The Big Idea

This early Harold Lloyd "glasses" short seems like a variation on Chaplin's THE PAWNSHOP in set-up, with Snub cast in the Albert Austin role, competing for the affections of Bebe Daniels in a failing antiques shop. After you get past that set-up, the similarities vanish. Lloyd's character -- still wearing his bow tie -- indulges in some rough slapstick combat with Snub.

Even though there's no clear sign of the go-getter of the 1920s, Lloyd was clearly searching for a style of comedy midway between the rough, Keystone-style slapstick of his early works and the more realistic comedy he would become the master of it. It starts here with characters who look like they could exist in the real world, even if they don't act like it.

(1917) The Big Idea SILENT COMEDY

clocking in at 9 minutes that has (Harold Lloyd) and (Harry Pollard) competing for the same affections of a young lady (Bebe Daniels). Both (Lloyd) and (Bebe Daniels) also happen to work at the same antique store. (Lloyd) as as the clean up and stock boy while (Bebe) as the cashier. Lloyd then overhears their boss inform (Bebe) he is going out of business and intends to close the small antique shop for good. (Lloyd) then devises a plan to to turn out the goods by jotting using a chalk double X's on the items such furniture and paintings etc...and producing an ad that $10,000 may be hidden in items with the double X's. He would then spread it around the neighborhood and around town about it, motivating many millionaires to take a quick visit to the shop and buy the first items with the double X's. This also includes his old rival, (Harry Pollard) who viewers see throughout the segment try to scrunge enough money to buy a double X item.

Harold (Harold Lloyd) and Snub (Harry Pollard) are battling over The Girl (Bebe Daniels). They escort her to her job at an antique shop. The shop is failing and her job is unlikely to continue. Harold comes up with an underhanded Telegram scheme to get more business to the shop.

This early Harold Lloyd comedy has no high level stunts, but he has developed his bespectacled everyman look. The story is fine. The middle has too much Snub and not enough of Harold. I really do like the ending which differentiates this from Popeye. All in all, this a solid comedy short. It just needs a stunt to push it over the top.

The Big Idea (1917)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

Decent one-reeler has Harold Lloyd trying to save an antique shop and he gets an idea to send out notices that items marked with a "xx" have $10,000 in them. Soon all sorts of people start showing up to buy items but will this scam help impress the girl (Bebe Daniels) he loves? THE BIG IDEA features a couple decent laughs but overall this here isn't quite as good as some of Lloyd's other pictures from this era. I think the best thing this has going for it is the charm of Daniels who certainly steals the picture even though she has the least amount of screen time of any of the named actor. Lloyd is also quite good here even though the screenplay doesn't give him all that much to do. One of the best scenes has him dealing a painting to three people. The joke here is pretty simple but it works. Harry 'Snub' Pollard is on hand but is pretty much wasted in his supporting role. As I said, there are a couple decent laughs to be had here but there just aren't enough to make this a classic or even one of the legends better pictures.

Snub Pollard joined forces with the rimmed glasses Harold Lloyd beyond the Lonesome Luke films. Because of Lloyd's athleticism that he was now displaying week by week he had trouble obtaining insurance because he was a high risk candidate.