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The Strong Man

Released Sep 19, 1926 1h 15m Comedy List
Tomatometer 3 Reviews 85% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
After World War I ends, Belgian soldier Paul Bergot (Harry Langdon) joins with his former German rival, Zandow (Arthur Thalasso), and immigrates to America. While Zandow becomes a vaudevillian strong man, Paul searches for Mary (Priscilla Bonner), his longtime pen pal with whom he is in love. Mistaking a shady gold digger (Gertrude Astor) for Mary, Paul manages to escape her clutches by joining Zandow in Cloverdale, where he finally meets Mary and is amazed to discover a secret about her.

Critics Reviews

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Robert E. Sherwood LIFE Harry Langdon is a comedian, to be sure -- unquestionably the greatest comedian that has appeared since Gilbert Seldes discovered Charlie Chaplin. Nevertheless, it is pretty hard to laugh uproariously at The Strong Man. Oct 6, 2021 Full Review Michael E. Grost Classic Film and Television Delightful silent comedy, that anticipates much later Capra. Nov 30, 2015 Full Review Fernando F. Croce CinePassion A pellucid early study for It's a Wonderful Life Sep 7, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member The best comedy movie ever made! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member the first half is great but the second half is weak. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member It really is a shame Harry Langdon isn't better known. He was great in this. The quick little punches he did to people were hilarious. I loved his facial reactions. Perhaps the movie dragged out a bit in some scenes, but I thought it was the best silent film we have watched in American Cinema so far (next to The "Teddy" Bears) Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Very funny and cute film. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/10/23 Full Review Audience Member Harry Langdon is adorable. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/24/23 Full Review Audience Member The best two movies Langdon did were the short films "Saturday Afternoon" and "Fiddlesticks", but this is most likely his most consistent feature, and probably the place a neophyte should be introduced to Langdon, who is a very different type of comedian. An eye-opener for those who think all silent comedy is fast and overacted. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Strong Man

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Movie Info

Synopsis After World War I ends, Belgian soldier Paul Bergot (Harry Langdon) joins with his former German rival, Zandow (Arthur Thalasso), and immigrates to America. While Zandow becomes a vaudevillian strong man, Paul searches for Mary (Priscilla Bonner), his longtime pen pal with whom he is in love. Mistaking a shady gold digger (Gertrude Astor) for Mary, Paul manages to escape her clutches by joining Zandow in Cloverdale, where he finally meets Mary and is amazed to discover a secret about her.
Director
Frank Capra
Screenwriter
Arthur Ripley, Hal Conklin, Robert Eddy
Production Co
Harry Langdon Corporation
Genre
Comedy
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 19, 1926, Original
Runtime
1h 15m