Sherlock Jr.

Day 124 - 5/4/09 - Movie #123

BEFORE: I'm done with train movies, but I've got some more Buster Keaton films, since TCM ran a mini-marathon a few months ago. They did make us watch this film at NYU as part of a movie criticism course, so perhaps I shouldn't count it as a new movie - but that was over 20 years ago, and I've forgotten most everything about it.

THE PLOT: A film projectionist longs to be a detective, and puts his skills to work when he is framed by a rival for stealing his girlfriend's father's pocketwatch.

AFTER: Considering what year it was made (1924) the FX are pretty impressive - from the "double image" technique when the projectionist starts to dream, to the changing scenes after he steps into the movie screen. And the dual role as Sherlock Jr. in the movie-within-the-movie (how Shakespearean!) makes this one of the most self-referential films, right after "Duck Amuck".

RATING: 7 out of 10 boxes of chocolate