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Harold Lloyd: the transformation of confusion into popularity and joy Jesús Castañón Rodríguez In 1925, the big screen saw the première of The Freshman, El estudiante novato in its Spanish version. Staring Harold Lloyd and Jobyna Ralston, it recorded the dreams of the hero Harold Lamb, the new student of Tate University who introduced himself with "Call me Speedy" and aspired to be as popular as the captain of the American football team whose picture appeared in the school yearbook. The price of popularity He joins the American football team but is not idolised when getting off the train and only performs precise choreographies to transform his obvious errors as an athlete into joie de vivre. He receives lectures and tirades from the trainer for his constant errors in passes, tackles and the carrying out of the rough tackle in the first training session from which he ends up being sent off. He even kicks a ball which goes out into a side street… situated behind him and he has to go and retrieve it by means of a hard fought struggle with a dog. He is readmitted as a punching-ball who serves to train the tackles of the whole team and, not having fled from such a cruel session, the captain suggests to the trainer that he should admit him as waterboy. The different moves reflect the innocence of the new boy in a mix of tenderness, choreography, impossible acrobatics, disappointments and broken illusions of love. However, his opportunity arrives in the decisive match between Tate University and Union State for the title, thanks to the numerous injured players who leave the field by stretcher. In spite of his insistence to participate in the game, he does not go on until no more players remain. He encourages his team mates with a great tirade, in contrast with his usual shyness, and falls to the ground in the first mêlées. As a consequence of so many blows he sees double, advances in somersaults until he gains 20 yards, catches a spectator's hat in the air and runs at top speed on the way to a "touchdown"… At the last minute, he robs a ball in the defence area and crosses the whole field until he falls over the line to score the try that gives victory before the delirium of the stands, the dancing of his trainer and the police on the touchline and the glory of seeing the whole university campus imitating his gestures and manners. Epilogue Harold Lloyd creates comedy with choreographies of the obvious errors of the athletes to transform the confusions into social joy and popularity at top speed.
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