REPRESENTING SOME SORT of a midway in the development of Mr. Harold Lloyd's 'glasses character', this comedy short boasts of several disparate elements; all being very important to future productions. Definite signs of the go-getter, the shy with girls yet very interested, super athleticism, extreme optimism and very Fairbanks-ian stunts all peppered this film.
THE ONE UNUSUAL item for a Lloyd comedy was his socio-economic situation. His being down, out and broke made him, in effect a sort of Chaplinesque "Little Tramp". This was perhaps a throwback to his stint with his character of "Lonesome Luke" in some of the many early one and two reelers devoted to that character.
IF THERE IS one main attribute that sums up the Harold Lloyd screen persona it is dogged determination. That is most prominently put on display here in this I DO short.
THE OFT USED theme in screen comedy of not wanting to run afoul of authority in the guise of the local Cop on the Beat is also in strong, if atypical, evidence here. This also made him more akin to Chaplin's character in this movie. Let's not forget the inclusion of the little stray pooch and the lost little girl; who could be compared to Jackie Coogan's character in THE KID.
IN PREDATING THE ultimate "Police Riot"* as portrayed in Buster Keaton's COPS(1922) by a year, Mr. Hal Roach and Lloyd did a fine job in creating a sort of different way of getting up a posse of lawmen. In order to save the fair maiden in distress, the Boy (Lloyd) has to physically assault them one by one in a variety of ways. This results in about a dozen foot patrolmen being led to the gang who have the Girl (Mildred Davis) hostage.
THE FILM ALSO makes use of longtime Lloyd foil and second banana, Harry "Snub" Pollard in a more substantial role of kidnapper.
GOTTA GO NOW, bye-bye from Schultz and me!
NOTE * This "Police Riot" is a phrase that was coined for use in the WALKER REPORT on the riots that accompanied the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. It was authored by one Dan Walker, a future Illinois Governor; who later did time foe embezzlement.
THE ONE UNUSUAL item for a Lloyd comedy was his socio-economic situation. His being down, out and broke made him, in effect a sort of Chaplinesque "Little Tramp". This was perhaps a throwback to his stint with his character of "Lonesome Luke" in some of the many early one and two reelers devoted to that character.
IF THERE IS one main attribute that sums up the Harold Lloyd screen persona it is dogged determination. That is most prominently put on display here in this I DO short.
THE OFT USED theme in screen comedy of not wanting to run afoul of authority in the guise of the local Cop on the Beat is also in strong, if atypical, evidence here. This also made him more akin to Chaplin's character in this movie. Let's not forget the inclusion of the little stray pooch and the lost little girl; who could be compared to Jackie Coogan's character in THE KID.
IN PREDATING THE ultimate "Police Riot"* as portrayed in Buster Keaton's COPS(1922) by a year, Mr. Hal Roach and Lloyd did a fine job in creating a sort of different way of getting up a posse of lawmen. In order to save the fair maiden in distress, the Boy (Lloyd) has to physically assault them one by one in a variety of ways. This results in about a dozen foot patrolmen being led to the gang who have the Girl (Mildred Davis) hostage.
THE FILM ALSO makes use of longtime Lloyd foil and second banana, Harry "Snub" Pollard in a more substantial role of kidnapper.
GOTTA GO NOW, bye-bye from Schultz and me!
NOTE * This "Police Riot" is a phrase that was coined for use in the WALKER REPORT on the riots that accompanied the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. It was authored by one Dan Walker, a future Illinois Governor; who later did time foe embezzlement.