Sherlock, Jr.
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| Sherlock, Jr. | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster |
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| Directed by | Buster Keaton |
| Produced by | Joseph M. Schenck Buster Keaton |
| Written by | Clyde Bruckman Jean Havez Joseph A. Mitchell |
| Starring | Buster Keaton Kathryn McGuire Joe Keaton |
| Music by | Club Foot Orchestra |
| Cinematography | Byron Houck Elgin Lessley |
| Editing by | Buster Keaton |
| Distributed by | Metro Pictures Corporation |
| Release date(s) | April 21, 1924 |
| Running time | 44 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent film English intertitles |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Sherlock, Jr. (1924) is an American comedy silent film directed by Buster Keaton. The movie was written by Clyde Bruckman, Jean Havez and Joseph A. Mitchell. It stars Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, Joe Keaton and Ward Crane.[1]
On June 14, 2000 the American Film Institute, as part of its AFI 100 Years... series, ranked the comedy #62 of the funniest films of all time (AFI's 100 Years... 100 Laughs).
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[edit] Plot
The silent tells the story of a movie projectionist and janitor who is studying to become a detective. He's in love with a beautiful girl (Kathryn McGuire), and on a date he presents her with chocolates and an engagement ring. However, there is another man who's interested in his girl (Ward Crane).
One day he is accused of stealing his girlfriend's father's watch. He falls asleep on the job and dreams that he is a Sherlock Holmes detective type solving the case.
[edit] Background
Keaton was injured while filming one of the stunts. In the scene, Keaton hangs off a tube connected to a water tower used for replenishing the steam locomotive's water supply. The water poured out and knocked him on to the track, severely fracturing his neck. It wasn't until the 1930s that a doctor discovered the healed break during a routine examination. At that point, Buster recalled having agonizing headaches for a few days following the accident.
[edit] Production
Special effects
Into the film: Keaton "walked" into the movie via the power of suggestion. The scene shifted back and forth several times from the projectionist's booth to the movie that was being shown. But for the last shift, instead of showing the movie, the camera this time showed a stage with live actors, designed to replicate the look of the movie. Therefore, Buster actually climbed onstage, but created the illusion of joining the movie.
Revealing the trick: During the scene following his "entry" into the movie he's projecting, the scenery around him changes abruptly several times. It wasn't until the 1940s that Keaton revealed that he and his cameraman had used surveyor's instruments to position him, and the camera, at exactly the correct distances and positions to provide the illusion of continuity.
Filming locations
The encounter with traffic cop was filmed on Larchmont Blvd. near Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles.
[edit] Cast
- Buster Keaton as Projectionist
- Kathryn McGuire as The Girl
- Joe Keaton as Her Father
- Erwin Connelly as The butler/handyman
- Ward Crane as The sheik/villain
[edit] Critical reception
Recently, Time magazine named the Sherlock, Jr. as one of the All-Time 100 Movies. They wrote, "The impeccable comedian directs himself in an impeccable silent comedy...Is this, as some critics have argued, an example of primitive American surrealism? Sure. But let's not get fancy about it. It is more significantly, a great example of American minimalism—simple objects and movement manipulated in casually complex ways to generate a steadily rising gale of laughter. The whole thing is only 45 minutes long, not a second of which is wasted. In an age when most comedies are all windup and no punch, this is the most treasurable of virtues."[2]
Film critic Dennis Schwartz wrote, "[The film is] one of Buster's superior silent comedies that's noted for his usual deadpan humor, frolicsome slapstick, the number of very funny sight gags, the many innovative technical accomplishments and that he did his own stunts (including the dangerous one where he was hanging off of a ladder connected to a huge water basin as the water poured out and washed him onto the railroad track, fracturing his neck nearly to the point of breaking it. Keaton suffered from severe migraines for years after making this movie)."[3]
The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 100% of critics gave the film a positive review, based on 14 reviews, marking the film as "Fresh."[4]
[edit] Awards
In 1991, Sherlock, Jr. was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Sherlock Jr. at the Internet Movie Database.
- ^ Time. Film review, 2005. Last accessed: February 21, 2008.
- ^ Schwartz, Dennis. Ozus' World Movie Reviews, film review, November 20, 2006. Last accessed: February 21, 2008.
- ^ Sherlock, Jr. at Rotten Tomatoes. Last accessed: February 21, 2008.
[edit] External links
- Sherlock Jr. at the Internet Movie Database
- Sherlock Jr. at Allmovie
- Sherlock Jr. at the TCM Movie Database
- Sherlock, Jr. film clip at You Tube
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