Harold Lloyd came out of retirement after nine years to make "The Sin of Harold Diddlebock." The 53-year old actor reprised one of his building ledge scenarios from his much younger days in silent films ("Safety Last" of 1923). Lloyd is unquestionably the master of the high ledge antics. He's so good, and the filming of his scenes is so real that I've always been on the edge of my seat when watching those nail-biters.
Preston Sturges wrote and directed this wacky film. He may have been able to lure Lloyd back to work for one more film. After an opening scenario on the football field (a replay from "The Freshman" of 1925), the plot slows down and quickly becomes dull. But, when it picks back up Harold gets up a head of steam that leads to the climax with the great ledge hanging scenes.
The film has a good supporting cast. It's not the funniest script but it has some raucously funny sections. The ledge-hanging scenes alone make it worthwhile.
Lloyd made 214 films in his career that began in 1913. All but eight of those were silent films made before 1929. Most movies made in the early days of the silent era were short films. They would vary from 10 minutes to more than 35. Shorts today are films with a running time of 40 minutes or less, including all the credits.
Preston Sturges wrote and directed this wacky film. He may have been able to lure Lloyd back to work for one more film. After an opening scenario on the football field (a replay from "The Freshman" of 1925), the plot slows down and quickly becomes dull. But, when it picks back up Harold gets up a head of steam that leads to the climax with the great ledge hanging scenes.
The film has a good supporting cast. It's not the funniest script but it has some raucously funny sections. The ledge-hanging scenes alone make it worthwhile.
Lloyd made 214 films in his career that began in 1913. All but eight of those were silent films made before 1929. Most movies made in the early days of the silent era were short films. They would vary from 10 minutes to more than 35. Shorts today are films with a running time of 40 minutes or less, including all the credits.