Tossup

Early in this film, the protagonist adds a crossbar to the number 1 on a box of chocolates to fake its price as 4 dollars. This film’s opening describes a man who tries to defy an old proverb about trying two things at once. This film’s lead actor prepared for acing an unedited shot by using talcum powder to meticulously study the motion of billiard balls. This film ends with the bemused protagonist wondering what to do when a woman responds coldly to his advances, because he had just been copying the hero of a romance (*) movie he’s watching. (10[1])Reversed footage was used to create a shot from this film in which a man unwittingly sitting on a driverless motorcycle avoids an oncoming train. A trick shot (10[1])in which the protagonist runs head first into a cinema screen kicks off this 1924 (10[2])film’s second half, in which his dream self ingeniously recovers a stolen pearl necklace. For 10 points, name this Buster Keaton comedy about a projectionist who fancies himself a sleuth. ■END■

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