Post your written response to Sherlock Jr. It should be a minimum of 500 words and include specific examples from the film to support your analysis. The film can be found online and you can view it again for reference.
Please use the sheet you were given in class with the examples of written responses on it for reference. Post your written response to this film by Tuesday at 3 p.m. Don't forget to comment on another classmates' response as well. Happy Posting!
The silent film Sherlock Jr. was strangely bizarre and yet entertaining. Are silent films primitive and unsophisticated compared to today’s films? The fact that a silent film won the Oscars in 2011 (The Artist) and the best leading role went to an actor in this film should be argument enough that silent films are not silly, childish attempts at making films that today we can make with such technology and expertise. The opposite would be true. Imagine all those action scenes, the special effects without technology! I am even more stumped as to how they did them. I love the part where he goes back to work at the theatre, and suddenly falls asleep. He “leaves” his body and enters the movie screen where he is caught in a series of cuts. For example, he is about to dive into a body of water, when the picture cuts to a snow bank. Buster completes his dive headfirst into a pile of snow. By showing the movie screen slightly framed with the interior of the movie theater, Keaton is inviting us to participate in three worlds: the real audience, the audience within the movie and Buster himself, caught in the film.
ReplyDeleteAfter these surreal scenes, he enters into the middle of a crime mystery in which he plays Sherlock Jr., a real detective with all the confidence that Buster lacks. He defeats certain death, solves the mystery about who stole the pearls and participates in hair-raising chases, such as the one where he rides alone on the handlebars of a motorcycle, thinking that his faithful servant is driving! It was also very comical towards the end, for example when he and the girl are in the water and he puts up the roof and drives it like a sailboat. I never really liked slapstick humor in modern films; it seems silly, but in this silent film it was so appropriate and the timing was just right.
Watching Buster Keaton made me realize how ageless he is, and how today, younger actors copy his masterful facial expressions. It is true that silent actors must act in a way completely different from the way modern actors who have dialogue to interpret their roles. A silent actor must emphasize their actions with body language and facial expressions so that the audience can better understand what the actor is feeling and portraying on screen. Stage actors are probably similar in that without a camera, and with a live audience, they have to act in a bigger way, with their bodies and voices, than the intimacy that a film camera allows.
My favorite sequence was at the end, when Buster is finally allowed to kiss the girl who has actually solved the real-life mystery on her own. Buster peers through the window in the projection booth to look at the film for tips on how to kiss the girl. Now that he’s back in the real world, Buster still looks at film for ways to enhance his own dreary life. The great joke comes when the film “fades to black” and fades up again with the movie couple surrounded by children. Buster scratches his head and decides not to give his girl the cozy hug, his confused face says it all and it is hilarious.
Another aspect of the film that amazed me was the music. This is 1924 and there is not just the classical music and jazz that you would expect from that era, but also an incredible soulful guitar that sounds like the blues from the 1950’s, and then at the end, when he is in the car with the girl (still in his dream), there is a snappy James Bond music playing that sounds like it is straight out of the 1960’s. It made me realize that we never know how much of what we see and hear has come long before we actually think.
Emma,
DeleteI think your response was very clear and straightforward. I particularly enjoyed how you made a modern day reference to a silent film (The Artist). You also encourage the reader to imagine how movies were made and to think about the roles of special effects. Lastly, I agree with your statement about how stage actors, like silent film actors, must "emphasize their actions with body language and facial expressions so that the audience can better understand what the actor is feeling and portraying..."
Great Job!
Wow this is good Emma. I like how you talked about the different types of music because I didn't really pay any attention to it. Also how you knew about the oscars and all of that!! And the artist looks like it would be another good movie!
ReplyDeleteAbout the content alone, I don't thinks it was a great movie, since much of the story happened while he was dreaming, which makes the movie not making any sense. Like the part when Sherlock Jr. walked into the movie in the movie while he was dreaming, and he fell into the snow while the scene changes, it just doesn’t make any sense since the change of scene doesn’t even match or make sense with the movie which was in the movie. I know it took place in a dream and doesn’t have to make sense, but people still want to watch ‘‘something’’ from the movie, and I don’t think “its because it’s in a dream’‘ makes it better, I mean, people does say “its just a movie” to explain or to stand for a lame movie but I just doesn’t makes it better. I agree to what Nathan said that a huge part of the movie was just a ‘‘woo wow’’ factor, but of course, its a comedy, maybe its enough for just having woo wow factors.
