After years in vaudeville, Harry Langdon made his movie debut in 1924, and his career blazed brightly until 1928. Forgotten for many years, today’s he’s considered one of the era’s greatest and most original film clowns. The Strong Man (1926) was the second for his own production company, and is his best-known and most successful starring comedy. It’s also the first feature for director Frank Capra, and is the best example of their close collaboration, featuring some of Langdon’s most memorable and celebrated comedy set pieces. Although his top stardom ended in 1928, Harry continued to entertain audiences until 1945. Today Langdon is preceded by a Mack Sennett two-reel short.

The Silent Clowns Film Series is New York’s longest-running regularly scheduled silent film showcase. Our programming reaches the serious film buff by including rarely-screened titles and rare prints, yet it also introduces kids and new audiences to the classics of the silent screen. Screenings feature live piano accompaniment by MoMA’s Ben Model, with an introduction and Q&A by film historians Model and Steve Massa.