The Films of Harold Lloyd – A Retrospective: The Kid Brother (1927) and Speedy (1928) May 21, 2007

The Films of Harold Lloyd – A Retrospective
With Dennis James on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ

With his signature straw hat, round glasses and innocent enthusiasm, silent film comedian Harold Lloyd personified the go-getter spirit of the 1920s and is regarded as one of the greats of the genre. Having made more films than Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton combined, silent film comedian Harold Lloyd began his career with his iconic short films before he helped pave the way for the advent of the “feature-length” film. Silent Movie Mondays offers a look at these early treasures with Dennis James on the Mighty Wurlitzer Organ.

The Kid Brother (1927)
Director, Ted Wilde and J.A. Howe
The most important family in Hickoryville is (naturally enough) the Hickorys, with sheriff Jim and his tough manly sons Leo and Olin. The timid youngest son, Harold, doesn't have the muscles to match up to them, so he has to use his wits to win the respect of his strong father and also the love of beautiful Mary.

Speedy (1928)
Director, Ted Wilde
Harold Lloyd plays "Speedy" Swift; a baseball-crazed fan who loses his job as a soda-jerk and turns to spending the day with his girl at Coney Island. Later he becomes a cab driver and delivers Babe Ruth to Yankee Stadium, where he stays to see the game. When the railroad tries to run the last horse-drawn trolley (operated by his girl's grandfather) out of business, "Speedy" organizes the neighborhood old-timers to thwart their scheme.

Official Website: http://www.theparamount.com/artists/artist.asp?key=509