The Freshman

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Cast & Crew

Harold Lloyd
The Freshman

Jobyna Ralston
Peggy

James Anderson
The College Hero

Joe Harrington
The College Tailor

Brooks Benedict
The College Cad

Hazel Keener
The College Belle

Pat Harmon
The Football Coach

Charles Stevenson
Assistant Coach

Oscar Smith
Dean's Chauffeur

Grady Sutton
Student Who Goes to Dean

Gus Leonard
Waiter Who Takes Harold's Pants

Charles Farrell
Student Bell Ringer at Frolic

Sam Taylor
Director

Fred Newmeyer
Director

Sam Taylor
Screenwriter

John Grey
Screenwriter

Suzanne Lloyd Hayes
Executive Producer

Harold Lloyd
Producer

Jeffrey Vance
Producer

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Audience Reviews for The Freshman

• Nov 15, 2018

  Harold Lloyd is his awkward, lovable self in â~The Freshmanâ(TM), where he goes off to college seeking popularity. Heâ(TM)s mostly mocked without realizing it, and after trying out for the football team, is used as a tackling dummy in practice and then as a water boy during the game, though of course thinks he may go in at any time. He hosts a big dance, the â~Fall Frolicâ(TM), but has his ill-tailored suit falls apart as he tries to move around. There are few laugh out loud moments, even if the filmâ(TM)s heart is in the right place, and some of the scenes go on for just a little too long. Seeing football played so long ago, even comically, with those thin leather helmets and that puffier ball, and finding out the crowd scenes were shot at halftime during the 1924 â~Big Gameâ(TM) between Cal and Stanford, was also personally interesting. That move where he unlaces the ball is pretty cool too. Lastly, and this is kind of a quirky thing of mine, but I like how Lloyd gives us shots of objects or things in print in his films, in this case various books from the period, newspaper articles, and a crossword puzzle he notices Jobyna Ralston doing on a train and tries to help her with. Even her final message to him is a handwritten note, and very sweet. Not quite as good as â~Safety Lastâ(TM) or â~Girl Shyâ(TM) from the previous two years, but solid entertainment.
  Antonius B Super Reviewer
• Jul 20, 2017

  Great fun in this silent college comedy. I have yet to see Buster Keaton's entry in this subgenre, College. I have seen Clara Bow's 1920's college set The Wild Party. Harold Lloyd is at his peak in this type of nerdy role. It is quite enjoyable to time travel to American college life in the Jazz age. Lloyd is nearly as great as Keaton and Chaplin with the physicality of slapstick. The football practice and big game are the central showcases of slapstick here of course. Right up to the 90's with Adam Sandler's The Waterboy many of the same character types have been repeated over and over again in Hollywood college set comedies.
  Byron B Super Reviewer
• Jul 26, 2011

  A typical college comedy for the 20s, and the plot is predictable, but Lloyd makes this movie enjoyable and entertaining. He really is hilarious in all his mishaps in this movie. I really enjoyed it, and I recommend it.
  Aj V Super Reviewer
• Jun 18, 2009

  Chaplin may be filled with warmth and pathos, Keaton may be a great athlete, but Harold Lloyd is just plain funny, and thus my favorite silent comedian. And The Freshman is one of his best. A nerdy young man attends a university to play football in order to impress a girl -- why else, right? He is obviously not up to the task and pays for it dearly. Lots of slapstick silliness, sight gags, and lots of heart to boot. Got to see it on the big screen at a repertory screening. The 21st century audience I saw it with laughed hysterically, as if this 80 year old film (at the time I saw it) was a new release. How many of today's Hollywood comedies will still be funny 80 years from now?
  Cindy I Super Reviewer

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