ReplyDeleteBesides the story, I like the special effects quite much, it must have been like a Avatar in the 50’s, I mean, special effects like the dreaming part, the scene switching while Sherlock Jr. was in the movie which was in the movie and the suitcase jumping thingy, it’s film editing was so great that it seems so realistic. But I think the part when Sherlock Jr. was riding the bike on his own, and the scrolling background was a failure, it just seemed so unreal. Maybe, I thought, maybe by combining a film with the background and the film while Sherlock Jr. was riding on the bike(with a blank background) would do better. (or maybe they did so, but too obvious that its being edited)
I think Buster Keaton was a great actor by looking into his act, of expressing through his facial expression and body language. I can’t really tell the better or worse between silent actors/actresses, to me, they are all great actors/actresses. The reason I can’t tell is because I think it’s much easier to tell if someone is a great actor/actress by judging from if they acted the role precisely and naturally, while acting naturally is very important. Since the silent actors/actresses tend to act over-exaggerated to emphasize the motion which mostly because they have to express by acting silently, there is no such thing as acting naturally, but only acting prickly
Overall, I think the movie Sherlock Jr. was a great movie to make you laugh, but I would rate it average.
Eric, I agree that the dream sequence was a little too long, the effects were cool, though. Even watching it as a modern viewer the scene creation still puzzled, but for my taste the fist four changes were enough. No matter how brilliant your effects, plot is ultimately more interesting, something some modern film makers should keep in mind.
DeleteSherlock Jr. though old is an exceptionably rich film. In places, I found more skill in acting and clever touches of plot expression than I have seen in hours of some more modern films. For example, the facial expression of the local sheik (sheik heister) when he finds the price of the box bought by Sherlock Jr. is the same, as the amount he sold the father’s pocket watch for. The pawn ticket says “watch and chain $4.00”, and as the sheik turns Sherlock Jr.’s box over he sees that it is also marked $4.00. First the sheik’s eyebrows are raised in obvious surprise, just as suddenly he narrows his eye and looks sideways, conveying loud and clear, though without words a cunning thought has insinuated its way into his brain. Barley a second after the “Ooh, maybe I have and idea” expression is on his face it is replaced by another yet obviously different eyebrow raise as his eyes shift back to the box. This expression managing to convey that not only is there an idea in his head, but that the sheik is now going to use it to his advantage.
ReplyDeleteThough this is not the only scene in the movie where explanatory and easily comprehensible body language is used, it was the first scene I have ever seen, where I was able to literally read a character’s mind by watching his/her face. In modern movies, actors are able to reach great depth of expression, but always with the need to express themselves verbally, weather it be out loud to a friend, or a flashback to a memory, which conveniently plays out like a mini film, within the movie. For the movies today this technique makes sense as we usually try to create true to life characters, who behave and communicate as normal people, meaning you cannot read each thought they have just by watching their face.
However, I feel the Sherlock Jr. could give some pointers to stage actors. On stage, we do not have the technology, and often not the plot for fancy effects, which allow us to watch the character’s thoughts. Characters on stage rely on dialog, and monologues, as well as body language to convey what the think or fell about themselves, their situation, and other characters. The trap I have noticed in several plays I have seen (preformed live in the present time) is that characters sometimes forget to make themselves physically a book. When speaking it is easy for a character to express themselves, but there are many times, when a stage actor is standing by without any lines, and usually that is when the actor loses their expression. In Sherlock, Jr., weather a character is “speaking” or not their body conveys a message so clear no words are needed. Actors who had “nothing to do” could potentially learn to convey meaning like the actors in silent film, sending loud, messages and dramatic revelations, even when in the background.
Sherlock Jr. has body language which is so easy to read because he acts and moves as if no one is or will be watching him; when a person is daydreaming you can read a lot in their face, because they do not remember to wear their emotion mask. The same can be said of Sherlock Jr. in a scene such as when he is digging through a pile of junk, looking for a spare dollar. A girl comes by and asks him if he has found the dollar she lost, Sherlock Jr. jerks his head in a way which convers annoyed suspicion and skepticism. Normally most people would not project such a hostile and blatant emotion at a stranger, but for the silent film, as it would on stage it give the audience vital information with no sound.
I like the detailed analysis of the facial expressions. You're good at reading body language, and your blog post gave detailed explanations for the emotions I felt were being conveyed, but couldn't articulate what exactly the actors were doing to convey those emotions.
DeleteI really enjoyed watching their facial expressions as well. They definitely are more important and more visible in silent films. I liked your point about being "able to read a character's mind by watching his/her face." I agree with that completely. You did a nice job detailing how the actors had to give stronger facial expressions and body language in order to be effective in the silent film.
DeleteSherlock Jr has very interesting music, and characters. The music through most of the movie was not a tune I could name, but it would either just be background music, or music that added to the intensity of the scene. These songs were period to the era (1920’s) and never subtracted to the plot. Sometimes they would accent a particular intensity during a scene, or like when Sherlock realizes he has only one dollar after he’s lost two to the women who’ve lost money, the music turns sad and gloomy, to accent the evident sadness.
