Harry Langdon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harry Langdon
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Langdon in 1924
|
|
| Born |
Henry Philmore Langdon
June 15, 1884 Council Bluffs, Iowa, U.S.
|
| Died | December 22, 1944 (aged 60) Los Angeles, California
|
| Resting place | Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery, Glendale, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian |
| Years active | 1903–1944 |
| Spouse(s) |
Rose Francis Musolff
(m. 1903; div. 1928)Helen Walton
(m. 1929; div. 1932)Mabel Sheldon
(m. 1934) |
| Children | 1 |
Henry "Harry" Philmore Langdon (born June 15, 1884 – died December 22, 1944) was a famous American comedian. He was known for his funny acts in vaudeville shows and especially in silent films. Later, he also appeared in movies with sound, called "talkies."
Contents
Harry Langdon's Early Life and Career
Harry Langdon was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa. When he was a teenager, he started performing in traveling shows and theater groups. In 1906, he began performing in vaudeville with his first wife, Rose Langdon. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with many different acts, like comedy, music, and dance.
By 1915, Harry had created a popular comedy act called "Johnny's New Car." He performed different versions of this act for many years.
Becoming a Silent Film Star
In 1923, Harry Langdon started working in movies. He joined a company called Principal Pictures Corporation. Later, he moved to Mack Sennett Studios, where he became a very big star.
At the peak of his career, Harry was seen as one of the four best comedians of the silent film era. Silent films were movies without spoken dialogue, where actors used their expressions and body language to tell the story.
Harry's character on screen was a wide-eyed, innocent man. He often seemed like a confused child who didn't quite understand the world. He was also a fantastic mime artist, meaning he was great at acting without words.
Most of Harry Langdon's best work in the 1920s was made at the famous Mack Sennett studio. His unique character and funny actions quickly made him popular.
Working with Famous Directors
His success led him to star in longer movies, called feature films. These were directed by talented people like Arthur Ripley and Frank Capra. With their help, Harry's movies were as good as those by other big stars like Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, and Buster Keaton.
Many people think his best films were The Strong Man (1926), Tramp, Tramp, Tramp (1926), and Long Pants (1927). Harry also helped produce these movies through his own company, The Harry Langdon Corporation.
Challenges in Directing His Own Films
After his first big successes, Harry decided to direct his own films. These included Three's a Crowd, The Chaser, and Heart Trouble. However, these movies were not as popular with audiences.
Some people, like director Frank Capra, believed Harry didn't fully understand what made his own character so funny. But Harry's biographer, Bill Schelly, disagreed. He pointed out that Harry had created his character long before he started making movies and wrote most of his own jokes for the stage.
It seems that Harry's greatest success was when he had experienced directors guiding him. When he directed himself, his popularity dropped. This was likely because he was new to directing, not because his comedy ideas were bad. Also, the arrival of sound in movies changed everything, making it harder for him to develop as a director.
Moving to Sound Films
Harry Langdon's innocent, baby-like character didn't work as well when movies started having sound. As producer Hal Roach said, "He was not so funny articulate" (meaning, he wasn't as funny when he spoke).
Harry appeared in some short sound films, but they weren't very popular. He still got occasional roles in bigger movies, like See America Thirst (1930) and Hallelujah, I'm a Bum (1933).
Later Roles and Comeback
Harry continued to star in short films. He worked with his old co-star Vernon Dent in a series of two-reelers (short films). In 1934, Columbia Pictures hired him for their own short comedy unit.
In 1938, Harry started playing a new type of character: a nervous, henpecked husband. He used this character in films like A Doggone Mixup. He also continued to play his original "helpless innocent" character.
Interestingly, Harry Langdon was considered as the real-life model for the character of Dopey in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. However, Walt Disney chose another actor for the role.
In 1939, Harry appeared with Oliver Hardy (from the famous comedy duo Laurel and Hardy) in the film Zenobia. He also helped write scripts for Laurel and Hardy's films.
In 1940, Harry Langdon made a comeback as a starring comedian in full-length movies. His film Misbehaving Husbands (1940) was a domestic comedy where he played his henpecked-husband character. Critics praised his performance, saying it was his best in years. This movie helped both Harry and the director, William Beaudine, get more work.
Misbehaving Husbands was Harry's last starring role by himself. He continued to play gentle, goofy characters in other films and short subjects.
Death and Lasting Recognition
Harry Langdon became ill while filming the movie Swingin' on a Rainbow. He passed away on December 22, 1944. His old friend Vernon Dent handled his funeral arrangements. Harry was cremated, and his ashes were buried in Grand View Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale, California.
At the peak of his career, Harry Langdon earned a lot of money, which was a huge fortune back then. After he died, The New York Times newspaper wrote that his appeal came from his amazing ability to look sad and lost when things went wrong. He was known for his "dead-pan" expression, a serious face that made his gentle smile and blinking eyes even funnier.
In 1997, his hometown of Council Bluffs, Iowa, celebrated "Harry Langdon Day." In 1999, they named Harry Langdon Boulevard in his honor. For his important work in movies, Harry Langdon has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard.
Harry Langdon's son, Harry Langdon Jr., became a successful photographer in Hollywood.
Partial Filmography
|
|
See also
In Spanish: Harry Langdon para niños
- List of United States comedy films
