The Harry Langdon Collection: Lost and Found (2007)

4 Stars (out of 4)

Baby Grace

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy The Harry Langdon Collection: Lost and Found on DVD

Harry Langdon is most often referred to as the "fourth great silent clown," ranking next to, but very much after, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. This distinction acknowledges his genius, but also raises a problem: just who was he? Chaplin, Keaton and Lloyd had very easily-defined personalities. Even looking at still photos of them gives an idea of what their films might be like. Langdon was called "the baby face," but that has very little to do with his screen persona. He was mainly like a version of the baffled Stan Laurel character, a little mopey and confused, but he could also be lascivious, crafty and pleasure-seeking. Moreover, while the other three controlled their own films, either by directing, writing or producing, Langdon was more or less at the mercy of others, notably director Frank Capra. And while Langdon's star sunk at the dawn of the talkie era, Capra's rose and continues to soar. Nevertheless, actually watching a Langdon film eases all these troubles, and one realizes that, indeed, we are in the presence of a comic mastermind.

DVD Details: A few years ago, Kino Video released the essential DVD Harry Langdon: The Forgotten Clown, featuring Langdon's three greatest feature films. Now Facets matches that set with this awesome, essential new four-disc collection. It comes with Langdon's excellent first feature film, His First Flame (1927), which was made before but released after Long Pants, as well as twenty other shorts, both complete and partially restored. The set includes tons of other footage, including fragments, home movies and other miscellaneous stuff, as well as a new feature documentary. Each film comes with an optional music track or a commentary track by various Langdon experts. The 20-page booklet includes several essays and detailed liner notes.