Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Simple
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- playful
- breezy
- lazy afternoon
- classic cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as an entertaining and inventive Buster Keaton comedy whose physical performance and visual gags outweigh its slight romantic premise.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ronald begins by praising books and rejecting sports, then enters college and struggles to become athletically competitive.
Ronald chooses college and sports partly because he fears losing Mary to rival Jeff.
The college sports environment provides repeated opportunities for physical gags involving training, competition, and Ronald's awkward attempts at athletic competence.
Ronald's transition from high school valedictorian to college athlete reframes his understanding of status and maturity.
Films like College, and why
The Freshman
shared silent-era physical comedy, romantic rivalry, and an underdog adapting to social expectations
Sherlock Jr.
shared Buster Keaton deadpan humor, athletic spectacle, and mechanically precise visual gags
Horse Feathers
shared college setting, slapstick comedy, and youthful romantic competition
Movie Details
- Directors
- James W. Horne, Buster Keaton
- Release Date
- 1927-09-10
- Runtime
- 65 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (133)
Cast
- Buster Keaton
- Anne Cornwall
- Flora Bramley
- Harold Goodwin
- Snitz Edwards
- Carl Harbaugh
- Sam Crawford
- Florence Turner
- Lee Barnes
- Robert Boling
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus, Pure Flix, Cohen Media Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, FilmBox Live Amazon Channel, Great American Pure Flix Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is College about?
- A bookish valedictorian enters college athletics to win back his girlfriend, discovering that romance and belonging demand more than academic pride.
- What is College like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of College as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.
- Is College violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in College as mild.
- What did critics think of College?
- Critics broadly regard the film as an entertaining and inventive Buster Keaton comedy whose physical performance and visual gags outweigh its slight romantic premise.
- Which films are like College?
- Films with a similar feel include The Freshman, Sherlock Jr., and Horse Feathers.
- How long is College?
- College runs 65 minutes.
- Where can I watch College?
- In United States, College streams on Amazon Prime Video, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus, Pure Flix, Cohen Media Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, FilmBox Live Amazon Channel, Great American Pure Flix Amazon Channel.
