The first long pants
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | The first long pants |
| Original title | Long pants |
 | |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1927 |
| length | 60 minutes |
| Rod | |
| Director | Frank Capra |
| script |
Robert Eddy Tay Garnett |
| production | Harry Langdon |
| camera |
Glenn Kershner Elgin Lessley |
| cut | Harry Langdon |
| occupation | |
| |
The first long pants is an American slapstick - silent film comedy from 1927 by Frank Capra with Harry Langdon in the lead role.
action
Harry Shelby is a real mummy's boy; for many years she dressed him in trousers that ended at knee height. Harry has always dreamed of daring adventures, and so it suits him that he finally gets his first pair of long trousers for his birthday. Documenting his adulthood in this way, Harry's parents find that the offspring is now actually of marriageable age. They also have a bride in their sights: Harry's childhood friend Priscilla. But Harry fell in love with another girl, the much more exciting, "wicked" Bebe Blair, who not only comes from the big city, but also has a lover with the local mafia. Bebe, unlike Priscilla, promises plenty of excitement and adventure, as the police are looking for her for drug smuggling.
When Bebe loses a love letter whose name cannot be assigned, Harry in his simplicity immediately believes that these sugar-sweet lines can only be addressed to him. The police soon get hold of the crook lover, whereupon Harry immediately wants to rush to her as a "savior in need". But first he tries in a dream to kill Priscilla, who is gradually becoming annoying to him - but without success. With his fixation on Bebe, Harry finally finds himself in the devil's kitchen. Events soon come thick and fast: Bebe escapes from jail and Harry always follows. Eventually it all ends in a wild shootout between the nefarious Bebe and her no less depraved husband. While both kill each other, the loyal Priscilla waits at home for the repentant Harry to return.
Production notes
The first long trousers were launched in the USA on March 26, 1927 and were probably still seen in Germany during the silent film era. The first German post-war performance took place on April 5, 1975 on ARD .
The first long pants was one of two comedy hits that Langdon shot with director Capra in 1926/27. Langdon would never again be able to build on the fame he had earned here, and he was quickly forgotten in talkies.
Reviews
Mordaunt Hall wrote in the March 29, 1927 edition of the New York Times : “A few cheerful passages enliven Harry Langdon's latest film curiosity, 'Long Pants' (…) Although the events were portrayed with perfect skill, with one or two repetitions , it is quite obvious to any man who has gone through the crucial shift from shorts to long pants that this idea presents far greater and more authentic possibilities than these greetings. The answer to this is that Mr. Langdon has once again surrendered to his almighty collection of gag writers. (...) Mr. Langdon is still Charles Spencer Chaplin's most sincere flatterer. "
“The last film Langdon and Capra worked together on was a huge success for both of them. Langdon had some brilliant scenes - like his first encounter with Bebe, when he was courting around her parked car on his bike. The film has speed, and Capra also found time for a precise description of the milieu. "
"Far from the best Langdon comedy, but sometimes comedy flashes out."
" Long Pants ... despite some brilliant ideas, it was just an exaggerated variation of known patterns."
Individual evidence
- ↑ extensive review in The New York Times
Web links
- The first long pants in the Internet Movie Database (English)