Harry's father is about to lose his business, so to raise money he enters a walking race across America. Despite looking about as athletic as a cheese blintz, he manages to not only excel in the race but catch the eye of the sponsor's daughter. Will he win? Will he get the girl? Tune in and see.
For years, I have wanted to see more Harry Langdon films--especially when Robert Youngson played him up so much in his compilation film WHEN COMEDY WAS KING. So I was thrilled to find this and two other of his full-length films on a DVD from Kino. However, after seeing the film, I am not really sure if the wait was worth it. I had liked his short films, but TRAMP, TRAMP, TRAMP left me very flat--mostly because there just weren't many jokes AND the pacing was so slow. The same can be said about the other films on the disk. Now this does NOT mean I need to have a constant string of pratfalls and side-splitting comedy--after all, many of my favorite Harold Lloyd, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton films were NOT their physical comedies but ones that relied a lot on characterizations and plot--such as THE KID BROTHER, THE CIRCUS and OUR HOSPITALITY. However, compared to TRAMP, TRAMP, TRAMP, these three classic films seem frenetically paced! There are no BIG gags in TRAMP, TRAMP, TRAMP and only a few small ones. Instead, the film seems to be saying "look how cute and sweet Langdon is--don't you just love him?". Well, no...not particularly--and I am a huge fan of silent comedies but I oddly believe they should also be funny. Still, I didn't dislike the film--just don't make the mistake of thinking Landon was in the same league as these other three comedy greats! Passable with some cute moments.
By the way, THE STRONG MAN and LONG PANTS also on the DVD and they are both better films.
For years, I have wanted to see more Harry Langdon films--especially when Robert Youngson played him up so much in his compilation film WHEN COMEDY WAS KING. So I was thrilled to find this and two other of his full-length films on a DVD from Kino. However, after seeing the film, I am not really sure if the wait was worth it. I had liked his short films, but TRAMP, TRAMP, TRAMP left me very flat--mostly because there just weren't many jokes AND the pacing was so slow. The same can be said about the other films on the disk. Now this does NOT mean I need to have a constant string of pratfalls and side-splitting comedy--after all, many of my favorite Harold Lloyd, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton films were NOT their physical comedies but ones that relied a lot on characterizations and plot--such as THE KID BROTHER, THE CIRCUS and OUR HOSPITALITY. However, compared to TRAMP, TRAMP, TRAMP, these three classic films seem frenetically paced! There are no BIG gags in TRAMP, TRAMP, TRAMP and only a few small ones. Instead, the film seems to be saying "look how cute and sweet Langdon is--don't you just love him?". Well, no...not particularly--and I am a huge fan of silent comedies but I oddly believe they should also be funny. Still, I didn't dislike the film--just don't make the mistake of thinking Landon was in the same league as these other three comedy greats! Passable with some cute moments.
By the way, THE STRONG MAN and LONG PANTS also on the DVD and they are both better films.