ReplyDeleteI was overjoyed, however, to recognize a song during the earlier part of the movie. When Sherlock Jr/Buster Keaton has just given his two dollars away to the two women, and the big muscly man comes by and finds his wallet with a wad of cash in the trash pile. A phrase from the chorus of the song “We’re in the money!” was played. “We’re in the money!” is a song from the musical 42nd Street. The time period of the show is the exact same era as Buster Keatons movie, and the song itself is about one of the girls finding a dime and singing that they can pay rent and spend, lend, send, and roll the money along. I did tech for 42nd Street a few summers ago with NCCT, so having the wonderful memories and inside jokes related to a show I’ve been a part of gave me a fun connection with the movie.
The characters are also very interesting, inclusive of the way they are introduced to the story. The main characters have a little blip about them before we actually see the actors, plus the actor or actresses name. “The girl in the case- Kathryn McGuire” is displayed on the screen before the girl is seen dressed almost as if she was a raggedy ann doll playing with her dog. The same happened as her father and the hired man were introduced, and as every other character was introduced.
The characters themselves are quite unique. The way she is dressed, styled, and treated by most of the characters, the girl, outside of dream world, looks like a porcelain doll, and has this young and naive child like appearance and character. She seems too young to be accepting a ring from anybody. None dream world Sherlock is the same. He seems like such a small boy to be wearing a suit and proposing to a girl. Behaviors like buying her candy, the fake mustache, and the dreams of becoming a detective only add to that. However, these two characters both seem far older and more mature in dream world. The clothing changes, the girls dress is more of a modern flashy flapper dress than a dress worn by a dainty porcelain doll. Sherlock is wearing a nicer suit, and a top hat. They both dress more maturely. Sherlock is a trained detective, and the girl, a fancy and mature lady. He ends up becoming the hero in dream world, and in the real world, the girl becomes the hero. And they all lived happily ever after. The End.
alexandra- i find it interesting how you concentrated so much on the visual/audio aspects of the movie more than the acting or plot. i like how you linked the music to a show of that time period. it's also great how you noticed the costuming which is often overlooked. Finally, you manage to think about the plot as if it really were to happen, making a connection to the modern day world. I think it's great that you were able to connect with the film through the music.
DeleteWhile watching Sherlock Jr. I was quietly comparing it to the only other silent film I’ve seen. That was the General starring Buster Keaton who co-directed with Clyde Bruckman. Coincidentally, the same star and director of Sherlock Jr. I was not aware at the time of viewing that the two movies were made by the same people but thinking back to it I can see many similarities. Both were comedies with simple plots (getting the girl in Sherlock Jr. and catching a run away train in the General), wonderful stunts, enjoyable camera work and a bumbling main character. But the similar ways in which the story is told make me wonder about film at that time. Was slap stick humor the only vein for silent films or might that just have been the fact that both were directed by the same person? Was it possible to make a silent drama or a horror movie?
ReplyDeleteI think that silent movies are good learning tool when it comes to acting. In modern movies sometimes actors can get away with simply looking pretty/manly and reading the lines while explosions happen behind them but they couldn’t do that in silent films. For example, when Buster Keaton is attempting to court the girl he makes it awkwardness so apparent that the audience feels uncomfortable. And she makes her frustration at his shyness very clear through facial expressions and actions, all without saying an audible word. Because of this I feel that any aspiring actor should take note of the way the actors in the film use their bodies instead of their voices to convey what they are thinking. Silent films should also be held in high esteem simply because they came first. Those film makers might not have had anything two work off of when it came to techniques. Bruckman had to come up with the idea of layering film without knowing whether it would be successful or if he would just end up wasting resources. I feel that film makers of that time had the advantage of their work being completely original without having to worry about faux pas but they had the disadvantage of testing techniques through trial and error.
Even after discussing it with the class I am still confused about the dream sequence. I realize that some of the things he does are ridiculous and not possible except in a dream but what I don’t get is why it was necessary in the first place. At first I thought that he might solve the real crime in his subconscious and was a bit disappointed when he didn’t. The makers could have cut the sequence out and while the movie would have been much shorter it wouldn’t have effected the plot line at all. Maybe I’m just not a fan of unneeded information.
I wish that it was possible for us to see what it was like behind the camera. I would’ve loved to see how they set up for the stunts what it must have been like for the actors to know that they were in a silent film. In some scenes like when the father of the girl asked Buster to leave the house the characters talked to each other but all the audience “heard” was what dialogue could fit in a frame. What were the scripts like? What type of cameras were used? Did they shoot on location or use a set? How big was the crew? How did they manage the sinking car scene? It’s a pity they didn’t have a “special features” camera like a lot of movies today do.
Sara
DeleteI found the interpretation you made on Sherlock Jr. very interesting. You brought up some questions that made me think about the film in a more critical sense. I agree that it would've been very fun to be behind the scenes during their shoots and actually see how they were able to pull off such stunts. One thing I wish you had done was answer some questions you brought up. I know this might be hard because a lot of the questions had to do with stuff that we see in the movie but you must have some theories or ideas to answer them. Overall a very interesting read.
