Absolutely Fantastic

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

I am a big fan of the famous silent movie stars Laurel and Hardy, Buster Keaton and Sir Charlie Chaplin, but I knew there was one star of the silent movies I had not seen, I found this, one of his most acclaimed pictures, in the book 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die. Basically in the farming town of Hickoryville, the Hickorys are a respected family, but patriarch Sheriff Jim Hickory (Walter James) and his strong sons Leo (Leo Willis) and Olin (Olin Francis) have little respect for the youngest son, the bespectacled, clumsy and naïve Harold (Harold Lloyd). He is often neglected by his family, given the domestic duties, and not included in important matters either at the farm or in the town. One day, when Jim, Leo and Olin go to an important town meeting, Harold is left alone, for amusement he puts on his father's gun and badge. He is mistaken for being the sheriff by ruthless traveling medicine showman 'Flash' Farrell (Eddie Boland), he talks Harold into permitting him, strongman Sandoni (Constantine Romanoff) and dancer Mary Powers (Jobyna Ralston) perform. Mary is trying to avoid the unwanted attentions of Sandoni, she and Harold spend some time together, and they become attracted to each other. When Jim finds out Harold authorised the medicine show, he orders Harold to shut down the performance, Harold tries, but ends up being tricked and tied up. Harold's sworn enemy, town bully Hank Hooper (Ralph Yearsley), pelts him and accidentally starts a fire that consumes the medicine show wagon. Harold invites Mary to spend the night at his family home, he does not get permission to do so from his father, and he uses hit wits to overcome his bigger brothers, however Mrs. Hooper and her son Hank show up and take her with them. The next day, the town is celebrating, as Jim is handing over funds raised by the residents to help build a dam to a state official, however the money is gone. Jim strongly believes Farrell and Sandoni are responsible, but Sam Hooper (Frank Lanning) accuses Jim of the theft. Jim sends Leo and Olin, but not Harold, after them, when they return emptyhanded, Jim has been tied up, and there is talk of lynching. Harold confesses to Mary his unintentional deception, he is not the man she thought he was, but she tells him he has faith in him. Hank accuses Mary of being involved in the robbery, Harold fights back when some men grab her, only to have Harold knock him unconscious and set him adrift in a boat. Harold wakes up when the boat reaches an abandoned, beached ship, aboard the ship he finds the real thieves. Sandoni and Farrell argue over the division of the loot, with the strongman eventually disposing of the medicine man, then Sandoni spots Harold and chases him all over the ship. Harold eventually manages to outdo the strongman and races back to town with his prisoner and the money to save his father. Jim is impressed with Harold, saying "Son, you're a real Hickory", Hank stands in the way of him and Mary walking away, but Harold musters up the courage to fight his nemesis and beat him up. I had only previously seen Lloyd in the famous image of him hanging from a clock, from Safety Last!, he is a very good physical comedian, I will admit I did not follow all elements of the story, but it did not matter, as the slapstick and sight gags were funny, it is a worthwhile silent comedy. Very good!

Lloyd is the kid brother of three tough older men. He's the wimp who washes dishes and does other household chores until fate places him in a position to save a large stash of the community's money that was stolen by itinerant goniffs.It's not a classic but it's amusing. Lloyd seems always to be pursued by others and many of the gags revolve around his various hiding places being uncovered -- sometimes by a very well-trained primate in the hands of a monkey wrangler.Jobyna Ralston is winsome and pretty. The final confrontation between Lloyd and the gargantuan Romanoff is successfully rendered. Lloyd winds up with the girl.It must take a different kind of skill -- an improved sense of the kinetic, overactive Golgi bodies, or something -- to make an effective silent comedy. Imagine -- none of the gags can depend on dialog.

I'd only seen bits of The Milky Way and The Sin of Harold Diddlebock prior to this, and those don't really count, so it's safe to say that this is the first all-caps HAROLD LLOYD movie I've ever seen. I thought it was interesting how the whole movie felt like it could have been conceived by a slapstick loving version of Joseph Campbell with a daddy complex. It's such a naive and fun take on the hero's journey. I guess today's lovable goof would need to have some vaguely creepy or sexual element a la The 40 Year Old Virgin or something. I say this because I just don't see audiences these days going in for something as innocent and big-hearted as the conceit of trying endlessly to please one's father. It's a weird thing to be sure, especially when tied intrinsically to a romance angle wherein he can only become a man by winning the admiration of a (very gorgeous) lass at the same time as his dad, but that's what kept me invested, I guess. It's almost too personal to just be comedic. It's also got a surprising number of good looking shots. I don't know why gags like tears turning into rain or a pig wearing a bowler hat on its back are so freaking funny and bizarre, either. I also don't know if it is just a century's remove that made the last third a bit tedious, but it didn't ruin the overall film for me and I quite liked getting to see the twerp becoming a dude!

While this is not one of Lloyd's most famous films, It is certainly one of his best. You can look through countless numbers of comedy films (The Gold Rush and The General included)and you will struggle to see better timing than that on display here. That is not a put down to those two classic comedies it is only a testament to the timing of Lloyd, Who was certainly on a par with Chaplin and Keaton. In this movie he plays the weakling in a family with two strapping brothers and a large hard to please father. Always put upon Harold has to capture a villain by himself to gain the respect of his father and brothers, And win the heart of his fair maiden. The amount of sight gags crammed into this 80 minutes is incredible, and the timing is as I said earlier is absolutely perfect.