His Royal Slyness

Probably the most famous political satire from the inter-war era is the Marx Brothers' "Duck Soup". However, Harold Lloyd had starred in one a decade earlier. "His Royal Slyness" casts him as an ordinary guy who just happens to resemble the visiting prince of a foreign country. When the prince doesn't want to return home, Lloyd's character goes in his stead. Because the country has an incompetent, self-serving government, and the peasants are rising up against it, that doesn't make things any easier for poor Harold!

This movie doesn't go for the jugular the way that "Duck Soup" did, but still sympathizes with the peasants (who wouldn't after seeing the worthless people who dominate the government?). It's no masterpiece but still a fun look at politics and the people's discontents therewith (which continue to this day).

The little Kingdom of Thermosa is the Isle of Roquefort on the coast of Razzamatazz. The Prince of Razzamatazz (Gaylord Lloyd) is being educated in America. He is called back to the Thermosa court along with the rival Prince of Roquefort (Snub Pollard). Both are supposed to be pursuing the hand of Princess Florelle of Thermosa (Mildred Davis). On the ship over, he meets doppelganger The American Boy (Harold Lloyd) and comes up with an idea to avoid going home.

Harold Lloyd does a doppelganger story. I don't like the prince coming home which is a bit of a logistic muddle. The Prince's girlfriend should be back in America when he tells her about losing his inheritance. In that way, the Prince would have to make three crossings before coming home. The peasant revolt could be funnier or not be there at all. This is mostly fine.

Just watched this Harold Lloyd comedy short on the Kino DVD called "The Harold Lloyd Collection". His Royal Slyness is sort of Lloyd's version of "The Prince and the Pauper" with brother Gaylord portraying the prince who convinces lookalike Harold to take his place going back to his country so the princess could pick her royal betrothed there. It seems the real prince is infatuated with a rich socialite. Anyway, the princess (Mildred Davis who would eventually become Harold's real life wife) herself prefers the commoners since most of the royal subjects are loutish drunks, especially the other prince played by Lloyd regular Snub Pollard. Starts slow then becomes quite hilarious once Harold puzzles the subjects with his American carefree attitude. And you won't believe the way the whole thing ends! So on that note, I highly recommend His Royal Slyness.

(1920) His Royal Slyness SILENT COMEDY

Clocking in at 27 minutes, it has a prince (Gaylord Lloyd) already romancing with one flame while a salesman (Harold Lloyd) is in another room trying to make a sale selling encyclopedias. And while the prince is romancing, the prince's count (Noah Young) then comes in to inform him he is subjected and ordered to marry the Princess Florelle of Thermosa. And by the time the book salesman was done, he then enters into the room of the prince romancing his current flame to which the prince notices both of them look almost identical. And then instead of him going to marry he then sends (Harold Lloyd) in his place. Some of the gags also includes some guardsmen unknowingly walking into the decoration water fountain; mistaken identity, and when he is chased by the guardsman. The second of 15 movies, Harold Lloyd starred with Mildred Davis. Actor Harry Pollard plays Harold Lloyd's rival for the princess hands.

This Harold Lloyd comedy is good overall, and it has some especially funny moments. It's fun to see Harold and his brother Gaylord on screen together, and their characters are used to create a good story that lends itself to some good comedy. The rest of the cast of comic actors also help out when they have the chance.

Lloyd plays an American salesman with a strong resemblance to a visiting prince (played by Gaylord), who asks the American to appear in his place for some duties at court. Much of the comedy comes from the contrast between the outgoing, aggressive American and the self-indulgent, oafish members of the royal court. It's enjoyable both as comedy and as social satire, and it's also rather interesting as a record of some perceptions that may not have changed all that much. The comedy blends slapstick, sight gags, and other material to make for a good mix.

The revolution sequence brings things to an appropriate climax and ties everything together. Not all of the movie works flawlessly, but most of it is entertaining, and overall it's one of Harold Lloyd's more enjoyable short comedies.