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ReplyDeleteAfter watching Sherlock Jr., I realized that special effects and continuous dialogue doesn’t necessarily make a movie any better than a silent one. It takes an above average actor to create a silent film. Without dialogue and effects, the movie’s success falls completely on the actors to use strong emotions and gestures to display their thoughts and feelings. They are the ones holding the film together. Yes, there wasn’t great technology in the 1920’s. But the acting was just as good then as it is today. For example, during the pool scene when the axe fell by the two men, their facial expressions clearly showed how shocked they were. The axe had nearly hit them. Dialogue wouldn’t be essential in that scene because the viewer can tell how the actor felt by watching his silent reaction.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing to note about these films is that the actors did their own stunts. Jumping from train to train and falling into a moving car from above are both very risky actions. I often wonder if perhaps not as many people became actors back in the early 1900s due to the fact that they would have to perform their own stunts. I, personally, would not act in a movie if it required my participation in various stunts. One accident could quickly end my career or even my life.
Speaking of accidents, one of my grandfather's friends was running across train cars just like in Sherlock Jr. The year was 1953 and the group of mischievous youth was out taking risks. The story goes that my grandfather and his friends had bought train tickets in the Midwest. One of the kids ran from car to car and ended up falling off the train due to a disturbance (a sharp turn or sudden jolt). He ended up only suffering from a broken leg and arm. Whether or not this story is entirely true, I don't know, but that's how it goes. The train scene from Sherlock Jr. reminded me of this story.
Aside from the superb acting, I thought that the choice of music couldn't have been any better. There was a large variety of tones and styles ranging from upbeat to slow and minor. Not only did the movie rely on gestures from the actors, but it also had to use fitting music in order to really set the scene. When the motorcycle ride began, the music changed to a fast paced and exciting piece. During the numerous calm and relaxed moments, the music ranged from classical piano rhythm to Mississippi Delta Blues played on a Dobro.
I feel as if I could do a decent job in a silent film. This is because I wouldn't have to memorize any lines and could rely on my gestures to express my thoughts and feelings. I feel pretty comfortable using gestures. With some practice, I’m sure I could get a clear point across to my audience. In fact, I think it would be very enjoyable and educational if the class split into small groups to make short silent films. The groups could unanimously choose one song to play and then act out a small scene that would fit the music’s genre. I think this project could work out well.
All in all, after watching Sherlock Jr., I realize how much effort goes into a silent film. The effort is comparable to a modern movie. I am very impressed with the numerous abilities and skills displayed by Buster Keaton and eagerly look forward to watching another one of his silent films. Ever since watching Sherlock Jr., I’ve been thinking about and even researching how these silent films were made and what makes them distinctively equal or, in some cases, superior to modern made movies. I am glad I had an opportunity to watch Sherlock Jr. in my English class.
Jared, I liked how you realized that it is a lot of work to make a silent film. Even to the actors, who must put so much work into their facial expressions. It was also nice to see that this story reminded you of something else that has happened in your life, with your grandfather. I think if a movie can do that, they have done their job. Great work on this post!
DeleteI like how you talked about the story that this film reminded you of, and i agree with you on the stunts part, the stunts in Sherlock Jr. was amazing. Your point about the music is also very true, it helped accent the characters facial expressions and movements.
DeleteSherlock,Jr
ReplyDeleteThe hardest thing for an actor to do is portray emotion. This challenge became even harder during the silent film era when actors could no longer use language to portray how they were feeling. Buster Keaton was a one of the most popular silent film stars during this era. His film, Sherlock, Jr. is a perfect example of how Keaton was able to not only portray emotion without words; but with little to no facial expression. Buster Keaton would use his entire body to display his character’s motivations. For example, in the scene when he is trying to show affection to the his female co-star, he easily portrays to the audience his nervousness and uncertainty of how he should go about showing his love, even though his facial expressions have barely changed from the beginning of the film.
Another emotion that is grasp during a scene where you can’t even make out his face, is his determination to figure out who committed the crime while he is following the man who framed him. Buster Keaton follows his subject to steps behind him and is so focused on keeping up that he crashes into several walls and is eventually led completely off course when he boards a train heading in the wrong direction.
Needless to say, the stunts that Buster Keaton pulls off in this film, but in his other films, are amazing enough on their own to keep an audience satisfied. Through these incredible stunts, Buster Keaton shows his character’s stubborness. No matter what happens to the young detective, he continues to try to solve the case even if he has to jump off buildings, ride motorcycles without his hands, or piloting a car in the water.
It’s hard to call the emotions that Buster Keaton shows are realistic. They are often over exaggerated and followed up by ridiculous stunts, but this is not much different from the block buster films of today which have over exaggerated emotions and impossible stunts such as driving a car into a helicopter. At least the silent film actors had the excuse that they couldn’t speak and their stunts possibly even more impressive, because many silent film actors performed their own stunts.
