Bumping Into Broadway

Despite the title, the plot of this Harold Lloyd short is evenly distributed among three different settings: a boarding-house, a theater and an exclusive club. As in FROM HAND TO MOUTH (1919), comedy emerges out of the characters' desperation - but there's no denying the assuredness of the gags (in fact, I'd say that this one's an even better film) and, in any case, H.M. Walker's title cards are among the wittiest for a Silent that I've come across! Lloyd is in his element as the perennial dreamer, a novice playwright, and Bebe Daniels is an ideal co-star as an aspiring Broadway star. Still, the best scenes are probably those set in the casino - where the penniless Lloyd accidentally cops himself a large sum of money but, needless to say, he's not allowed to reap the rewards of his fortune because the joint is raided soon after by the Police!

The Boy is a writer.The Girl is a chorus line girl.They both want to make it big but find it hard.But they do find each other.Bumping Into Broadway (1919) is directed by Hal Roach and its star is Harold Lloyd.Its female star is Bebe Daniels.Together they really hit it off.Snub Pollard plays Director of Musical Comedy and he's hilarious.Helen Gilmore does great job as 'Bearcat' the Landlady.Same thing with Noah Young who plays her Bouncer.Harold's brother Gaylord Lloyd is seen in the movie.This short has many funny moments.Harold's writing efforts is funny to watch.He moves on very slowly, letter by letter.And when he tries to escape the landlady and the bouncer.It's funny to watch Harold trying to get in the theater with his never-say-die way.And it also makes you laugh when Snub shows to his actors how those dance moves are done.Robert Israel's music (made in 2004) and Harold Lloyd's comedy skills make this movie a hilarious experience.

Harold Lloyd was fast becoming cinema's most prolific comedian, and his star power was rising to new heights in 1919. The studio he was contracted to, Pathe Exchange, wanted to capitalize on his escalating popularity by making longer movies than his normal one-reeler 12-minute shorts. The company signed Lloyd to a nine-movie deal for expanded 30-minute films. His first two-reeler was November 1919's "Bumping Into Broadway." When seeing "Broadway," a viewer might think the movie is two separate one-reelers placed back-to-back. The first half deals with Lloyd trying to evade paying the $3.75 a month in rent by attempting to escape the cluthes of the landlord's enforcer. The second part deals with his trying to sell his play to a theater manger, only to end up in an illegal gambling house, where he breaks the bank by his successful bets on the roulette wheel. But a Keystone-like squad of police raids the place just as he's pocketing the dough.

"Bumping on Broadway" co-stars Lloyd's regular female sidekick, Bebe Daniels. The actress reached out to Cecil B. DeMille to seek out the possibilities of expanding her acting talents towards more dramatic roles. The famous director did hire her for his 'Male And Female' production as well as a number of movies for Paramount Pictures. "Broadway" was her second to last film with Lloyd after appearing with him in over 150 films.

There are three segments to this two-reel short, and each one has their highlight. It begins with HAROLD LLOYD as a struggling writer who can't pay the rent (a flimsy amount of $3.70 is overdue!!) and this leads to a boarding house sequence that has him avoiding the grim landlady and her strong partner bent on giving deadbeats rough treatment. Lloyd excels in this segment as he narrowly avoids detection when they try to track him down.

BEBE DANIELS makes little impression as "the girl," also unable to pay her rent until Lloyd comes to her aid. Thereafter, there's a backstage Broadway scene that has Lloyd trying to sell his story to a producer with dismal results.

And finally, a gambling joint scene climaxes the film with a wild chase as the dumb cops try to nab Lloyd, who comes up with an ingenious coat rack trip that has to be seen to be believed--or described.

This all plays very quickly--fast and funny throughout with nary a lapse of pace, making it one of the most enjoyable of all the Lloyd silent shorts that I've seen. The TCM showing has it accompanied by a brisk musical score.

This short provides a lot of what I like in a Harold Lloyd film---risky stunts, clever comedy, and an engaging story.

Harold is a poor tenant who can't pay his rent, but he gives his few dollars to an attractive neighbor played by Bebe Daniels, landing him in trouble with the landlady and her thuggish enforcer. Harold and Bebe spend the entire film running from everyone, allowing him to display his acrobatic prowess and his imagination.

At the end, Lloyd charmingly breaks the fourth wall for a kiss.