movies, top 250, ward crane | Permalink
Posted by Daniel

Girl Shy

April 15, 2009

Title: Girl Shy
Year: 1924
Directors: Fred C. Newmeyer & Sam Taylor
Writers: Thomas J. Gray, Sam Taylor, Tim Whelan, Ted Wilde
Starring: Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston, Richard Daniels, Carlton Griffin
Music: Robert Israel (for video release)
Synopsis: A shy boy with no experience with women writes the book called “The Secret of Making Love”
How I saw it: “The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection: Vol. 1″ (rented from Netflix), July 2008
Subjective Rating: 5/10
Objective Rating: 3/10 (gets points for concept, characters and special effects/design)

Slow and dull. Lloyd is likable, but that’s about all this has going for it.

Leave a Comment » | 1924, carlton griffin, fred c. newmeyer, harold lloyd, jobyna ralston, movies, richard daniels, robert israel, sam taylor, ted wilde, thomas j. gray, tim whelan | Permalink
Posted by Daniel