It’s very interesting to look back now at silent film in their prime, because in the past year there has been an interest by many filmmakers on the history of making film. For example, The Artist, which won several Oscars this season. The Artist shows that silent films were not just a constriction of technology, but can be used to great effect in a modern day film. I personally hope to see more silent films emerging in the next couple of years as a rediscovered art form. And,hopefully, the old silent films, such as Sherlock, Jr. will be re-embrassed by the public.
Watching Sherlock, Jr. has inspired me to watch more silent films in the future and hopefully learn some of the acting techniques they used to great effect.
Shelock Jr. is a not my favorite movie. I would easily watch Avatar, Inception or any other modern day film over a forty-four minute black and white film about a detective’s secret (or literal) dream. This is all opinion based, I can understand why it was the most loved movie of 1924, and received as one of the top 100 movies of all time by Time magazine. Me being the 15 year old teenager growing up in the 21st century gets bored easily while watching films like Gold Rush or Sherlock Jr. with its minimal special effects, basic plotline, and slapstick humor that frankly can get very repetitive very fast. Yet, with all of my personal opinions, I must push my bias away to explain to you all why Sherlock Jr. is so well received today.
ReplyDeleteIn the following paragraphs, I will crush my inner feelings towards this film and explain why most people adore Sherlock Jr. In a whole, the film brings light-hearted fun to the screen in a way that most hadn’t seen before in 1924. With the irresistibly cute love story of a young movie-theatre janitor and a beautiful girl. This movie has a timeless story of love, deceit, and humor.
One scene that seems to be set in most people’s minds is the lost dollar bil scene. This is great fun for the viewer, where multiple people come up to Keaton and say they lost a dollar bill. Keaton started handing out his own money, because he feels bad. Keaton uses his ability as a scene actor to portray the hilaria which has persuaded by multiple people telling him that they have lost their money.
Another great scene in this movie is the one where Keaton’s character is stuck inside a film reel. “A film inside a film” is what I call it. This is a something that audiences had never seen before, and it took Keaton a long time to just get that small scene finished. In 1924, this was a huge accomplishment for Keaton in his film career.
This movie had a lot of high points, like all of the times you see very scary special effects. Like the one-man motorcycle ride through the town. Even today, people are dazzled by how Keaton did that scene, or at minute 33 where we see Keaton fall of the building directly to the moving car via the gate. All of these make the audience (even today) get frightened for Keaton’s safety.
Today, we respect Sherlock Jr. in an admirable way. It set the film stage up for many silent films to come. The one thing that this movie lacked, to me, was a good ending. I felt that the ending of this movie was very rushed. It was only the two lovers and a quick funny routine. I wish it was more of sincere ending than a foolish one. I wonder why Kateon decided to do that? Overall, this movie does have what it takes to be a classic film, and think it definitely one that most people should watch.
Matthew, Gorgeous,
DeleteI totally agree that what Sherlock Jr lacks is a proper ending. It is very silly, and quick, and does amuse the audience, but they could have taken their time and made it a little more personal for the two characters. They sort of just miriaculously become engaged not once, but TWICE during the film, and I feel as if that bit, though funny earlier in the movie, was lame at the end.
~~Alexandra
Before watching Sherlock Junior, much of my knowledge of silent films came from more contemporary parodies of the genre. I actually have the desire to go back and re-watch the various parodies, now that I have a better idea of the actual subject they were parodying.
ReplyDeleteInstead of a formal review, I’m just going to type out some of the things that stuck out for me from the film-
1) Buster Keaton’s face. Keaton’s eyebrows managed to be more expressive that many actor’s entire face. As an actor, I would love to be able convey that much emotion with little more than a few well-timed reaction shots.
2) The Stunts. Anyone who says acting is easy clearly hasn’t seen what early actors put themselves through for their art. Considering all of that was without the assistance of wires, mats, or really any safety measures whatsoever, you have to admire the sheer dedication Keaton and his contemporaries had.
3) The dialogue cards. Although I enjoying the novelty of Sherlock Junior, I have to say that the dialogue popping up on screen utterly destroyed the flow, my investment in the movie. I’m glad they don’t do that any longer.
4) The special effects. Some of them looked better-which is to say more realistic, than CGI that I’ve seen. The lack of “easy” special effects, in my opinion, made the more special, and forced the actors to be more creative.
I can’t honestly say that I wish the silent film genre hadn’t been replaced by “talkies,” but Sherlock Junior offered an interesting look into the early days of the film industry. You could see how many of the devices, both narrative, and technical they used were still in use today, just evolved to modern technology.
Lastly, I now can act horribly pretentious, talking about silent films to friends and family. If anyone has a pair of hipster glasses they can lend me, I’m in the market.
Certain people have requested I add more detail. As I would never dream of defying certain people, I have decided to elaborate.
