Le royaume de Tulipatan

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.

From the early comedy pros...harold lloyd and hal roach... a twenty two minute short. The cards along the way tell us much of the story, but two princes are vying for the hand of the eligible princess. When one of the prince's doesn't want to compete, he sends someone in his place. It's all very tongue in cheek! Harold lloyd situational humor, look-a-likes, ridiculous outfits, and even sillier wallpaper. The princess is played by millie davis, who lloyd had used in so many of his bits. And who he married in 1923. They were together until her death in 1969. The prince's double was played by Lloyd's older brother! It's quite well done! And fun. And just the right length. Good stuff. Currently showing on max and hulu!

His Royal Slyness (1920)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Harold Lloyd plays an American boy who is asked by a lookalike Prince to pretend to be him and marry the Princess (Mildred Davis). Lloyd agrees to do this but once in the new place he finds himself under attack by the locals who believe him to be the real Prince. HIS ROYAL SLYNESS has a couple funny scenes, which makes it worth watching to Lloyd fans but there's still no question that this is far from the actor's best work. I think the best scenes actually happen early on when we see the real Prince trying to make the moves on his mistress. The first sequence where the Prince meets the American contained some simple but effective laughs. The second portion of the film isn't nearly as strong as the American finds himself in a new land, trying to impress a girl and then of course coming under attack by the local people. Lloyd at least gets to show off some of his comic timing and especially during a sequence where he pretends to be a hunchback but the only problem is that the hunch keeps moving places. I think the story itself has enough cuteness to it and especially the story dealing with the Prince and the Princess. Again, this is certainly far from great material but it's worth watching.

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.