Film & Shorts Discussions > Random Comedy Reviews
Three's a Crowd (1927) - Harry Langdon
Umbrella Sam:
Well, I finally got to THREE’S A CROWD. First of all, when Paul talks about the poor splicing, he’s not kidding. I was so confused by that carrier pigeon part that I thought I was missing something. There’s a poster in HARRY LANGDON: KING OF SILENT COMEDY that shows drawings based off of the different reels and one of them was of Langdon looking outside with a telescope and a pigeon, so it seems quite a bit was cut from that. The poster also showed a reel dedicated to Langdon running away from an overweight woman (thankfully, that part seemed to have been cut entirely). So, from that standpoint, I can see some of the criticisms, as well as the beginning with him getting ready for his day. Nothing about it really seemed clever or funny; it’s not really until he first goes outside that the film starts to pick up somewhat as far as comedy goes. The part with him dangling in the air is a pretty good thrill gag, and it is done in the way only Harry does: by simply failing to get himself out of it.
As far as the actual story goes, I do think it’s an interesting one in that Harry strives for the family aspect of the relationship and not just falling in love with a woman. That’s not something you really tended to see in silent comedies; even in THE KID, Chaplin doesn’t actually want to keep the kid at first, only warming up to the idea of taking care of him after he sees the note from the mother. In that respect, I think it’s actually kind of a brave idea for Langdon to handle, and I think he handles it well. The way he’s reacting when he finds out she’s having the baby is done in the expected Langdon manner, but it’s also convincing for just about anyone to have that kind of reaction given the unexpected circumstance. It’s actually quite realistic, which is not the type of thing you expect in a Langdon film.
I think the film is at its best in its second part. Langdon adapting to this new life gives him some fun opportunities like setting up a crib only to put both himself and the baby in it. I really laughed hard at that part where he accidentally makes the pie. I loved his reaction to that. The ending is sad, but it’s also done in the Chaplin way where it feels like things were meant to be that way. The husband got his life back on track and is realistically able to better provide for the wife and child, and they both still indicate that they want Harry in their lives in some capacity. It’s not like FREE AND EASY where it’s a case of “be sad because Chaplin does it”; this actually does feel like there some thought put into it. It ends with a funny gag involving a brick and a window which is admittedly kind of poorly placed, but still funny regardless.
So, yeah, I liked it. I don’t know if I’d go so far as calling it a classic, especially given the editing problems and slightly boring beginning, but it’s definitely better than its reputation suggests and admirable in the fact that it was kind of a big risk for him to take, one that didn’t even pay off in the end. Good film, I too like the art direction.
Umbrella Sam:
--- Quote from: Freddie Sanborn on September 21, 2022, 09:45:09 AM ---I think Langdon was a taste too rarified to get in on the nostalgia boom of the 60’s and 70’s. But had he lived into the TV era, I could see him having a second career as a foxy grandpa. The kind of roles that later went to Bert Mustin.
--- End quote ---
Interesting. I know Mustin played Ed the vault guard in the last season of THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM, but I’ve only seen the ones with Joseph Kearns in the role. I could not imagine Langdon as Ed, but I assume that it’s a pretty unusual role for Mustin given that he was taking it over from someone else.
I could see Langdon playing meek, slightly inept roles very well. I always felt like, had he lived and if he and Capra had made up, Langdon would have been a good choice for the role of Uncle Billy in IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE.
metaldams:
--- Quote from: Umbrella Sam on September 23, 2022, 11:45:12 PM ---Interesting. I know Mustin played Ed the vault guard in the last season of THE JACK BENNY PROGRAM, but I’ve only seen the ones with Joseph Kearns in the role. I could not imagine Langdon as Ed, but I assume that it’s a pretty unusual role for Mustin given that he was taking it over from someone else.
I could see Langdon playing meek, slightly inept roles very well. I always felt like, had he lived and if he and Capra had made up, Langdon would have been a good choice for the role of Uncle Billy in IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE.
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I think Langdon would have made a good Clarence the Angel as well.
Umbrella Sam:
--- Quote from: metaldams on September 24, 2022, 08:04:48 AM ---I think Langdon would have made a good Clarence the Angel as well.
--- End quote ---
Yeah, I could see Harry working as Clarence as well.
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