In "College" Buster Keaton has the sort of role that Woody Allen played 50 years latera nebbishy intellectual whose pluck and decency eventually wins over the beautiful leading lady. Keaton's famous stone-faced demeanor is particularly well suited to the self serious Ronald who at his high school graduation makes an ill advised speech about how athletics are a waste of time. Naturally, he is then compelled to spend the rest of the film trying to become accomplished at various sports, from baseball to jumping hurtles (interspersed with occasional, equally awkward attempts at restaurant work). The various sports training sessions seem episodic at first but all come together very nicely at the end when Keaton is called upon to save the female lead from her lecherous dumb jock of a boyfriend.
On a side notealthough students in college movies of the 1920's are far better dressed than their modern counterparts, they seem to spend just as little time in the classroom.
On a side notealthough students in college movies of the 1920's are far better dressed than their modern counterparts, they seem to spend just as little time in the classroom.