Horst in Translation ([email protected]) "Two-Gun Gussie" is a 10-minute short film from 1918, which means it will have its 100th anniversary soon. The director is Alfred J. Goulding and writer is H.M. Walker and this duo is known to have worked on many black-and-white silent films that are still somewhat known today, almost a century later. And this is one of them. It shows us Harold Lloyd in the Wild West. He is in a bar and it is kinda fun to see him next to all these rough cowboys with their mustaches. Talk about wrong place wrong time really for Lloyd. He looks so harmless with his glasses and innocent face expression. You probably know him and his looks, so you know what I am talking about. but badly for him, and luckily for us, he really starts believing he was one of these rough Wild West guys too and hilarity ensues. I think this film was above-average for its time. Nothing too great or funny, but it's really the setting and the contrast that make this one work somehow. Supporting actors include Snub Pollard with the biggest mustache of them all and Lloyd's regular leading lady Bebe Daniels. Oh yeah, Lloyd was only in his mid-20s here, but extremely experienced already through all the films he made in the previous 3 years.

wes-connors A successful pianist, Harold Lloyd goes west, where he is less appreciated, to tickle the ivories at the "Howling Poodle Tango Bar". There, dastardly gunslinger William Blasdell (as Dagger-Tooth Dan) makes Mr. Lloyd's life difficult; he steals Lloyd's earnings and makes time with Bebe Daniels. Then, to avoid the attentions of sheriff Charles Stevenson (as Whooping-Cough Charlie), he infers Lloyd is the tough "Two-Gun Gussie". The funnier film moments follow, with Lloyd pretending to be a fearless hombre. "Snub" Pollard is good, as the bartender. *** Two-Gun Gussie (5/19/18) Alf Goulding ~ Harold Lloyd, William Blasdell, 'Snub' Pollard

MartinHafer At the beginning of his career, Harold Lloyd copied other comedians' styles (such as his "Lonesome Luke", which was a derivation of Chaplin's "Little Tramp"). However, by 1917 Lloyd had perfected the look of his later characters (the glasses, hat and suit), but it took him another 'three or four years to soften and improve upon the character. You see, up until about 1920 or 1921, Harold Lloyd's characters in film were not especially sweet or likable--a far cry from his decent "everyman" character he later played to perfection in films like SAFETY LAST and THE FRESHMAN. Here in TWO-GUN GUSSIE, Lloyd is slightly more likable than he had been in many previous films, but still he isn't quite the sweet guy we're used to seeing in later films. Lloyd is a piano player and for some odd reason, he leaves his society home and goes West. Here he is mistreated until he is mistaken for a dangerous criminal. While this is excellent material for the comedian, his "fat-headed" reaction to his new-found respect makes him less than lovable, as he begins believing the stories and starts pushing people around for no particular reason. Also for no particular reason the film comes to an end with no real resolution. Sadly, Snub Pollard and Bebe Daniels are pretty much wasted in this rather forgettable film.By the way, don't assume I hate Lloyd. He is, in fact, my favorite of the silent comics. It's just that his early stuff, like Chaplin's, is very rough and relies too much on slapstick.

boblipton An excellent early short comedy for Harold Lloyd's 'Glass' character. He plays a meek conservatory graduate who wows the matrons and winds up playing in a western saloon, where Snub is the bartender and Bebe the Salvation Army lass. Harold is, of course, confused for a dangerous character and the gags flow fast and free for a while. Even Snub gets one or two funny ones.