College Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A nerd goes to college, fails at sports, does blackface, somehow wins a boat race, and then pole vaults into a girl’s room to fight her jock boyfriend, only to then show them both as gravestones.

🍿 College: Detailed Plot Synopsis

High School Graduation

Ronald, the valedictorian, delivers a speech denouncing athletics, winning the favor of teachers but angering students, especially his girlfriend Mary. Mary states she prefers athletes to bookworms. His rival, Jeff, is a star athlete. Ronald’s speech alienates him from Mary, who desires an athletic partner.

College Enrollment and Athletic Attempts

To win back Mary, Ronald enrolls in the same college and attempts various sports, but fails miserably. He tries baseball, track and field, and other activities, resulting in humorous mishaps. He faces constant humiliation due to his lack of athletic ability, further complicating his efforts to impress Mary.

Working Through College

To afford college, Ronald takes on jobs, including working as a soda jerk and, controversially, disguising himself as a black waiter. These jobs lead to further comedic situations, especially when Mary discovers him in these roles. The blackface scene is now considered highly offensive and reflects the racist attitudes of the time.

The Dean’s Intervention and Rowing

The college dean sympathizes with Ronald’s situation and arranges for him to become the coxswain for the rowing team. The coach and team are resistant, leading to more comedic scenarios. A plot to sabotage Ronald backfires, and despite his inexperience, the team somehow wins the race.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• The Boy (Ronald) (Buster Keaton): A bookish high school graduate who attempts to become an athlete in college to win back his sweetheart.
• The Girl (Mary) (Anne Cornwall): Ronald’s sweetheart who initially prefers athletes and inspires his pursuit of sports.
• A Rival (Jeff) (Harold Goodwin): The athletic rival who competes with Ronald for Mary’s affection and embodies the athletic ideal.
• The Dean (Snitz Edwards): A sympathetic college dean who helps Ronald and relates to his romantic struggles.
• Crew Coach (Carl Harbaugh): The rowing coach who is initially resistant to Ronald’s involvement but ultimately has him join the team.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• The Girl: “When you change your mind about athletics, then I’ll change my mind about you.” – The girl expresses her disappointment with the boy’s anti-sports stance after his graduation speech.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: N/A
• Worldwide Gross: N/A

💥 College Reviews

Personal Review

I love Buster Keaton, but College is definitely a mixed bag. The blackface scene is cringe-worthy, and some of the gags feel repetitive. However, the ending rescue is fantastic, showcasing Keaton’s incredible athleticism. It reminded me why I love silent films. The final shot of the tombstones was surprisingly dark and unforgettable. Overall, it’s worth watching for the Keaton magic, but be prepared for some outdated and problematic content.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of Buster Keaton”
  • “Silent film enthusiasts”
  • “Viewers interested in classic comedies”
  • “Those interested in sports-themed comedies”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Racist content (blackface)”
  • “Mild slapstick violence”

Professional Reviews

• IMDb: “”College” may not be as well known as Buster Keaton’s other silent film comedies…but it’s a simple-minded story set against a college backdrop that features plenty of sight gags and sports activity to make this one enjoyable, especially to any avid sports fan.
• IMDb: “Worth watching even when Keaton was not at his very best he fared better than most in the same position…Keaton is fine, he has great comic timing and gives it his all…There are some great moments here, the standouts being the graduation speech, the soda jerk gag, the wonderfully wild climax and the initially cute but eventually sombre ending.
• IMDb: “The sophomoric 1927 Buster Keaton silent comedy ‘College’ lacks the overall creativity of ‘The General’ (1927), ‘Steamboat Bill, Jr.,’ (1928) and ‘The Cameraman’ (1928).

Audience Reactions

The ending rescue sequence with Buster showing off his athletic skills is incredibly fun and memorable.: Many viewers appreciate Keaton’s physical comedy and stunts despite the film’s flaws.

Overall Consensus: College is a lesser Keaton film, but still offers some laughs and displays Keaton’s physical comedy. However, it’s weighed down by outdated humor and a weak plot.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Buster Keaton reportedly directed most of the film himself, with James W. Horne’s contribution being minimal despite receiving co-director credit.”
• “The film includes scenes shot at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, adding a touch of realism to the college sports sequences.”
• “The pole vault stunt at the end of the film was performed by Lee Barnes, a 1932 Olympic gold medalist, marking one of the rare instances where Keaton used a stunt double.”

🖥️ How to Watch College?

Currently, “College” is available for streaming through various online platforms. Check services like Amazon Prime Video, YouTube Movies, and the Criterion Channel for rental or purchase options. Availability may vary by region, so be sure to confirm before you try to watch it.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed College, you might like these similar films:

• The Freshman (1925): A similar silent comedy where a college freshman tries to gain popularity through sports.
• Back to School (1986): A later comedy with a similar theme of an unconventional student entering college.
• Horse Feathers (1932): A Marx Brothers comedy satirizing college life and sports with their signature absurd humor.

🛒 College Related Products

• The Art of Buster Keaton: A deep dive into the genius of Buster Keaton’s storytelling and physical comedy techniques, featuring exclusive interviews and rare behind-the-scenes footage.
• Buster Keaton: 3 Films (Steamboat Bill, Jr. / Sherlock Jr. / The General) (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: Criterion Collection edition featuring high-quality restorations of his greatest films, packed with bonus content and insightful commentary.
• Buster Keaton T-Shirt: Officially licensed t-shirt featuring iconic imagery of Buster Keaton in his classic deadpan expression, made from comfortable, high-quality material.
• The Buster Keaton Collection: Volume 1 (Go West / Battling Butler / College) [Blu-ray]: Kino Lorber Blu-ray edition of Buster Keaton collection featuring restored print with soundtracks. Includes College, Go West, and Battling Butler.

🎧 Soundtrack

College features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “The Entertainer” – performed by Scott Joplin

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Raj aur Maya ki college love story #love #school #schoollife

Ever wondered what a modern college love story looks like? This cute short film gives a glimpse! It’s fun to see how some things never change, even across generations, don’t you think?

✨ Rate