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Tramp, Tramp, Tramp (1926) - Harry Langdon

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Umbrella Sam:
Of all my blog reviews, I’m most disappointed in my reviews for the two Langdon silent features, as I felt I rated both too low and just didn’t have the right understanding of Langdon at the time to truly appreciate them. If I was still doing the rating system, TRAMP TRAMP TRAMP would be at least a 9, maybe even a 9.5. I still don’t like the cab driver scene; it is very monotonous and I do feel bad for the guy. Otherwise, though, everything you would want in a Langdon feature is there, and I just failed to see it the first time. The way he handles the cyclone is bizarre...but when you really think about it, that is the way Harry Langdon should pull it off, and with a character far removed from reality, he can pull that off.

I too was surprised to find one of Joan Crawford’s earliest roles to be in this movie and the first time I saw it, I also had to wonder if it was someone else, because she looks way different here compared to her later work. She doesn’t really have a ton to do, but that’s fine because, if anything, the romance is more there just to give Langdon a chance to do more childlike gags. I agree HomokHarcos; the first time I saw Harry hanging up all those posters of Joan, I was kind of creeped out. Now, knowing how the Langdon character works and out of touch with reality he is, I find it absolutely hilarious, especially when Tom Murray walks in and is beyond confused as to what’s going on. I said previously that I found Murray to be too boring and while he’s not necessarily Dent, he fits the role you need him for, which is someone to hate and be glad to see get his comeuppance, examples including when he falls down the hole with the ball and chain or when he trips over Harry moving rocks out of his way (which is a hilarious scene, by the way).

As before, I enjoy the scene on the cliff and the prison scenes. The way Harry is out of step with the prisoners throughout, it reminds me a lot of Dopey in SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS, and I feel this is not a coincidence considering Langdon’s name did come up during SNOW WHITE story meetings. I think it’s very possible that they could have referenced this scene specifically for the “Heigh Ho” sequence there. I love the part with him trying to pick the small hammer only for him to cause chaos to the guard who wants him to grab a larger one, especially when he casually takes the guard’s gun in the typical, confused Harry manner. I also enjoy the part with him getting hit by the other guy’s hammer, but as before, my favorite scene is when he uses the smaller gun as a hammer. The climax has elements of THE GOLD RUSH in it with the barbershop that’s constantly tilting, and that works for me considering I also really like THE GOLD RUSH’s climax. They definitely cover all the right ground here for a Langdon feature. Based on my experience, I think it’s best to watch the Langdon shorts before getting to the features, not necessarily because one is better than the other, but because I feel the Langdon shorts are a better introduction to what made his style so zany and fun, and once you’re immersed in that world, you can enjoy the features more, as I did. Great film, definitely one I’ll check out again.

metaldams:


Rumors of Nazareth writing a song about Natalie Kingston are just that, rumors.  [pie]

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