The Kid Brother (1927)

User Rating:

7.9/10   

Directors:

Ted Wilde
J.A. Howe (co-director)

Writers:

Thomas J. Crizer (story)
Howard J. Green (scenario)

Release Date:

22 January 1927 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Family | Romance

Plot:

The most important family in Hickoryville is (naturally enough) the Hickorys, with sheriff Jim and his tough manly sons Leo and Olin...

Plot Keywords:

Sheriff | Medicine Show | Mistaken Identity | Sun Flower | Rescue From Drowning

Cast

Harold Lloyd	...	Harold Hickory
Jobyna Ralston	...	Mary Powers
Walter James	...	Jim Hickory
Leo Willis	...	Leo Hickory
Olin Francis	...	Olin Hickory
Constantine Romanoff	...	Sandoni (as C. Romanoff)
Eddie Boland	...	'Flash' Farrell
Frank Lanning	...	Sam Hooper
Ralph Yearsley	...	Hank Hooper (as R. Yearsley)

Also Known As:

The Mountain Day (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

84 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

Australia:G

Filming Locations:

Placentia, California, USA

Company:

The Harold Lloyd Corporation

Trivia:

Around eight writers and gagmen worked on the production for Lloyd wanted this film to have the greatest number of gags than any of his previous comedies.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Backgrounds changes when the billy goat is eating the laundry.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Funny Side of Life (1963)

a wonderful and well-crafted film

In some ways it's a shame that Harold Lloyd is so associated with the film Safety Last. This is not because it is a bad film (in fact it's one of his better ones) but because it represents a style of film that is based almost completely on physical humor, whereas his best films also included significantly more plot, exceptional cinematography and a lot of heart.

Among my favorites is The Kid Brother. It is very funny at times, but all the humor takes a back seat to the plot involving Lloyd falling for Jobina Ralston (as he had in many previous films). The camera work is just unbelievable and just goes to show that just because this is a silent film doesn't mean it wasn't a very artistic film. A funny, beautiful and memorable film! And, because of it's gorgeous and beautifully crafted scenes, it's highly reminiscent of the best of Chaplin's full-length films, such as CITY LIGHTS.

So is THE KID BROTHER or THE FRESHMAN Lloyd's best film--it's hard to say. The FRESHMAN is more enjoyable and funny, but there is an elegance to THE KID BROTHER that help it transcend the genre--making it truly a work of art. As for me, I love them both and recommend you see them soon!