Up until the 1920s, Harold Lloyd was not an especially memorable in his comedy shorts, though few of these many films exist today. What does exist lacks the charm and gentleness that came to be his trademark. In THE CITY SLICKER, we do see Harold with his trademark glasses, hat and suit, but the look still lacked style and substance. Here he comes to a small town in order to modernize a hotel. While some of the gags here were pretty good, none were especially memorable. Typical for these older Lloyd films, Snub Pollard is along for the ride and you can't help but compare the many time-saving gadgets in this film (that often fail to bring laughs) with Pollard's solo film IT'S A GIFT--where ALL the time-saving gags worked so perfectly. By the time the seven minutes are up, not a lot is accomplished in this film and the movie just ends--with no wrap-up, it just ends with a whimper.
Please understand that I am NOT anti-Lloyd. He is my favorite silent comedian, but like Chaplin, his earlier films are very rough and not especially funny. When both left the confines of studio life to form their own production companies, both went on to greatness.
Please understand that I am NOT anti-Lloyd. He is my favorite silent comedian, but like Chaplin, his earlier films are very rough and not especially funny. When both left the confines of studio life to form their own production companies, both went on to greatness.