Harry Langdon ...The Forgotten Clown

Starring:Harry Langdon, Priscilla Bonner, Gertrude Astor, William V. Mong, Robert McKim, Arthur Thalasso, Brooks Benedict, Gladys Brockwell, Alan Roscoe, Alma Bennett, Betty Francisco, Babe London, Ted Stroback, Frankie Darro, Bill Wolfe, Duane Thompson, Ann Christy, Muriel Kingston
Director: Frank Capra, Harry Edwards
Studio: Kino Video
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
In an exceptional case of good timing, Harry Langdon emerged as a silent-comedy clown just as the careers of Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton, and Charlie Chaplin were stagnant or (in the case of Chaplin) on extended hiatus. Along came Langdon with his own screen persona--a cherubic, innocent man-child in ill-fitting clothes, his weathered hat at a permanent tilt--and by the mid-'20s he was a critical and box-office smash. The three short features offered here represent the best work of this "forgotten clown," and although Langdon's slapstick was gentler and somewhat derivative, his endearing character was featured in delightful stories that earned his place in the silent-comedy hall of fame.

The Strong Man (1926) was Langdon's second and finest film; it's bracingly ambitious in both scope and story, and marked director Frank Capra's feature-film debut. Harry plays an unlikely World War I hero who immigrates to America to find his pen-pal sweetheart, posing as a vaudeville strongman as his love-struck odyssey spins through a series of increasingly audacious comedy set pieces. Langdon's debut feature, Tramp, Tramp, Tramp (1926), costars Joan Crawford as the woman who's captured Harry's fancy, and he joins a cross-country walking race in an adventurous effort to impress her. The film's climactic cyclone scene is as impressive for its time as anything in Twister--and a whole lot funnier. Finally, 1927's Long Pants follows the familiar formula: Harry's misguided attraction to a brazen vamp (which tempts him to dispatch his unsuspecting fiancée) leads to a series of misadventures, but as always, Harry's innate goodness wins out in the end.

Amazon.com

In an exceptional case of good timing, Harry Langdon emerged as a silent-comedy clown just as the careers of Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton, and Charlie Chaplin were stagnant or (in the case of Chaplin) on extended hiatus. Along came Langdon with his own screen persona--a cherubic, innocent man-child in ill-fitting clothes, his weathered hat at a permanent tilt--and by the mid-'20s he was a critical and box-office smash. The three short features offered here represent the best work of this "forgotten clown," and although Langdon's slapstick was gentler and somewhat derivative, his endearing character was featured in delightful stories that earned his place in the silent-comedy hall of fame.

The Strong Man (1926) was Langdon's second and finest film; it's bracingly ambitious in both scope and story, and marked director Frank Capra's feature-film debut. Harry plays an unlikely World War I hero who immigrates to America to find his pen-pal sweetheart, posing as a vaudeville strongman as his love-struck odyssey spins through a series of increasingly audacious comedy set pieces. Langdon's debut feature, Tramp, Tramp, Tramp (1926), costars Joan Crawford as the woman who's captured Harry's fancy, and he joins a cross-country walking race in an adventurous effort to impress her. The film's climactic cyclone scene is as impressive for its time as anything in Twister--and a whole lot funnier. Finally, 1927's Long Pants follows the familiar formula: Harry's misguided attraction to a brazen vamp (which tempts him to dispatch his unsuspecting fiancée) leads to a series of misadventures, but as always, Harry's innate goodness wins out in the end.

Description

Three complete features from the rediscovered genius of silent comedy! These classic silent slapstick films are the high points in Harry Langdon and Frank Capra's collaboration during 1926 and 1927, culminating in some of the finest American comedies of all-time! "The Strong Man" (1926, 74 min.) - After a tour of duty in World War I, Paul, a witless young Belgian, comes to America and seeks out the dedicated pen pal (Priscilla Bonner) whose letters lifted his spirits during the heat of battle. But to Paul, the land of opportunity turns out to be a world of confusion, as his quest for Mary Brown leads him from mishap to comic disaster. "Tramp. Tramp, Tramp" (1926, 61 min.) - In an effort to save the family business, a shoemaker's son enters a cross-country foot race with hopes of walking away with the $25,000 prize. During the course of his westward hike, Langdon woos Joan Crawford, is thrown in a chain gang, dangled from the edge of a cliff and caught in a violent tornado. "Long Pants" (1927, 58 min.) - When a sheepish young man yearning for romance is given his first pair of grown-up trousers, he springs into adulthood and is immediately smitten by the wrong woman. When his queen is jailed, Harry abandons his small-town sweetheart and comes to the brazen woman's rescue, ushering his fugitive moll through a series of riotous scrapes.

Customer Reviews:

This great presentation leaves you wanting more........2007-03-02

I'm glad that Kino has re-issued the 1997 Laserdisc collection "Harry Langdon...The Forgotten Clown" on DVD for more fans to discover Harry and enjoy the best three films he did.

The film transfers are great, sharp & clear. The master prints may have some wear but they are still in decent shape.

My only disappointment is that the original Laserdisc set included three 20-30 minute shorts from Harry's Mack Sennett films. Fortunately two of these missing shorts have been issued on DVD as part of the SLAPSTICK ENCYCLOPEDIA DVD set.

So defenately BUY THIS collection and buy the SLAPSTICK ENCYCLOPEDIA DVD set to get the best of Harry Langdon.

