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Cult Review
Archivist John
Senior Editor
Okay, so you're thinking, 'another silent movie, really?' And yeah, Thanks for the Buggy Ride is definitely *a silent movie*. If you're someone who already has a soft spot for that era, or just loves watching Laura La Plante, then sure, this one's a breezy, quick watch.
But if you're not into the whole intertitle thing and need your dialogue spoken, this might feel like a bit of a chore. It’s a sweet, simple little flick from 1928, nothing too deep, just a bit of fun. 😊
Laura La Plante plays Jenny, a dance instructor. She's got this *bubbly* energy that just shines through even without sound. You can tell she's the kind of person who sees the good in things.
Then there's Joe Hall, the song promoter. He's played by Glenn Tryon, and he’s got this sort of earnest, slightly clumsy charm. You believe he’s trying his best, even when things get a little chaotic around him.
Their meeting is totally by accident, one of those classic meet-cute setups that feels very familiar even today. And you can almost feel the *slight awkwardness* of it all. They're just trying to figure each other out, which is pretty endearing.
Joe ends up walking Jenny home, and you wonder if the 'buggy ride' in the title is literal. Turns out, it's more of a sweet, charming stroll. Or maybe a car ride, it's a bit fuzzy on the specifics, but the *feeling* of being escorted, of that journey home, is what sticks.
The film really builds up to this one moment, where Jenny says something simple that sparks a big idea for Joe. It's the kind of little phrase you wouldn't think twice about, but it changes everything for his career.
It’s all very lighthearted, almost like a stage play sometimes with how the characters move. The expressions are big, as you'd expect from the silent era, but La Plante manages to keep hers feeling pretty genuine.
There's this one reaction shot of Joe when the song idea clicks for him; his eyes just *light up*. It’s a small thing, but it really sells the moment. You see the gears turning.
The pacing for a silent film, well, it’s what it is. Some parts feel a little drawn out, then suddenly a scene zips by. It’s part of the charm, I guess. You learn to just settle into it. 🕰️
You know, silent film humor sometimes just... hits different. There's a gag with, I think, a misunderstanding about a schedule or something. It took me a second to get, then I just smiled. It’s not laugh-out-loud stuff, more of a gentle chuckle.
The sets are pretty straightforward, nothing too fancy. It’s all about the people and their little story. You don’t get lost in elaborate backdrops, which helps keep the focus.
And the whole song thing... it’s a nice, tidy way to wrap up the plot. It gives everything a satisfying, if not terribly surprising, ending. You feel good for Jenny and Joe.
So, is it a masterpiece? Nah. But is it a pleasant way to spend some time with a piece of film history? Absolutely. It’s got that understated sweetness that often gets overlooked in these older movies. 👍
IMDb —
1927
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