The Freshman
By Kit Macdonald
An essential piece of viewing for anyone who wants to gain a full appreciation of the silent film era, The Freshman captures the spirit of 1920s American college life with warmth, satire and acrobatic physicality in its 75 delightful minutes. Harold Lloyd plays Harold Lamb, – nicknamed "Speedy" – an eager, awkward young man who heads off to college determined to become popular by mimicking a movie character he admires.
Harold tries desperately to fit in and believes that the key to popularity and romantic success is enthusiasm, conformity, and slapstick charm. However, his well-meaning efforts make him the butt of jokes and pranks, while his fixation on joining the football team leads to one of American cinema's most memorable final sequences.