Directed by Frank Capra in his feature debut, The Strong Man stars Harry Langdon as a gentle Belgian soldier navigating post–World War I America in search of a woman he’s never met. The film blends Langdon’s signature deadpan comedy with Capra’s emerging flair for emotional storytelling, resulting in a silent-era gem that balances absurdity with heart.
Plot Summary
Langdon plays Paul Bergot, a meek soldier who receives a photo and letter from Mary Brown, an American girl he’s never met. After the war, he travels to the U.S. with a traveling strongman act, hoping to find her. Along the way, Paul stumbles into a corrupt town run by bootleggers and vice peddlers. Mistaken for a hero, he inadvertently cleans up the town through a series of comic misadventures, eventually finding Mary—who turns out to be blind. Their reunion is tender and understated, capping off a journey of accidental bravery and genuine sweetness.
Cast Highlights
- Harry Langdon as Paul Bergot
- Priscilla Bonner as Mary Brown
- Gertrude Astor as Lily of Broadway
- William V. Mong as Parson Brown
- Robert McKim as Mike McDevitt
- Arthur Thalasso as Zandow the Great
Behind-the-Scenes Trivia
- The film was originally titled The Yes Man before being renamed during production
- Capra had previously worked uncredited on Langdon’s Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, but this was his first official directorial credit
- A massive neon marquee in New York featured Langdon lifting a barbell to promote the film’s release
- Langdon’s brother, James Langdon, was credited as a “comedy constructor,” though he received no official writing credit
- The film was a critical and commercial success, praised for its blend of slapstick and sentimentality
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