The model student (1927)
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The model student / Buster Keaton, the student |
| Original title | college |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1927 |
| length | 62 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 0 |
| Rod | |
| Director | James W. Horne |
| script |
Carl Harbaugh , Bryan Foy |
| production |
Joseph Schenck , Buster Keaton |
| camera |
J. Devereux Jennings , Bert Haines |
| cut |
Sherman Kell as J. Sherm Kell |
| occupation | |
| |
The Model Student is a 1927 American comedy film starring Buster Keaton and directed by James W. Horne .
action
Ronald, eager nerd and favorite of teachers, is painfully rejected by his beloved Mary after speaking out in favor of more intellect and against stupid sport in his graduation speech. In order to win them back, he enrolls in college and wants to improve in sports there. There he fails not only in all sporting disciplines, but also in all part-time jobs that he is forced to accept. The dean, who knows Ronald's problems and who had them himself as a nerd in his youth, quickly employs him as a helmsman in the rowing team against the will of the coach. Ronald caused a few mishaps during the rowing race, but he was able to iron them out again so that he and his team won the day. At the end of the race, Mary is not present, although she had promised Ronald. Because Mary was locked in a room by the very sporty rival Jeff and is harassed by him. Only then does Ronald grow beyond himself and save his beloved from Jeff thanks to sporting efforts. Mary and Ronald get married on the spot.
production
College was born after Keaton's most expensive film, The General , which was a financial failure and only decades later was hailed as one of the greatest films of the silent era. As a result, Buster Keaton was imposed severe financial restrictions by his producer Joe Schenck and a screenwriter and a director ( James W. Horne ) were made available. Keaton wasn't happy about it. In fact, this should be the beginning of the end of his independence as a filmmaker. Compared to other Keaton films that may have been made , College is a. impress with gigantic buildings and elaborate stunts and effects, rather conventionally. He is also very close in his subject The Freshman , with which Harold Lloyd had already delivered a college comedy before Keaton, in which an unworldly student newcomer struggles with college life. In the end, the film, which was made with strong control by the producer, made even less money than The General . In 2005 a fully dubbed German version was finally released, which was able to make use of the dialogues actually spoken, at least on the set.
style
Although a fairly conventional comedy , Keaton's style is unmistakable, for example in a number as an inexperienced bartender. Inimitable for Donald O'Connor , who portrayed Buster Keaton in 1957 in a - very free - film biography with full use of his body, was the following gag: As a waiter Keaton does a somersault - with a full coffee cup in one hand, without spilling its contents.
The typical, somewhat dark Keaton humor, however, only breaks with the final punch line: Ronald (Keaton) has finally conquered his lover, runs with her to church, is married. Cut to the two of them as an aged and nagging couple. Cut to two tombstones. The End.
Stunts
An avid athlete himself, Buster Keaton is famous for his falls and stunts , which he performed himself in all of the films - which brought him to the brink of death more than once ( Our Hospitality , Sherlock, Jr. ). But despite his athletic talent, he had to be doubled for the first time by doing a pole vault in a window on the 1st floor (and thus in the mistress' room) by Lee Barnes , participant in the Olympic Games .
criticism
The lexicon of international film judged the film to be "engaging entertainment" . Keaton presented in it "some of his most charming ideas and gags ".
swell
- ↑ Buster Keaton, the model student. In: Lexicon of International Films . Film service , accessed August 28, 2017 .
Web links
- Pupil in the Internet Movie Database (English)