1. One gag early on that I believe was probably extremely hilarious back in 1924 was the gag losing the money. The main character wants to buy three dollar candy, but only has two dollars. As he's looking for another dollar someone comes along and has lost one, so he gives one he found to her, then a second woman needs one so he gives it to her. Then finally a brutish character comes along threatens him for his money, then gives the one dollar back, and takes a wallet of the the trash our lead was sweeping and walks away with it. This was humorous and entertaining to watch because our character, had he been doing his job, would have found the money and had all the cash he needed. The camera movement in this whole first part of the movie varies, we close ups to introduce all our characters, as well as staging shots so we understand the surroundings we are in, which changed from a moving shot of the street to, medium closes up with the theater scene.
2.We see an example of a film within a film, self reflexivity at the theater scene. Our character not only displays but cleans a sign for a five part film series. This draws the viewers attention to it immediately and is very effective at doing so. This is a prime example, though very simple. I believe that it was so because this movie was made in 1924 and people weren't trying to make over complicated films at the time.
You have a good summary about the gag Keaton portrays on the scene about finding and losing the dollar. If you could talk a little more about the angles of the camera, I think the analysis of the scene would improve.
ReplyDeleteI was a little confused about your connect to the film within the film, to the jump from Keaton cleaning a sign for a five part movie series. Where did that come in?