Wolff rating: GOOD
Plot summary: Young man who is terrified of women writes a book about how to woo them.
Biased, pithy comments: Lloyd was a talented man, up there with silent greats Chaplin and Keaton. He was a bit like Keaton (and Jackie Chan) in that he went for outsize stunts and wild action all while playing the nerdy clown. This movie has both clowning and stunts; the clowning is charming (my wife and I kept saying, ``awwwww,'' as he and the truly beautiful Ralston kept running into one another) and the stunts are surprisingly well-filmed; the camera is clearly on trucks, on dollies, on cranes, and nearly always moving. The plot is a little rough, and as always with the silents if you don't like some overacting here and there you just won't like it, but this is a sure-fire charmer.
Other Notes: Silent. One of the first movies where Lloyd, in his own production company, could really take the time to get it right. The bits at the beginning with Harold's fantasies, in the right light, are almost kinky. Apparently, during the scene with the firetruck, Lloyd was struck on the head and knocked unconscious by the brass nozzle at the end of the hose. Upon awakening, he apparently said, ``Well, I could have done without *that*,'' and then got up and did the stunt again.
How many times I have seen it: x1
Starring: Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston
Directed by: Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor