Synopsis:
After the end of World War I, a Belgian soldier (Harry Langdon) captured by a German enemy (Arthur Thalasso) is brought to America to perform as a sidekick in Thalasso’s strong man circus act. Once there, he seeks out a beautiful woman (Priscilla Bonner) who was once his penpal, not realizing she’s kept away from him because she’s blind.

Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:

• Blindness
• Comedy
• Frank Capra Films<
• Harry Langdon Films
• Immigrants and Immigration
• Morality Police
• Silent Films

Review:
Although he’s less well-known than Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, or Harold Lloyd, baby-faced Harry Langdon is considered one of the key players from the silent comedy era. TCM provides the following overview of his screen persona:

“His childlike face covered by traditional pantomime white make-up, he wore a tightly buttoned jacket as though he were a boy who had outgrown it. Juvenile in appearance, he played the bewildered, clumsy, wide-eyed simpleton out of step with the behavior of normal adults, eerily baffled by erotic situations and naively trusting in the world’s goodness.”

The Strong Man (also notable as Frank Capra’s feature-length directorial debut) is cited by many as Langdon’s best film, and it is indeed an enjoyable affair. The most amusing sequence occurs just after Langdon’s character has arrived in America, as he’s looking for his long-lost penpal (“Mary Brown”) and meets up with a con-artist (Gertrude Astor) who has slipped a wad of money into his pants to elude the police. Astor tells the naive Langdon she’s “Little Mary”, and the two head off (in wonderfully forthright pre-Code manner) to her apartment. Their perfectly timed slapstick interactions together — as Astor does whatever it takes to try to slip the cash out of Langdon’s pants, and Langdon misinterprets her actions as lustful pursuit — are simply classic.

The remainder of the storyline is a tad schmaltzy (Capra’s “touch” is already evident), as Langdon romances the impossibly sweet Brown, and learns that Brown’s preacher-father (William V. Mong) is leading a gang of righteous townsfolk in a crusade against the evil bootleggers who have taken over their performing hall. But throughout this narrative, Langdon is given plenty of opportunities to show off his slapstick genius; fans won’t be disappointed in the slightest, and those just discovering his work will be glad for this fine introduction.

Redeeming Qualities and Moments:

• Harry Langdon at his inimitable best
  
• The entire hilarious sequence with Astor
  

Must See?
Yes, for its historical relevance as Langdon’s best film. Listed as a film with Historical Importance and a Personal Recommendation in the back of Peary’s book.

Categories

• Historically Relevant

Links:

• IMDb entry
• NY Times Original Review
• TV Guide Review
• Time Out Capsule Review