Four-Star Films : ‘Sherlock Jr.’
Without a doubt, this 1924 classic is one of Buster Keaton’s most inspired efforts, a visual tour de force. Keaton (pictured) plays a small-town movie theater projectionist who is studying to be a private eye via a correspondence course. His pursuit of a pretty girl (Kathryn McGuire) is sabotaged viciously by a rugged guy identified as the Sheik (Ward Crane). Falling asleep on the job, Keaton dreams that he is entering the mystery melodrama on the screen, reveling in his brilliance as a detective. (Shades of Woody Allen’s “The Purple Rose of Cairo.”) “Sherlock Jr.” is one of those unpretentious comedies with beguiling charm and throwaway humor that ask no more than to entertain but nevertheless are open to considerable psychological and symbolic interpretation (AMC Friday at 9 a.m.).
Other four-star films airing this week:
The Palm Beach Story / AMC, Monday, 12:30 p.m.
Babette’s Feast / TMC, Tuesday, 5:10 a.m.
America, America / AMC, Thursday, 2 p.m. and Friday, 12:15 a.m.
The Long Voyage Home / Bravo, Friday, 11:10 a.m.
The General / AMC, Friday, 1 p.m.
Say Amen, Somebody / Bravo, Saturday, 4 p.m.
Only good movies
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