I just wish more of the early Langdon - Mack Sennett comedies would find their way to DVD. Sadly, just after making these three features Harry made the biggest mistake of his life and fired his director Frank Capra. Harry let his popularity go to his head and thought he knew better than his director. Harry just did not understand what made his comedy funny and over stretched the pathos when he tried to direct his own films. By 1929 Harry Langdon would be bandrupt because of his bad decision. Sound would ad further problems for Harry's film career as this diminished his mute boyish persona.

But enjoy Harry at his best with these three features.

Horray! A Langdon Collection!.......2006-11-14

This collection is a wonderful way to experience the comedy of the man often referred to as the fourth genius of the silent cinema. It includes three of his best silents in excellent prints with great soundtracks.

The Strong Man is perhaps the best Harry Langdon film to watch to see the genius of the comedian. Many trademark jokes are included in the film including his climbing the stairs bit. Also, we get to see the best of his humor, some of the more wholesome jokes (as opposed to finding comedy in attempted murder like in Long Pants).

This is the story of a meek and mild Frenchman (Langdon) who travels to America as part of a strong man act with a man who captured him in the war. He decides to go on a quest to meet the woman who wrote to him in the war and professed her love for him, Mary Brown (Priscilla Bonner). This leads to some very funny run-ins, especially that with a jazz baby with ties to gangsters. Eventually, he is led to a town divided into the hooligans who run things with their bootlegged liquor and loose women and the straight-laced Christians who have faith that the sin will stop eventually. Langdon finds Mary in the town, the daughter of a preacher. The climax of the film happens when Langdon's partner gets too drunk to perform, forcing Langdon to go on in his place. Lets just say he brings the house down.

If you don't find yourself laughing out loud constantly, just remind yourself that Langdon was much slower with his delivery than some of the other comics of the era. Some do not believe in his talent, but others feel quite strongly about it. It seems to be most evident here in one of his most universally popular films.

Another wonderful aspect of this film is the music score. It is peppered with familiar tunes of the era and contributes a whole other dimension of humor to the film.

Tramp, Tramp, Tramp is a sweet film that has not been previously released on VHS. It is an exciting film because of the presence of Joan Crawford in an early role. She plays the mascot of a shoe company which is having a race cross country to advertise. Some of the best atheletes are planning to run. Somehow, a lovestruck fan of Crawford's enters and experiences a series of hilarious mishaps including one particularly amusing scene with a fence. This film is short and sweet, a great way to put a smile on your face.

Long Pants is certainly not the film you want to see to fall in love with Langdon. However, it is a sweet movie on its own merits. The story concerns a young man (Langdon) whose family has kept him in short pants for his whole life. They believe it will keep him innocent and out of trouble. It seems they were right; when he gets long pants he falls in love with a troublesome but beautiful girl (Alma Bennett). Although he is engaged to another (Priscilla Bonner) (who he is willing to do anything to get rid of), he follows the beauty everywhere including to jail and out again in a crate.

There are some classic gags utilized, some belly laughs to be had, but also a rather disturbing scene of comedy rooted in murder. This is one silent comedy you might want to ban your children from.

A Must Have for your Silent Comedians Collection.......2006-07-06

I purchased this not having ever seen Harry Langdon on film, I had seen photos and read about him and I found him intriguing. I have to say that I did not fall about the room laughing at these comedies, but I really enjoyed these movies. I highly recommend them. They have a surreal and distant feeling about them and you can only lament that Harry did not go on to better things. I liked The Strong Man the best of the three. I found parts of "Long Pants" very strange, especially the attempted murder scene, but essentially I enjoyed it. "Tramp Tramp Tramp" I found the weaker of the three but I really enjoyed the fence scene and of course Joan Crawford appears as the object of Harry's desire. As an earlier review states I too find Harry just standing very funny and I too could not tell you why, he has a beautiful face and smile and is an excellent practitioner of pantomine. I love his tipping of the hat that he does.

A Fascinating Silent Star.......2006-07-06

I basically agree with the other reviews here: Harry Langdon was a marvelous comedy talent, totally unique, and quite loveable, and these three films are generally excellent. And yes, it's true that Harry's an acquired taste. Not everyone will "get" him. In that respect he may be the first "cult" comedy figure in film history. Those of us who love Langdon *really* love him, and most of us first saw him in one of these three films. Personally, I don't see any particular stamp of genius in Frank Capra's direction; there's nothing wrong with it, but the non-Capra film here, "Tramp Tramp Tramp," is actually my favorite of the three. The thing that's consistently awesome is Harry's performance. Even when he's just standing around looking at the camera, he's funny, but I couldn't explain why if my life depended on it! Everything he does makes me smile, the way a cute little toddler does. These are excellent films from a really special performer.

silents speak a thousand words.......2006-06-01

For anyone interested in physical comedy, clowns, or pioneers of all that is funny, I highly recommend Harry Langdon. A short lived career on screen and unfortunately short lived off, Langdons' influence continues to be seen today. Comics today learn their craft from watching their mentors. Just as their mentors did before them. Harry Langdon is one of the mentoring masters that created the mold left for others to emulate.
Watch the man that could bring an audience from laughter to tears without ever saying a word. Some legends of comedy are known for their gags, others for their great stunts. But with Harry, just watch his face. Watch and learn from this underrated master.

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