Hollywood Bound (1928) - A fun, messy look at old-school fame

If you have about an hour to kill and like seeing people act like total goofs, you should probably give this a look. It’s perfect for anyone who likes those old silent comedies where the physical gags matter more than the logic. If you can't stand over-the-top facial expressions, though, you’re gonna hate it immediately.

The whole thing starts in Iowa, which the movie makes look incredibly flat and sort of dusty. Our main guy is a hotel clerk who thinks he’s destined for greatness because of some movie contract contest. Neely Edwards plays him with this energy that’s honestly kind of exhausting to watch but also funny.

He’s got this way of leaning over the hotel desk that makes him look like a bird looking for a worm. It’s weirdly specific. You can tell he practiced that move in a mirror for hours before they started filming.

I kept thinking about how this feels like a precursor to those reality shows where people audition for singing parts and they’re just... terrible. But he’s so sincere about it. That’s what makes it work, I guess.

There is a scene where he’s trying to impress people and it reminds me a bit of the frantic energy in Three Wise Goofs. Just people running around for the sake of it. Sometimes the camera stays on a reaction for way too long, like the director forgot to yell cut.

Anita Pam shows up and she’s fine, but she feels like she’s in a different movie half the time. She’s much more grounded, which makes the lead guy look even more insane. I wonder if they actually liked each other on set because their chemistry is... well, it’s not really there.

The writing by F. Hugh Herbert has some zingers in the title cards. Some of them are actually clever, while others feel like they were written on a napkin five minutes before. It’s got that 1920s unpolished charm that you don't see anymore.

I noticed one of the extras in the background of the hotel lobby just staring directly at the lens for a solid three seconds. It’s those little mistakes that make these old films feel alive. Like, that guy probably had no idea we’d be looking at his confused face a hundred years later.

The plot moves fast, which is a blessing. It doesn't overstay its welcome. It’s much more energetic than something like The Escape, which can feel a bit like a slog if you aren't in the right mood.

James Bradbury Jr. has a few moments where he almost steals the scene just by looking annoyed. I like the actors who don't feel like they're trying to win an award. They just seem like they're happy to have a job in the movie business.

There’s a bit of a subplot about the actual contest that feels a little rushed. Like they realized they only had ten minutes of film left and had to wrap it up. But honestly, who cares about the logic in a 1928 comedy? 🤡

It’s not as surreal as Holy Smoke, but it has its moments of weirdness. The way they portray the "Hollywood" dream is so shiny and fake. It makes you realize people have been obsessed with that place forever.

One thing that bugged me was the lighting in the indoor scenes. It’s super bright, then suddenly it gets dark for no reason. Maybe the power was flickering at the studio? It adds to the imperfect vibe of the whole thing.

If you've seen Heebie Jeebies, you’ll recognize that same kind of "everything is fine even when it's a disaster" tone. It’s very optimistic. Even when things go wrong for the clerk, he just bounces back.

I think Gladys Brockwell is underused here. She has this face that tells a whole story, but the movie just wants more slapstick. It’s a bit of a waste of her talent, but she still makes the most of her screen time.

The ending is... well, it’s an ending. It doesn't really change your life. But it leaves you feeling okay. 🎬

I’d say it’s worth a watch if you’re doing a deep dive into silent era stuff. It’s definitely better than some of the other fluff from that year like His Wife's Friend. At least this one has a bit of a heart hidden under all the frantic arm-waving.

Is it a masterpiece? Nope. But it’s a solid way to spend an hour seeing how people used to dream about getting famous before TikTok existed. It’s just a guy, a dream, and a really strange way of walking.