Harold Teen (1928) User Reviews

Charming slice of 1920s Jazz Age youth

[rogerskarsten · 9/10 · 6 July 2007]

If you're familiar with such better-known films as THE FRESHMAN (1925) with Harold Lloyd, COLLEGE (1926) with Buster Keaton, or even BROWN OF HARVARD (1926) with William Haines, you'll know the formula of HAROLD TEEN--but don't let that stop you from seeking out this little gem that deserves a place of prominence amidst the late 1920s craze for the college-film genre.

Technically, of course, Harold Teen is a high school senior, not a college student, but that point is irrelevant. Based on the characters of a popular comic strip whose heyday was the Jazz Age, HAROLD TEEN glides along on the strength of its excellent cast, breezy intertitles laced with 1920s slang ("Gee, that's hotsy-totsy!"), and all-around good humor.

Arthur Lake, who would later play Dagwood Bumstead in a series of BLONDIE movies, is adorable as Harold, the innocent farmboy who moves to Covina, California, with his Grandpop (Jack Duffy, the most energetic grandpa you'll ever encounter) in order to attend high school with his sweetheart Lillums Lovewell (the beautiful Mary Brian, who reminds me here of Fay Wray). Of course the city kids all think Harold's a rube at first, but he soon wins them over with his affable manner and the secret of "gedunk" sundaes. Alice White (First National's ersatz Clara Bow), plays Giggles Dewberry, "the perfect vamp," who takes a liking to Harold. The usual elements are present: love troubles, a big football game--but what makes this story different is the hilarious movie Harold and his friends decide to produce. We watch its premiere along with the kids--part spoof of silent westerns and pantomime acting, it is unlike anything you've ever seen before.

This is a highly enjoyable film, recommended to anyone interested in late-1920s youth culture.

Terrific Old Picture

[GManfred · 14 August 2011]

I know, I know. It's an antique, it's silent, the dialogue is like a dead language, the stars are unknowns and time has passed "Harold Teen" by completely. It was great fun and I thoroughly enjoyed it, taking into consideration all the above flaws. What a refreshing break from the drekky movies that come out nowadays.

"Harold Teen" was adapted from a popular comic strip of the 1920's, complete with aforementioned contemporary language and clothing styles. I wonder how long it has been since boys wore suits and ties to school. It is hopelessly outdated, and you know what? It works!

Harold, it seems, works his grandpa's farm (!), besides attending the local high school. But his girlfriend, Lillums Lovewell (Mary Brian), is transferring to Covina H.S. in the fall, and this is the first of Harold's many crises in the course of the picture (and if any of you are familiar with the L.A. area, here it is a pristine wilderness). The culmination of his travails, as a previous contributor has already divulged, is a movie the Senior class has decided to produce, eschewing the traditional class play. The production of the class movie is hilarious and is but one instance of hilarity in a very funny picture. It is all about young people of long ago but the energy and vitality they expend could be from any era.

"Harold Teen" is not available in any format and the print I saw was restored by the UCLA film archives dept. It was shown at Capitolfest 2011, Rome N.Y.