College (1927)

88% of critics liked it
(16 reviews)
72% of users liked it
(2,225 ratings)

The silent comedy feature College stars Buster Keaton as a scholarly young man who doesn't know beans about sports. When he arrives in college, Buster finds that all the Big Men on Campus are jocks. To impress pretty coed Anne Cornwall, Buster tries and fails to join all the school teams. Even when… More The silent comedy feature College stars Buster Keaton as a scholarly young man who doesn't know beans about sports. When he arrives in college, Buster finds that all the Big Men on Campus are jocks. To impress pretty coed Anne Cornwall, Buster tries and fails to join all the school teams. Even when he attempts to take a job at the campus soda fountain, Buster is a washout. Through the kindness of dean Snitz Edwards, Keaton is placed on the varsity rowing team where, despite several clumsy moments, he manages to win the big race. This infuriates his athletic rival Harold Goodwin, who seizes Cornwall and runs off with her. In racing to her rescue, Buster is compelled to repeat all the sports activities at which he'd previously failed--and does so, magnificently. He bursts into Goodwin's dorm room and saves Cornwall from the usual worse-than-death fate. Hero and heroine kiss--at which point this lighthearted film takes a sudden, chilling turn. As always, Buster Keaton performs his own stunts in College, except for the pole-vaulting bit, which was accomplished by Olympic champ Lee Barnes. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 5 min.
Directed By: James W. Horne, Anne Cornwall
Written By: Bryan Foy
Genres: Romance, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 10, 1927 Wide
On DVD: Nov 20, 2001
Studio: United Artists

Critic Reviews

Mordaunt Hall, New York Times
Keaton himself strives to be funny, but his actions are so frightfully absurd that it strikes one that the character he plays never ought to be out of an asylum.
Don Druker, Chicago Reader
Buster on the playing field, failing gloriously at every sport but executing each one beautifully when he dashes to his girl's rescue, is a study in precision and grace.
Fernando F. Croce, CinePassion
Cartesian slapstick
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A fine and funny film.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Minor Keaton slapstick comedy.
Tom Milne, Time Out
Minor Keaton but major almost any other comedian.
Martin Scribbs, Low IQ Canadian
Madcap fun as the supremely athletic Keaton plays a bookworm who, for love of a jock-loving girl, tries but fails heroically at every possible sport in every possible way.
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina
it's not the General but it's a treasure
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
A classic comedy with Keaton in top acrobatic form.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Great Keaton vehicle.
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews
The finale ties earlier elements together in a clever way, but the episodic film doesn't match the best of Keaton's films that establish a more cohesive storyline

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Jim H

An intellectual, who eschews athletics but reasonlessly loves a girl who doesn't, tries out for various sports teams in his first year at college. I thought the anti-intellectualism inherent in this story was off-putting. The man committed to the intellectual life was demeaned -… More
An intellectual, who eschews athletics but reasonlessly loves a girl who doesn't, tries out for various sports teams in his first year at college. I thought the anti-intellectualism inherent in this story was off-putting. The man committed to the intellectual life was demeaned - the object of his affections rejects him and even the dean of the college pities him enough to manipulate the coach of the rowing team to include poor Ronald. The film ultimately supports the idea that intellect for its own sake is a meaningless pursuit. Additionally, much of the middle part of the film is dedicated to Keaton slapstick. He awkwardly attempts to play baseball, unable to field a simple grounder, and flummoxes various track and field events. However, the climax, during which Keaton's character performs all of the sports feats flawlessly, was exciting, but it took so long to reach that payoff. Overall, I recommend watching the last fifteen minutes of <i>College</i> or a stronger Keaton film, <i>The General</i>.
Spencer S

Another great screwball comedy featuring the very talented, and very flexible, Buster Keaton. A major talent in the ways of physical comedy, and having a great "stone face" that never laughs nor smiles, Keaton is a heavyweight title character in this farce about the myth… More
Another great screwball comedy featuring the very talented, and very flexible, Buster Keaton. A major talent in the ways of physical comedy, and having a great "stone face" that never laughs nor smiles, Keaton is a heavyweight title character in this farce about the myth that the strongest will survive. There are some really stellar sequences, including a slow motion series of events where the title character is tossed up in the air by a group of college freshmen, and a scene in blackface, which at first I found distateful, but eventually laughed at, as it was necessary to the scene. The ending, where Keaton somehow goes through a routine of acrobatics, was my favorite of all.
AJ V

This isn't one of Keaton's best, it's my least favourite actually, mostly because the story is predictable and it's not as funny as his other movies.
Matthew Y

Every single Keaton short film is worth seeing. His films are a mixed bag with highs of The General and Our Hospitality to lows of...pretty much anything done in the "sound era". Before MGM destroyed one of the greatest physical comedians of our time films like College… More
Every single Keaton short film is worth seeing. His films are a mixed bag with highs of The General and Our Hospitality to lows of...pretty much anything done in the "sound era". Before MGM destroyed one of the greatest physical comedians of our time films like College were the weak links in the Keaton cannon. A footnote when compared to his other accomplishment College still displays the impressive stunt work and physical comedy we expect in our Keaton films. Also a humorous if perhaps a bit controversial blackface moment.
Dimitris S

Taunting the jocks' lifestyle,Keaton is "forcing" himself to overcome the mild sporting activity of his to earn his sweetheart's acceptance.What's so funny is that first tickling labor of a person who will do anything to go against his nature.Not a thrilling… More
Taunting the jocks' lifestyle,Keaton is "forcing" himself to overcome the mild sporting activity of his to earn his sweetheart's acceptance.What's so funny is that first tickling labor of a person who will do anything to go against his nature.Not a thrilling ride but undeniably truthful.