Sherlock Jr.

The movie begins with an every day working man that is played by Buster Keaton. He works in a movie theater and is studying to be a detective. He and his enemy both show up on the doorstep of the girl generously giving boxes of candy. The rival has stolen a pocket watch from the girl's house to pay for his gift, but before Buster can put his detective skills to the test to solve the crime, he finds himself getting framed for the person that stole the watch. Unhappy, he goes back to work where he starts the film, then falls asleep. He "leaves" his body and enters the movie screen. In the movie Buster finds himself challenged in the movie. For example, he is about to sit at a park bench, when the picture switches to a snow pile. When the film is finished Buster, wakes up in the middle of a movie mystery story in which he plays the talented Sherlock Jr. A real detective with all the certainty that Buster lacks. He defeats certain death trails, solves the mystery and participates in exciting chases. Such as the one where he rides alone on the handlebars of a motorcycle, thinking that his devoted servant is driving, when the driver falls off in the beginning of the chase.

Sherlock Jr is one of my favorite silent moves because it is actually humorous. Especially at the end of the movie when Buster has his chance to finally kiss the girl. Now that he's back in the real world, Buster is confused on how to “make his move”. He peeks through the window in the projection booth to look at the film for instructions on how to kiss the girl. Buster still looks at film for ways to enhance his own dreary life. Then later Buster sees with the movie couple surrounded by children. Buster's puzzled face says it all.