Freddy the Freshman is a weird little relic

Is it worth your time?

Honestly, it depends on how much you like digging through the bargain bin of animation history. If you are a fan of Rival Romeos or just like seeing how they did things back in the day, you might get a kick out of this. If you need a plot that actually makes sense or characters that feel like human beings, steer clear. It is basically a series of gags strung together by a very thin thread.

Freddy arrives at this party and suddenly he is the center of the universe. It is all very fast. One minute he is the new guy, the next he is dancing like he owns the place. The energy is kind of frantic, which is common for Rudolf Ising's stuff, I guess. It doesn't really breathe, but then again, it’s not really trying to.

The transition to the football game feels like someone just flipped a switch. There is no setup, just boom—now we are watching a game. It reminded me a bit of the chaos in Gang War, though obviously a lot less gritty and a lot more, well, cartoony. The King's Men show up and suddenly there is music, and it gets loud. Maybe a bit too loud.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of Freddy the Freshman (1932) through its definitive frames.

Small things I noticed:

• The way Freddy walks into the room? It's like he's gliding on ice.
• The crowd at the football game is just a bunch of repeating shapes. Very hypnotic in a weird way.
• Johnny Murray’s work here is fine, but it feels like he’s playing a character that hasn't been fully written yet.

It’s not as interesting as The Impostor, but it has this charming, messy vibe. It feels like someone made it over a long weekend and just hoped for the best. You can tell they were having fun, even if the result is a bit of a scramble.

The whole thing wraps up so quickly you might miss the point entirely. If there even is one. Sometimes I think these old shorts just exist to fill up time, like a filler track on an album you only listen to once. Still, it’s a neat snapshot. 🎞️

Don't look for deep meaning here. You won't find it. Just enjoy the weird, jittery motion and the fact that everyone is constantly smiling for no reason.