It’s BOOBS IN THE WOOD. “Wood” being singular. Where would you guys be without a nitpicky dork like me setting you straight?
Now that matter of world importance is now settled, BOOBS IN THE WOOD is indeed a classic Langdon film and possibly my favorite so far as well. Langdon as “The Cryin’ Killer” is indeed hysterical but it would be all for nought if Langdon’s character wasn’t set up properly as this highly incompetent, weak and unusual man in the first reel.
First there’s the lumberjack stuff. Yes, the idea of Langdon as a lumberjack in and of itself is hysterical. The way he just stands there confused and moving away from danger about five seconds too late while trees are falling is great. That tree just barely misses Langdon, both width wise and length wise - if it did hit him, it would have been the skinny part at the top. Then when it comes time to chop his own tree, it’s the puniest baby tree in the forest. Great camera work so we can see Harry doing the chopping yet the tree itself is out of camera range. It surprises us when we finally do see the actual tree.
Harry gets beat up by Vernon off screen and then we get a great shot, set later, of Langdon bruised and battered, standing at this wonderful diagonal angle. Well done as the act in and of itself of Langdon getting beat up isn’t the humor, it’s the confused aftermath. Just watching him at that unusual angle and gazing at him is the best Langdon humor in my eyes.
The creme de la creme for me is Langdon interacting with his girl. He has no clue how to act with a girl showing affection towards him. She’s trying to kiss him and he does these cautious back steps away from her like only Langdon can. Then, after a long delay, he inches closer and when she tries to meet him halfway, he backs up again. Love making for Harry is like a game of chicken. At one point when she gets close, he even raises his ax to her! Save the lady murdering for the features, Harry. Eventually, after this fascinating cat and mouse game, there is a kiss and Langdon has this doped up reaction like only Langdon can. Actually, this whole scene is Langdon like, I truly can’t picture any other comedian pulling this off.
So now that the character of Langdon is established, we get all the great stuff in the bar with Harry the waiter and bus boy turning into Harry the enforcer and killer - all by accident. The kerosene in the soup, the lucky mule kick the nemesis doesn’t see because of the bucket over his head - it all establishes Harry as a tough guy in the eyes of the townspeople. Fantastic touch at the end of Harry meeting Vernon and this time, overcoming the nemesis he previously had trouble with.
A classic short, mandatory Langdon.