DeleteSpecial Effects: The trick involving Keaton jumping through a suitcase was incredibly good, utterly implausible, but realistic enough that the audience could only speculate on how it was done. Compared to the jarring, scene stealing, yet clearly fake special effects of many summer blockbusters, it was far better constructed, not just in the context of it's time, but overall.
Dialogue Cards: It's a shame they felt it was needed to use the dialogue cards when in my opinion, the actors were doing a perfectly fine job of conveying the plot without them. Every time one popped up, it reminded me acutely that I was watching a movie, and felt forced, and artificial.
I remember watching silent films for something my family calls "Family Movie and Pizza Night", which we have on every friday. Whenever my father would tell me we were watching a Charlie Chaplin movie I would groan, mostly because I couldn't read as fast as the slides showed the words, and also because I could never understand what was going on. Now that I am older I found that I really enjoyed it and was able to read faster, obviously, but I also got the humor. I was really impressed by the amount of effects they were able to do back in 1924. I was interested in how they did the mask effect in the scene where he starts to dream and a see through him starts walking around.
ReplyDeleteThe stunts that Buster Keaton did were awesome and the dream sequence was especially hilarious when he would jump through things and come out unharmed. I wondered how much cutting and re-attaching of film had to be done to get the scene to go smoothly.
The facial expressions were very minimum. It seems to me that they are minimum in a lot of black and white films. After watching “Sherlock Jr.” I looked up Buster Keaton and realized there are almost no photos of him smiling. Ever. The woman in the film didn’t use many different facial expressions either. It was almost always a sad expression, or an expression that makes me think “I don’t care”. One black and white film I’ve seen that I know has different facial expressions is “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”.
I wonder what the reason is for the speeding up of the film. The pace of it didn’t feel very natural a lot of the time. This odd pacing seems very normal for black and white films that I’ve seen.
I was also very interested in the music. In the scene during the dream sequence when Keaton seemed to enter a film inside the film, I noticed that there was a band in front of the screen. I then wondered if when this movie first came out, was it completely silent? I am wondering if there were no speakers in theaters in 1924 and there had to be a live band playing the soundtrack.
Yet another thing that came to mind was what would they look like in color and in person. What kind of makeup was used so that there was not a lot of shadows on their faces. A lot of their faces looked completely white the entire time.
I also wondered about what the sets looked like if i were there while they were filming. Where they man made sets or did they film it on location. I am mostly wondering about the part where the car is flung into the pond and if there was a lot of green screening used then.
I am tempted, now, to go home and make my own silent film to see if it would be any good, taking into account: makeup, lighting, pacing and facial expressions.
Watching Sherlock Jr. in class has made me think about silent films and films that are older. For homework we were asked whether we find older films that are silent, black and white, or use less special effects to be “primitive” or “less sophisticated.” I answered the question agreeing that on some points the older movies are more primitive but was greeted with confusion. Therefore, I thought I would delve more into why I believe that and justify my view a little bit more.
ReplyDeleteI was mainly answering the question from looking at how a film can affect an audience. When looking at modern day films, it is easy to be pulled into the action and really gain a connection with the characters. I love being able to cry during a great movie where I’ve felt that this connection has been made. The same is true for movies that aren’t sad, I find it very enjoyable to be so enthralled with a movie that you truly feel like you are there. I think that it is harder to do this with black and white films. Although I thoroughly enjoyed “Sherlock Jr.” I didn’t really feel an emotional bond with it. I think this is mostly because it is hard to connect to characters without much dialogue or sound. I feel that I really get to know most characters during dialogue and noticed that lack of the dialogue in my closeness to the characters. If something had happened to Buster Keaton’s character I don’t think I would have been terribly affected. I also didn’t have a giddy feeling at the end of the film when he “get’s the girl” so to speak, although that may have been because it was a very awkward scene. The reason I think that it was so awkward is because, in order to overcome the lack of words, silent films often try to get easy laughs by being slapsticky. The dumb gags and humor make you laugh, but again prevent the viewer from forming any real connection with the characters. The lack of dialogue also prevented there from being much plot development. The whole dream sequence sort of brought us away from the main plot. Although it was similar to the main action, I found it distracting because it was so unrealistic. I found it amusing, but at the same time it bothered me when the motorcycle kept on driving despite not being steered or getting any gas. As I said, while I feel that these things make “Sherlock Jr.” more primitive than modern films I still genuinely enjoyed it.
I didn’t find the movie less sophisticated because the special effects were less sophisticated then modern films. In fact, I find the special effects to be almost more impressive then in films such as “Avatar” where the whole movie focuses largely on CGI effects. “Sherlock Jr.” uses special effects on an entirely different level. I find it very impressive that the actors did their own stunts without having stunt doubles, especially after learning that Buster Keaton fractured his neck during one stunt. It is also amazing how much they could do with limited technology. It also added extra enjoyment to figure out exactly how they did each stunt.
