Sherlock, Jr. (1924)

This is the beginning of a semester of watching films that I either missed or avoided in my previous liberal arts education.  My youngest son is taking a film analysis class, and this was the first of what I am sure will be many things we watch together as a family in order that we be able to teach and reinforce the new ideas and concepts that he is learning.

This is a short 45 minute film from the early 20th century--Buster Keaton is best known to me for his slapstick physical comedy.  The movie is a silent one, and the sound track does a lot to emphasize the emotional tone of each scene--I didn't really see that until I watched 'The Artist' a couple of years ago--the music, combined with the exaggerated acting, give the viewer much of the idea of what is going on in each scene.  The medium of silent films allows the viewer to see just how much non-verbal communication can impart.

The plot is a simple one.  A shy and inexperienced--but earnest--boy is very interested in wooing a similarly inexperienced girl.  The villain is a sharply dressed but unscrupulous man who goes about defaming the character of the boy.  The movie demonstrates the lengths the bad guy will go to get his way, intersperses some hilarious physical comedy along with a great chase scene before all is revealed and the boy does indeed get the girl.  Wonderful short film that is available on both YouTube and Netflix streaming.