Girl Shy (1924)

A shy, young man, who is completely incapable of talking to women, decides to write a book that details to other bachelors how to find a girlfriend.

Directors:

Fred C. Newmeyer, Sam Taylor

Writers:

Sam Taylor (story), Ted Wilde (story),

Stars:

Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston, Richard Daniels

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Harold Lloyd	...	The Poor Boy
Jobyna Ralston	...	The Rich Girl
Richard Daniels	...	The Poor Man
Carlton Griffin	...	The Rich Man

Storyline

Harold Meadows (Lloyd) is a shy, stuttering bachelor working in a tailor shop, who is writing a guide book for other bashful young men, "The Secret of Making Love," chapters from which are portrayed as fantasy sequences. Fate has him meet rich girl, Mary (Ralston), and they fall in love. But she is about to wed an already married man, so our hero embarks upon a hair-raising daredevil ride to prevent the wedding.

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Plot Keywords:

stuttering | tailor | fantasy sequence | canceled wedding | auto theft | 

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Genres:

Action | Comedy | Romance | Family

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 April 1924 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Maricas

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Harold Lloyd Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min 80 min (Turner library print) 87 min (1992)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many of the exterior shots were filmed at Holmby House, the massive estate owned by Arthur Letts, owner of the Bullocks Departments Store. Harold Lloyd did not move into his Green Acres estate in Beverly Hills until 1929, five years after Girl Shy was released.

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Goofs

When Harold helps Mary out of the boat, the lilting boat is causing a lot of ripples in the water behind them. In the very next shot, the water has become still again, with none of the wake from before.

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Connections

References Trifling Women (1922)

User Reviews

Great Romantic Comedy

GIRL SHY is one of Lloyd's classics where that tight structure as the trademark of his comedy is most obvious. Every gag is so closed linked to another. It really leaves you marvel at his ability of building up and controlling his work. Besides, it is one of the great romantic comedies of the silent era, full of breath-taking imageries(like the scene when the Boy was dreaming about the Girl while fishing under a bridge..). It is hilarious throughout(especially for those 2 fantasy sequences). The great final chase is full of typical thrills that only Lloyd's comedy can provide(and, as we know it, `inspired' the final chase in The Graduate). Lloyd showed some wonderful drama acting ability too(when he had to dissuade the Girl from seeing him any more).