This documentary, included in the "Harry Langdon: Lost and Found" DVD set, does a nice job of telling the story of Langdon's career, and I like the method of using expert interviews to get the story across. The spare narration and the multiple perspectives that we get on many of the issues surrounding Langdon's career keep it a relatively evenhanded piece. It's interesting to hear the varying thoughts of different film historians on the relative merits of some of Langdon's films. At the same time, it's clear that everyone involved has a deep affection for Harry Langdon's comedy, and that the resulting documentary is a real labor of love.
A lot of the interviews look like they were shot on consumer video equipment and seem to have been recorded in hotel rooms, often on the bed. This is probably because the recording was done at a film convention, but it gives some of them an odd look. This is pretty incidental though, to the substance of the analysis we get in them, which s good, and most of the experts seem very likable and enthusiastic.
The film clips are generally used well, and I am glad they allowed many of them to run for a considerable amount of time, though rights issues seem to have prevented the producers from using extracts from any of Langdon's much-discussed silent features.
At 74 minutes this is a very substantial documentary feature to find on the Langdon set, interesting as well as informative, and not reaching beyond its means.
A lot of the interviews look like they were shot on consumer video equipment and seem to have been recorded in hotel rooms, often on the bed. This is probably because the recording was done at a film convention, but it gives some of them an odd look. This is pretty incidental though, to the substance of the analysis we get in them, which s good, and most of the experts seem very likable and enthusiastic.
The film clips are generally used well, and I am glad they allowed many of them to run for a considerable amount of time, though rights issues seem to have prevented the producers from using extracts from any of Langdon's much-discussed silent features.
At 74 minutes this is a very substantial documentary feature to find on the Langdon set, interesting as well as informative, and not reaching beyond its means.
