The Campus Vamp (1928) - Flappers, Football, and Early Carole Lombard

If you have twenty minutes and want to see what people in the 1920s thought was rebellious, you should probably put this on. It is worth watching if you like silent comedies that don't try to be high art. If you need a movie to have a deep, logical plot, you will probably hate this with a passion.

It’s a Mack Sennett production, so you know exactly what you’re getting. There is a lot of running around and people falling over for no reason. It’s mostly an excuse to show off 'The Bathing Beauties' in those weird wool swimsuits that look like they would weigh fifty pounds once they got wet. 🏊‍♀️

The story is about a girl named Barney who is a bit of a tomboy. She loses her boyfriend to this 'vamp' character who wears way too much eye makeup and acts like she’s in a different movie entirely. The vamp doesn't even acknowledge the other girl exists, which is actually pretty funny in a cold way.

Barney decides the only way to get her guy back is to become a vamp herself. This involves a lot of posing in front of mirrors and trying to look sultry, which usually just looks like she has a localized cramp in her face.

The big draw here for movie nerds is Carole Lombard. She’s very young here and you can tell she’s already better than everyone else on screen. She has this energy that the other actors just can't match, even when she's just standing in the background of a party scene. 🌟

There’s this one bit during a football game that is just pure chaos. I’m pretty sure half the people on the field didn't know the rules of football. They just sort of pile on top of each other whenever the ball moves. It reminded me a bit of the frantic energy in His Country Cousin, but with more collegiate sweaters.

The intertitles are full of that 1920s slang that sounds like a fake language now. Words like 'sheba' and 'berries.' It’s trying so hard to be hip for 1928. It’s kind of cute, honestly.

I noticed a guy in the background of the beach scene who just stares at the camera for a solid five seconds. He looks like he wandered onto the set by accident and didn't know whether to run or stay. Those are the moments I love in these old shorts.

Cinematic perspective: Exploring the visual vocabulary of The Campus Vamp (1928) through its definitive frames.

The 'other' girl in the love triangle is played by Sally Eilers, and she’s fine, I guess. But the movie doesn't really care about her feelings. It’s much more interested in the parties and the sports. It’s like the writers forgot she was supposed to be a real character halfway through.

The pacing is all over the place. One second they are at a dance, and the next second they are suddenly at a beach. There is no transition. It just happens. It’s like the editor was in a huge rush to get to lunch.

If you’ve seen Running Wild, you know this kind of breezy comedy style. It’s light. It’s airy. It doesn't leave a mark on your soul, but it’s a good time while it’s playing.

I think my favorite part was the hats. The women wear these cloche hats that look like they’ve been pulled down so far they can't actually see where they are walking. It explains why everyone is constantly bumping into things.

It’s not a masterpiece like some other silents from that year. It’s just a fun little time capsule. You get to see people being young and silly before the world got really dark a year later. 🎞️

One scene lingers on a close-up of a trophy for way too long. I kept waiting for something to happen to the trophy, but it just... stayed there. Then we cut back to a girl crying. It was a weird choice.

Don't expect much from the 'sport games' mentioned in the summary. It’s mostly just people in striped socks jumping around. But the fun is definitely there. You can feel the cast having a blast, especially during the water scenes.

Is it better than Wanted, a Story? Maybe. It has more budget, at least. And better outfits.

Anyway, it’s short. If you hate it, you only lost twenty minutes. If you like it, you found a neat little piece of Carole Lombard history. Just don't try to make sense of the love triangle, because the movie certainly didn't bother to. 🤷‍♂️