I think that the film used many techniques to make the movie enjoyable despite being silent. They used slapstick, real stunts, as well as the music, which is used wonderfully to show the viewer what they should think (the music sped up or slowed down and was very much in tune to the action on screen.) However, I think that the film is less sophisticated than more modern films simply because it is much harder to gain a connection to characters and delve deeper into plots with silent films than it is for movies that can use dialogue and sound effects.
Sherlock Jr. was certainly one of my favorite black and white films. The key word there is, “black and white films,” keeping in mind the fact that i have seen 2 if not 3 black and white films before hand. I’ve always liked seeing movies, just ones from this era. Sound has a huge impact on a movie in my opinion, and the lack of it in most black and white films just makes them boring. However, after seeing Sherlock Jr., I realized that some films can be entertaining without sound. Although I wouldn’t pick Sherlock Jr. over Inception or The Departed, I still enjoyed the choreography and screenplay that Sherlock Jr. used. For example, in Sherlock Jr. there is an instance where the main character is following his suspect very, very closely. The choreography in this sequence of film is incredible, and is very entertaining.
ReplyDeleteSherlock Jr. has parts where it feels like a stage play. For example, the part of the film where he is dreaming and in the movie, he is in a house with several other people. The house has an upstairs and a downstairs that is visible at all times, very unlike a modern day film. This makes it feel more like the set of a play, rather than a movie set. Another aspect of the film which I found made it seem more like a play, was the filming in general. Since there was only one angle being filmed each chapter of the movie, it gave the movie the effect that we were an audience. Meaning the viewer could only see what is in front of him/her, not all angles. I found this very interesting, because it is so much different than the way movies are filmed in modern day.
I was wondering how they did some of the stunts in the movie. For example, when he is running from the thieves towards the end of the film, he turns a corner and an old lady opens a suitcase, and he jumps in and disappears. Then, we find him pinned against the backside of the wall behind the woman, and escapes locking his chasers on the other side of the wall. Nowadays a stunt such as this would have been easy. However, in this film it seems as though this would take time, and a lot of precision. I tried to think of a way you could do this in the film, but without much luck. Maybe some sort of magic trick was done.
I believe I had an epiphany while watching this film. Seeing things in black and white made me realize the simple things in a life are what make things exciting. The fact that this film can be even moderately entertaining without special effects, excessive violence, words, and other things commonly found in modern day films, is amazing. No, this movie was not my favorite, but the idea that something so simple (well for our era i mean) and still be a work of art is really cool. I’ll probably join a black and white film club in honor of Charlie Chaplin. Love ya Erin!
REPLY TO ERIC LAN (reply button is not working)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Buster Keaton may have used body language to express his personality, but there is no change in his facial expression through the entire movie. I also agree with you that it would probably be as entertaining as Avatar to people back when this movie came out because they were not used to so many effects.
Sherlock Jr. was not what I thought it would be for what it was. The
ReplyDeleteplot was awkward and I liked how everything fit together more than other movies in are time, plus the risks they took then and now are very differnt we have more stuff to keep us from getting really hurt or even worse. For a silent filmed movie like that I thought it was pretty good ive never seen one befor i thought it was going to be really bad. I thought the dream part was very well made out with everything they did the disguise, the jumping threw the person to the other side of the wall, the car boat was just really good for there time and the scene changes.
I like with the dream sequence there were parts that would be like in a real dream makes it look more like a realalistic movie a real. I noticed that there wasnt as much text as I thought there would be wich also made me happy cause it would be bad if it had alot in my view. The music the had in this movie were good cause the music fit with the stuff happaning in the movie if it was fast and funny it would play fast and funny music at least thats what I saw.
I liked how they also didnt try too make it too funny like the three stooges they try way too hard to be funny but this movie was good in romance mistery and comedy it was very well made.
The silent film Sherlock Jr. is about a young man who wants to become a detective, but in the mean time, he works at a movie theatre where he is trying to make enough money so he can buy a ring for the woman he loves. Yet there is also another man asking for her hand in marriage except he's a lying, cheating, stealing Jerk who just wants her money. I really don't like when people feel that they can by people and not working for there feelings. So now it is busters job to prove that he is a cheating thief and that he truly wants her and not her money. It didn't help him when he changed the price on the box from 1$ to 4$ just to impress her to make himself look richer. Instead it back fired on him when the guy that had originally stole the watch and used it to get the ring, slipped the reseat he got for it in to busters pocket. Thats whats happens when you try to cheat your way through it comes back and kicks you in the butt. Which unfortunately the watch was worth 4$. "It's called Karma."
ReplyDeleteI was wondering how they were able to get buster to come out of his body while he was dreaming. Did they shoot him just lying there for a while, then shoot him again coming up from the chair and then walking around for a minute or so, and then maybe they tinted the film or something or exposed it to the light to make it lighter? I mean its hard to understand how they were able to get that to work?
some of the thing I didn't like was where buster didn't have many facial expressions.
