SamHardy
Joined Jan 2011
Welcome to the new profile
Our updates are still in development. While the previous version of the profile is no longer accessible, we're actively working on improvements, and some of the missing features will be returning soon! Stay tuned for their return. In the meantime, the Ratings Analysis is still available on our iOS and Android apps, found on the profile page. To view your Rating Distribution(s) by Year and Genre, please refer to our new Help guide.
Badges3
To learn how to earn badges, go to the badges help page.
Reviews25
SamHardy's rating
I have seen some VERY unfunny Hal Roach shorts. In fact when you leave the Laurel and Hardy list you drop down very low indeed. But The King seems like the rock bottom. Harry Langdon was long past his prime when he made this one. He went on to work for the studio as a writer and sometimes performer. He had much better success writing gags for Stan and Babe. Nothing funny going on here. Kinda sad and tragic.
Thoroughly enjoyed the film but the highlight for me was Gene Saks' performance. Seems most of the other reviewers hated him. I thought he was the best part of it all. His part was just too short!
Supremely gifted at comic timing. A total understanding of the complexity of the character. And despite what you might think he is a complex character.
The character is completely over the top, totally lacking in sensitivity, loud, insulting, and unbelievably insecure. Sachs plays him on several levels at once. He managed to make me hate him and feel sorry for him at the same time. Wildly funny in his insecurity, deeply touching in his need for an audience. His takes and wild flights of ego are constantly surprising and delightful.
Very memorable part, played by a bold and very creative actor. The best part of the whole dame thing.
Supremely gifted at comic timing. A total understanding of the complexity of the character. And despite what you might think he is a complex character.
The character is completely over the top, totally lacking in sensitivity, loud, insulting, and unbelievably insecure. Sachs plays him on several levels at once. He managed to make me hate him and feel sorry for him at the same time. Wildly funny in his insecurity, deeply touching in his need for an audience. His takes and wild flights of ego are constantly surprising and delightful.
Very memorable part, played by a bold and very creative actor. The best part of the whole dame thing.
The most interesting part of this film for me was watching the early work of cinematographer Greg Toland. Years later Toland would photograph Citizen Kane. It is hardly a tour de force of his talents but it does have some of his touches on display. His use of composition in the foreground and background is here. So is his use of semi-deep focus and stark black and white contrasts. Toland was clearly ahead of his time when this was made in 1932. A film as a whole has the look of classic cinema. Very unusual for 1932.
The script is very wordy and tends to advance at a snails pace but Toland's interesting compositions kept it moving along for me.
Also interesting to me is the way this film foreshadows Mr Smith Goes To Washington. In Mr Smith, a young, naive senator goes to Washington and absolutely refuses to be drawn into a world of corruption. In Washington Masquerade just the opposite happens. The hero succumbs to first sexual and then monetary corruption. In that respect, I found it a more interesting idea than Mr Smith.
The script is very wordy and tends to advance at a snails pace but Toland's interesting compositions kept it moving along for me.
Also interesting to me is the way this film foreshadows Mr Smith Goes To Washington. In Mr Smith, a young, naive senator goes to Washington and absolutely refuses to be drawn into a world of corruption. In Washington Masquerade just the opposite happens. The hero succumbs to first sexual and then monetary corruption. In that respect, I found it a more interesting idea than Mr Smith.