Sherlock Jr.

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Before John Cleese, before Mel Brooks, before the Marx Brothers, and before Charlie Chaplin there was Buster Keaton: an undeniable sweetheart of slapstick! Many filmmakers today continue to pay homage to the great cinephile whose films were not just about the laughter, but filled with rich social commentaries and explorations into that temperamental state between fiction and reality. Perhaps his best –albeit his shortest- film to wade these satisfying waters is Sherlock Jr.

Sitting at a mere 44 minutes long, Sherlock Jr. tells the story of a young projectionist (Buster Keaton) who is simultaneously studying to be a detective. His questionable mystery-solving skills are put to the test when he is accused of stealing from his girlfriend’s father and he sets out to find the real thief: a rival suitor (Ward Cane).

Beginning as a rather sweet, yet lamenting love story in that romance has somehow been lost and replaced with social awkwardness and materialism, the film quickly transcends into the realms of crisp and glorious comedy with a number of sight gags and breathtaking stunts –all dangerous and done by Keaton himself. Scenes such as Keaton attempting to shadow his suspect truly stand the test of time and will definitely stay with me for a long time to come!

While the central story is undeniably simple, the film is beefed up and made richer by its exploration into the voyeuristic allure of literature and cinema. During one of the most magnificent dream sequences in movie history, which features a lot of clever optical tricks and illusions quite modern for the time, the protagonist leaves his failure of a persona in reality and steps into the world of film becoming a character his real-self could only dream of: Sherlock Jr. the world’s second best detective. As the film-within-the-film plays out a choreographed and more exciting version of the protagonist’s own story, the film becomes a reflection on the nature of art and a celebration of its powers of enlightenment, compensation, escapism and fulfillment. It even leaves you with a fabulous little sexual joke at the end, which could still stand up on modern screens!

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More than this, Sherlock Jr. is a sweet and satisfying romp that might be dealing with some complex themes, but does not let that stand in the way of a good time! There are a number of memorable stunts and sight gags that comedy fans all over the world will enjoy including Keaton's turning a car crash into a romantic boat ride, his death-defying bicycle chase, and his hilarious movie clip montage. Seriously, hit up YouTube right now and watch this movie!

Director: Buster Keaton, 1924

Cast: Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, Joe Keaton, Erwin Connelly, and Ward Cane