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7.5/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 7.5/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Crazy Feet remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have about twenty minutes and want to see a grown man look like he has forgotten how legs work, then Crazy Feet is a solid win. It is perfect for anyone who thinks physical awkwardness is funnier than actual jokes. You will probably hate it if you need a story that makes sense or if black-and-white movies make you sleepy.
The movie starts right in the thick of it. Charley sees a fight happening inside a tiny car and decides he is the hero of the day. It is very cramped in there. I am not sure how three adults even fit in that vehicle without someone losing an eye.
Thelma Todd is there, looking way too fancy for a messy car fight. She is yelling at Eddie, and Charley just dives in. It is a mess of flying hats and flailing limbs. You can barely tell who is hitting who, which I think was the point.
Then we get Edgar Kennedy as the cop. He has that classic "slow burn" face. He looks like he is already tired of everyone’s nonsense before the scene even starts. He reminds me of a guy who just wants to finish his shift and go get a sandwich.
Kennedy misinterprets everything, obviously. He thinks Charley is the problem. Charley has to run for his life. It is the kind of chasing where people just run in circles for no reason.
Charley ducks into a theater to hide. It turns out Thelma is there rehearsing a dance act. The plot is very convenient like that. It does not feel real, but it gets the job done.
Thelma needs a new partner because Eddie is out of the picture. Charley is the only guy around who isn't a cop. So, he steps in. He has no idea what he is doing, which is where the title comes from.
Charley Chase was always good at being nervous. He has this way of twitching his mustache that makes him look like a panicked rabbit. It works really well here because he is supposed to be terrified of being caught.
The dance act is meant to be "artistic" and serious. They have these flowing costumes that look like bedsheets. The music starts, and Charley just starts vibrating. It is not really dancing; it is more like he is trying to escape his own body.
I noticed a weird smudge on the lens during one of the stage shots. Or maybe it was just dust on the old film print. It actually made the whole thing feel more authentic. Like I was watching something that barely survived the last hundred years.
Thelma Todd is great because she stays so serious. She has to keep a straight face while Charley is tripping over her. Her eyes get really wide, and you can tell she is just praying they finish the scene. She was much better at this than most people give her credit for.
There is a moment where Charley tries to lift her and his knees just sort of give up. It looked like a genuine mistake that they just kept in the movie. I laughed pretty hard at that part. It felt like something that would happen to me if I tried to be a professional dancer.
If you like this kind of energy, you might enjoy Camping Out too. It has that same feeling of a situation spiraling out of control. Charley is the king of making things worse while trying to help.
The stagehands in the background look bored. I love looking at the extras in these old movies. One guy is just leaning against a wall looking like he wants to go home. He probably didn't think anyone would be looking at him in 2024.
The costume Charley wears for the dance is hilarious. It is this shiny, tight thing that makes him look very skinny and very ridiculous. He looks like a piece of tinfoil that has been crumpled up. It is not a good look for him.
The audience in the movie starts throwing things. It gets pretty chaotic. I felt a little bad for Charley, but mostly I just wanted to see him fall again. He is a master of the graceful trip.
The whole thing feels a bit like The Little Intruder in terms of the pacing. It just goes and goes until it hits a wall. There are no slow moments here.
I think the movie gets better once the dancing starts. The first half with the car is okay, but the stage stuff is the real meat. It is just pure physical comedy without any distractions.
There is no deep meaning here. It is just a guy with crazy feet ruining a show. Sometimes that is all you really need on a Tuesday night.
The ending happens so fast you might miss it. He basically just runs away again. These shorts never really had big emotional endings. They just stop when the jokes run out.
It is a fun watch if you don't take it seriously. It is messy and the film quality is a bit grainy, but Charley is a pro. He knows exactly how to be the most awkward person in the room.
I would give this a watch if you are bored. It is not a masterpiece, but it is better than sitting in silence. Just don't expect it to change your life or anything.
IMDb 7.4
1923
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