From Hand to Mouth (1919)

Directors: Alfred J. Goulding, Hal Roach

Writers: Harold Lloyd, H. M. Walker

Composer: Robert Israel

Starring: Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, 'Snub' Plllard, Peggy Cartwright, Sammy Brooks, William Gillespie, Helen Gilmore, Wallace Howe

More info: IMDb

Plot: As a penniless man worries about how he will manage to eat, he is joined by a young waif and her dog, who are in the same predicament. Meanwhile, across town a dishonest lawyer is working with a gang of criminals, trying to swindle an innocent young heiress out of her inheritance. As the heiress is on her way home from the lawyer's office, she notices the young man and the waif in the midst of their latest problem with the authorities, and she rescues them. Later on, the young man will have an unexpected opportunity to repay her for her kindness.

My rating: 7/10

Will I watch it again? Sure.

Having watched a few of Harold Lloyd's shorts in the past week or so I'm beginning to see a pattern.  Play sweet and nice, deliver a few 'cute' laughs and then finish the final reel with a wild chase loaded with funny.  That's how this one plays out.  When The Boy (Lloyd) can't get a cop to listen to him, one by one he throws thing, trips, hits, taunts them into following him to the bad guys' hideout where The Waif (Cartwright) is being held against her will.  By the time he gets there he must have every cop in town chasing his ass and it's friggin' hilarious.

Girl Shy (1924)

Directors: Fred C. Newmeyer, Sam taylor

Writers: Sam Taylor, Ted Wilde, Tim Whelan, Thomas J. Gray, Harold Lloyd

Composer: Robert Israel

Starring: Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston, Richard Daniels, Carlton Griffin, Sammy Brooks, Joe Cob, Jackie Condon, Mickey Daniels, Andy De Villa, Nola Dolberg, Dorothy Dorr, Betsy Ann Hisle

More info: IMDb

Tagline: The crowning achievement of the King of Mirth

Plot: Harold Meadows (Lloyd) is a shy, stuttering bachelor working in a tailor shop, who is writing a guide book for other bashful young men, "The Secret of Making Love," chapters from which are portrayed as fantasy sequences. Fate has him meet rich girl, Mary (Ralston), and they fall in love. But she is about to wed an already married man, so our hero embarks upon a hair-raising daredevil ride to prevent the wedding.

My rating: 7/10

Will I watch it again? Maybe.

If there's one thing I've noticed about Harold Lloyd's pictures is that they're full of genuine heart. They might not be a side-slapper from start to finish but Lloyd's certainly able to capture your attention and make you laugh when the time comes.  It's funny (or not) because I was going through the first disc of a HL box set and I thought this was another two-reeler. About 15 minutes in I'm not laughing much and it doesn't look like this is going to wrap up in time.  That's when I noticed this is full length feature.  It's a funny film but most of the laughs are 'cute' laughs and the big ones come at the extensive race at the end for Harold to get to the church before his beloved marries another man.  He uses every transportation means possible and it's very funny.  There's also some familiar faces for anyone who's seen some of the early OUR GANG shorts.

Joe Cobb

 Jackie Condon

Mickey Daniels

Being how this is also a Hal Roach production it was no surprise that they turn up in these eventually.  It's a treat, though, whenever they do.  I love these cats.

Ask Father (1919)

Director: ???

Writer: H.M. Walker

Composer: Robert Israel

Starring: Harold Lloyd, Snub Pollard, Bebe Daniels

More info: IMDb

Plot: Lloyd is a serious young middle-class guy on the make, who wants to marry the boss’ daughter. The problem is getting in to see the boss so that he can ask for her hand in marriage; the office is guarded by a bunch of comic, clumsy flunkies who throw everyone out who tries to get in. When Lloyd gets into the boss’ office, the latter uses trap doors and conveyor belts to expel him; Lloyd then goes to the costume company next door, tries to get in wearing drag (no success), and then in medieval armor – that works, since he bangs everyone over the head with his club, but then he finds out that the daughter has eloped with another suitor. Lloyd decides to be sensible and he settles for the cute switchboard operator (Daniels) instead.

My rating: 7.5/10

Will I watch it again? Yes.

I forgot to mention it on yesterday's Harold Lloyd post but the newly written scores for these by Robert Israel are outstanding and some of the best I've heard (if not THE best).  These Harold Lloyd shorts are hilarious.  This one's got a great bit with a conveyor belt that had me laughing.  One thing I like about Lloyd (and Keaton, etc) is that there's so much going on.  It's relentless in its pacing.  I know they're only 20 minutes long but they fly by.  The physical comedy is a lot of fun and I admire the work that goes into every aspect of these comedies. 

An Eastern Westerner (1920)

Director: Hal Roach

Writer: Frank Terry

Composer: Robert Israel

Starring: Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, Noah Young, James T. Kelley, Sammy Brooks, Mark Jones, Wallace Howe, Belle Mitchell, Charles Stevenson, Ben Corbett

More info: IMDb

Plot: A young man in New York has exasperated his father because of his constant carousing and irresponsibility, so his father sends him to his uncle's ranch in the west. The young man arrives in the town of Piute Pass, which is being terrorized by Tiger Lip Tompkins and his gang, the Masked Angels. The Easterner befriends a young woman whose father is being held captive by Tompkins, and he decides to help her.

My rating: 8.5/10

Will I watch it again? YES!!!

I laughed my ass off.  The 'shimmie' bit was great but it was the poker scene about 14 minutes in that stole the show.  Lloyd besting the gambler by rolling multiple cigarettes at once had me in stitches.  This is some really funny shit.  It's hard to believe that it's almost 100 years old.  Since I busted open the Laurel & Hardy box set the other day I cracked open the first set of Harold Lloyd and I'm enjoying the hell out of it.  L&H are fun but Lloyd's stuff is howlingly funny.