( to be continued)
I mean I get that he used a lot of hand gestures and body movement to get what he was "saying" through but I would have like to see more facial exprestions. It would have been much more entertaning. I liked towards the end of the film, how they got the car to float in the water for a while. In a more modern day movie they might have had it as a car submarine or it might even turn in to a speed boat. It gives it a sence of originality. Another thing I like is where all the stunt man in Sherlock Jr. do all thier stunts at there own risk, and they did some intence stuff. Like whens hes on the roof of the building and jumps one to that wooden thing and rides it down in to the back of a moving car. Where in modern day films they might be hong by suspenders so they wont get hurt. I have to give props to buster for doing that cause if that was the only way down from that building and my guy was getting away i would have said see you later and would have waited for the fire department to get me down.
DeleteI have never really grown up with silent films I might even say this might have been the first one that I have ever seen. I thougth it was hystarical I laughed so much. So far all the silent films I have watched which would be one were well produced. I would have to say though that I do favor more of the modern day films, because I am a huge action finatic and love the special efects. After watching sherlock Jr. I definatly respect actors more and what they do and even more, silent film actors.
After having watched Sherlock Jr. and learned some of the techniques they use in filming, it is clear that these films were not as stone age as I had previously thought. The special effect that most stunned me was the scene, in Sherlock’s dream, when he was changing backgrounds, and interacting with each differently, for example when he went to sit down on the stone bench, but it suddenly changed, and he fell on the ground. When something like this is scene in a more modern film, it is clear how they do it; a green screen and CGI. When I saw this effect in Sherlock Jr. I wondered how they did it, and that, in my opinion made the film more entertaining, and thought provoking. It seemed to me that more time and effort was spent on these stunts and special affects in Sherlock Jr. than is spent in a newer film. It is a fact that when this silent film is compared to films that incorporated modern technology, the modern is more realistic. Realism is something that the directors could not achieve in silent films.
ReplyDeleteIt was apparent to me that in our class discussion there were two main opinions: Silent Films are better than modern films and modern films are better than silent films (by modern I am not referring solely to movies like avatar and Terminator, but also to movies like Casablanca, The Deer Hunter, Saving Private Ryan, Blazing Saddles, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and True Grit(1969) . My favorite films reside on the more modern side of things, and it is true that I enjoy the realism and plots of the newer productions. After seeing Sherlock Jr. I still retain that opinion, but this does not mean that I think Silent films are boring or un-advanced by any means. Like all vintage or collectible items, there are people who would argue that it is better, and if someone enjoys the comedy, music or stage like acting of the silent films, it is not my place to argue with their taste. When I was about 8 years old my dad brought home a Buster Keaton films called the general, and it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen, it changed my view of silent films.
I agree sky that it made the film much more entertaining that they were doing their own stunts and weren't just standing in front of a green screen. I also agree that the plots of modern day films are more interesting but they are also very different from silent film plots so i think that you wouldn't have to choose between one or the other. Someones taste in movies could definitely like both.
DeleteThe black and white film “Sherlock Jr.” is one of the few black and white films I have seen. To me it doesn't fit the stereotypical black and white film, it is so much more interesting. After talking with the class about the film I realized that there was so much more that went into the making of it than I originally thought. Movies nowadays with stunts are all made on green screens with harnesses. For example the majority of the movie harry potter where they are flying around on their broomsticks, the characters never actually take flight they just add in the scenery later. In “sherlock Jr.” the actors actually do everything. There is even a scene where buster keaton breaks his neck hanging from a water spout. I think that it’s so much cooler when you know that the actors are actually doing the stunts that are in the movie.
ReplyDeleteAnother element the the silent film that I thought was interesting was the music. Since the characters had no voices the music was the key to helping the audience decide how they were to feel in that particular section. If the music was fast and loud it meant that you were supposed to feel excited and rushed. If the music was slow it meant that you were supposed to feel emotional or sad.
There were other techniques that the actors also used to give emotion to the audience. They had to really focus on the how their face looked. you can tell a lot about a person just by the expression on their face. The actors in this movie did a really good job of this. They were so good at displaying their emotions with their facial expression that you knew exactly how they were feeling without any dialogue
I went to visit my grandmother over april break. When I was there my dad and I came across some of their old home movies. It was so interesting to actually see how the film worked. When we talked about splicing film together during class I didn’t really understand what it meant, but when I was helping my dad thread the film threw an old movie projector i saw how they fit it together. It was so neat to see it and it really made me appreciate the technology that we have today and how much easier it is to film everything with digital. Even though its a lot faster now I don’t think it is any better. I really enjoyed Sherlock Jr. it was a kind of humor that you dont see in films anymore nowadays.