Jackson Booth-Millard 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!

MissSimonetta Chaplin had City Lights. Buster Keaton had The General. Though Safety Last may be more iconic (indeed one of the most iconic movies of all time), I think The Kid Brother (1927) is the best expression of Harold Lloyd's brand of silent comedy: warm, peppy, and breathless in pace.This has to be one of the most tightly constructed movies ever. Other commenters have brought up how every shot, gag, and character is woven into the plot. There is not an extraneous shot in TKB. The gags are also uniformly excellent, not a dud in the bunch. More than his other features, Lloyd and his collaborators balance comedy and drama with seemingly effortless grace. Even when the story has brushes with dark material (ex. lynchings, stalking), it does not feel jarring.The character types who appear again and again in Lloyd's comic universe are here perhaps in their purest form: Jobyna Ralston as the love interest is at her most sweet and charming (in her last appearance opposite Lloyd), Walter James (who appeared as the intimidating father of Buster Keaton's love interest in Battling Butler the year before) is gruff but noble as Lloyd's estranged father, and the villains-- by God, the villains are terrifying here! The climactic chase/fight in the sunken ship succeeds not only due to the great choreography and Lloyd's physicality, but also Constantine Romanoff as the brutish Sardoni. When he throws Harold across the room, you can practically feel the bruises forming before he even lands!TKB also showcases Lloyd not only as a comedian, but as a performer in general. As an actor, he is the polar opposite of the reserved Buster Keaton; not to say Keaton is inexpressive (he was anything but), but Lloyd plays far more extroverted types, go-getters. Some say he mugs, but I think his expressions are among his best traits, a little exaggerated but hilarious. He oozes screen charm, all jaunty youthful energy so perfect for the optimism of the 1920s. Despite being in his thirties when this movie was made, Lloyd could still play eighteen and does it so well, channeling the insecurities that come from feeling you don't measure up to everyone else, trying to find yourself. He plays the emotional scenes well; nothing as powerful as the weeping scene in The Freshman, but still impressive.Overall, this is a masterpiece. Tight, funny, and with a happy ending which may or may not have you crying a little. What else could you want from a comedy?

SnoopyStyle Mary took over the Prof. Powers Original Mammoth Medicine Show after her father Prof. Powers' death. She arrives in Hickoryville with her con-man workers Farrell and Sandoni. Sheriff Jim Hickorys has two tough manly sons Leo and Olin. Then there is the youngest son Harold (Harold Lloyd) who was born on April Fool's Day. Hank Hooper hates the weakling Harold. Mary mistakes Harold for the Sheriff. The town places money for the dam with the real Sheriff. Harold tries to shut down the medicine show but ends up burning it down. Farrell and Sandoni decide to steal the dam money.This is compelling story with romance and slapstick comedy and drama. There are no building climbing or any big stunts from Harold Lloyd. He's doing smaller stunts with a focus on the slapstick comedy. This is interesting from start to finish. And who doesn't love a monkey?

rdjeffers Monday May 21, 7:00pm, The Paramount TheaterProduced in what collectively became the greatest year of the silent era, Harold Lloyd considered The Kid Brother (1927) to be lacking sufficient action and humor. In reality, his tenth of eleven silent features was the synthesis of all his acquired talents. It was Lloyd's greatest success in blending his trademark gags with well-developed characters, and a thoughtful, engaging story. The story of an introspective and bullied younger son who surprises everyone with his true strength, suggests numerous popular sources, including, Hal Roach produced The White Sheep (1924), Henry King's Tol'able David (1921), and to some degree even Cinderella. Young Harold Hickory lives in a motherless home with his father, the town sheriff, and two terrorizing older brothers. The bucolic country setting recalls Grandma's Boy (1922), but is far more beautifully realized. To survive the dominance of his larger and stronger brothers, a multitude of gags cleverly demonstrate Harold's mental superiority over them as the films greatest source of humor. When a travelling medicine show rolls into town, Harold and Mary (Jobyna Ralston in her final appearance with Lloyd), the pretty daughter of the deceased owner, share an instant attraction, and a fear of the two thugs who have taken over the show. Constantine Romanoff as the murderous strong man is nearly as frightening in this comedy as the villain of Tolerable David, Ernest Torrance. Harold's hometown rival Hank Hooper (Ralph Yearsley, who also starred in Tol'able David) is larger, stronger, appropriately oafish, and the perfect foil for several amusing confrontations. Hiding aboard an abandoned ship in the final reel, Harold puts a pair of shoes on the medicine show monkey to draw the strong man away. The monkey waddles up the stairs and on deck, with the strong man in pursuit. The Kid Brother is a seamless, well-balanced combination of humor, romance and peril. It is atypically coordinated Lloyd. The pleasantly sentimental story is complimented by excellent casting and production design. What Lloyd saw as insufficient humor was actually a lighter treatment, increasingly reliant and more fully demonstrating his acting abilities (something many comics lacked) in what is without question his best work.