Grandma's Boy

GRANDMA'S BOY is among the first silent comedies that focus on characterization. It is also Lloyd's breakthrough picture which set him on the rank of Chaplin and Keaton and we can easily see why. It's full of tightly linked, ingenious gags( even where he put his hat would serve as a link to later action ). It also keeps some acrobatic movements that reminds us of Lloyd's 2 reeler days. It has a strong story line, and consistent plot development and delicate performance from Lloyd as well. The Grandpa's Civil war episode is truly funny.

I think the best overall summary would be to call this a dramatic comedy. Harold Lloyd displays accomplished slapstick while at the same time being involved in the drama of catching a tramp causing a lot of problems for the town. An ongoing subplot involves the used-to-be school bully (now grown up) who continues to bully Harold and does his best to take his girl from him. It is not until Harold's grandma tells him about a special amulet that his grandfather used in the Civil War and got his courage from that he gets up the courage to take after the tramp and take on the bully. All of the action involves numerous slapstick antics that really make the movie. Yet, with all of that, the point still comes across that things don't give us courage and abilities. We get our courage to act from within ourselves. This movie reinforces that there were very good silent movies made and we can learn from them and have a lot of laughs at the same time.

Another fun Lloyd movie, set in the standard small, rural town of silent movies. (I always wonder how close those were to reality.) Lloyd is endearing as a timid boy, and displays some fine acting as well as comic ability. Anna Townsend as Lloyd's grandma is refreshingly both tough and likeable, a bonus for the modern female viewer. Mildred Davis (Lloyd's future wife) doesn't have a huge part, but plays it well. (Though I wonder about the childlike clothes she wears; would anyone over 13 really have sported a massive hair bow in 1922?) The movie seems to have had great influence: the civil-war sequence must have been an inspiration for Keaton's "The General", and a flashback to Harold's boyhood shows how his distinctive bespectacled look even helped create Harry Potter. As usual, several good animal actors. There is one joke--having to do with a white family's black butler--that is in kind of questionable taste, but it could be construed as more of a comment on class than race. You'll enjoy watching this with your kids (or without!)

GRANDMA'S BOY is a terribly timid fellow until the old lady decides to instill some much needed courage into him.

This sweetly poignant and very funny film started off as a two-reeler, but star Harold Lloyd, with the approval of producer Hal Roach, kept adding gags until the completed picture ran about an hour. Harold also wanted something else - to instill a serious element to the story and his character, an innovation new to American comedy films.

He succeeded brilliantly, with the finished film a joy, blending the hilarious and the sentimental seamlessly. As always, Harold is a special treat to watch, his amazing athletic abilities made even more impressive by the fact that he was missing half of his right hand. The plot makes Harold deal with both a contemptible bully and a vicious tramp, giving our hero full opportunity for running, falling, leaping & almost endless fisticuffs, all of which he carries off with great skill and good humor. And just to show that his bag of tricks is not depleted Harold throws in an uproarious Civil War flashback to delight the viewer.

Lovely Mildred Davis plays the girl of Harold's dreams. Charles Stevenson as the Rival and Dick Sutherland as the Tramp both make wonderful villains. Noah Young, who so often played the heavy in Harold's films, here has the relatively small role as the sheriff of Blossom Bend. Best of all is sweet elderly Anna Townsend, playing Harold's little darling of a grandma; whether attacking the Tramp with a broom or rejoicing at her grandson's newly found courage, she remains the heart of this very special movie. Anna Townsend would die the following year, 1923, at the age of 78.

Robert Israel has composed an excellent film score which perfectly complements Harold's antics on the screen.

Although the similarity of this plot to several other Lloyd films is obvious (thus preventing it from getting a rating of 10), this is still one of Harold Lloyd's best. What sets this apart from many comedies of the same era is that it is NOT jam-packed with laughs but takes a more leisurely pace and tells a sweet story. Our hero, Lloyd, is a wimp with little self-confidence. His loving grandmother gives him Grandpa's good luck charm--saying it will give him strength and courage. As a result he is able to help the town look for a dangerous desperado and in the process prove to his girl that he is indeed a man.

Great cinematography, pacing and excellent laughs all work together to make this his best film up until that time. Plus, unlike most comedies of the time, this one is quite artistic and sweet.