The Freshman (1925)
Directed by Fred C. Newmeyer, Sam Taylor

Film Review

The Freshman is one of the most enduring of Harold Lloyd's silent comedies, a masterpiece of comic mayhem that continues to resonate down the ages, most probably because what it depicts - the unbridled optimism of youth, the triumph of the under-dog, learning to be who you are and not what you want to be - are universal themes that will always strike a chord.  Whilst the film is considerably more plot- and character-driven than the vast majority of Lloyd's films, it is packed with visual gags that never fail to get a laugh, even gags that are repeated ad nauseum.  Lloyd was not only a giant of silent comedy, he was also an accomplished actor, and The Freshman contains one of his finest screen performances, beautifully supported by his co-stars Jobyna Ralston and Brooks Benedict, admirably well cast as the hero's sweetheart and his nasty tormentor.

The film has two notable set pieces.  The first is a varsity ball which Lloyd's famous 'glass character' turns up to in a suit that hasn't yet been completed by his tailor.  As the eponymous freshman attempts to socialise and dance with his peers, his jacket and trousers predictably start to come apart at the seams, and his tailor is seen trailing behind him trying in vain to rectify the situation with a needle and thread.  Unfortunately, the tailor suffers from recurring dizzy spells...  The second set piece is one of the grandest (and funniest) of any Harold Lloyd comedy - a masterfully staged comedy football match in which Lloyd's eternally optimistic alter-ego suffers untold humiliations before he ultimately manages to save the day and become the hero he so badly wants to be.  By the end, you just cannot help cheering Lloyd on, and the final shot in which Lloyd, basking in the warm glow of success, gets both his girl and a cold shower, is the most perfect ending to any of his films.  Without a doubt, The Freshman ranks along side Lloyd's best work - Safety Last! (1923), Grandma's Boy (1922), Why Worry? (1923) and Never Weaken (1921) - and deserves a place on anyone's syllabus.

Film Synopsis

Harold Lamb can hardly wait to begin his first term as a student at Tate University, one of America's leading educational establishments which prides itself on being a football stadium with a college attached.  Having seen a film about student life, Harold sees himself as a college hero and sets out to make himself the most popular man on campus.  The College Cad takes advantage of Harold's naivety to make him the butt of a series of increasingly cruel jokes, which include getting him to deliver a speech to the student body whilst being molested by a kitten.  Harold soon realises that the only way he can achieve his aims is to make his mark on the sports field, so he gets himself included in the football team, not realising that he is only the water boy.  The only person who shows Harold any sympathy is Peggy, his landlady's pretty daughter.  But even she cannot bring herself to shatter his illusions...