Cheap The Kid Brother (Video) (Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston) (Lewis Milestone, J.A. Howe, Harold Lloyd, Ted Wilde) Price

Related Products

Customer Reviews of The Kid Brother

Harold Lloyd's Best Film!
When I was younger, if you were to ask me, "who is your favorite silent comic?" My answer would be Harold Lloyd. And that was only because I felt sorry for him. Lloyd was always referred to as the "third genius" behind Chaplin and Keaton. His work has been greatly forgotten, and that's a pity. So, I was thought someone should like him, so I'll say he's my favorite. The trouble with Lloyd of course has been his films don't play on tv! One has to really search to see a movie with him in it. My local library has a collection of 2 reelers Lloyd did, and when I was younger that was my introduction into the world of Harold Lloyd.

Now, when we think of Harold Lloyd's film we probably think of "The Freshman" (AFI named it one of the funniest comedies of all-time!) and the scene from "Safty Last" (Lloyd is hanging from outside a building onto the hands of a clock). "The Kid Brother" like all of Lloyd's other comedies are forgotten. But, this is his best film. Now, when I say best I don't mean this is his funniest. I don't believe it is. I personally laugh more when I watch "The Freshman", "Girl Shy", & "Speedy". But "The Kid Brother" is Lloyd's best movie because it's his most fully realized film. It's here Lloyd shows us he was actually a good actor and could carry a movie. He was good for more than just those two reelers that he did. He was able to carry an audience's attention with plot and acting not just sight gags. This is not to say this movie doesn't have it's share of sight gags or funny moments, it most certainly does.

"The Kid Brother" for some reason reminds me of Keaton's "Steamboat Bill, Jr." both movies are about a son trying to get his father's respect. In this movie Lloyd plays Harold Hickory, the son of the local sheriff. Harold has two older brothers who his father seems to favor. Harold is left out of family gatherings and discussions. And he desperately seeks his father's approval. Of course as with any Lloyd comedy there will be a romantic sub-plot. But, it all works and everything adds up to the best movie Lloyd ever made. At least from what I've seen.

I think that if Harold Lloyd's film were shown more often the public would respond very kindly. He would not be the forgotten genuis that he is. His work has remained just as fresh and exciting as that of Keaton and Chaplin. I really think people would appreciate these comedies if they were easier to get a hold of. If anyone gets the chance to see this film or any Harold Lloyd comedy, please don't pass up the opportunity. It really is priceless comedy.

Bottom-line: Harold Lloyd's best film. His most fully realized movie. Think of this as his "The General" or "City Lights".

---

Definitely the BEST of the classic Harold Lloyd comedies
"Safety Last" and "The Freshman" are certainly more famous, but I have to say that I think "The Kid Brother" is the best of Harold Lloyd's silent comedies. For the last time Lloyd plays a country boy in a rustic American setting, this time named Harold Hickory. When beautiful Mary Powers (Jobyna Ralston) shows up in the company of two bad characters who have taken over her late father's Medicine Show, Harold is immediately smitten. After their first encounter these is one of the most wonderful farewell scenes as he keeps asking her questions as she disappears down a hill, climbing higher in the tree to keep her in sight. Harold tries to impress Mary by setting up a fake fight, but eventually he has to prove his mettle against a thief (Constantine Romanoff) to win the girl. By this point Lloyd is totally comfortable in his character and the gags are woven effortlessly into the narrative. "Safety Last" might have the most memorable moment in any Lloyd film, but "The Kid Brother" is from start to finish his finest feature film. It is about time America rediscovered the Harold Lloyd that was the third great comedian of the silent era along with Chaplin and Keaton.