Hot Water

The genius of Harold Lloyd's character was that he acted like he was an everyday person in today's world. Lloyd tapped into that normalcy, surviving in a world where occasionally an unlucky day crops up. Those circumstances are so surreal that most consider the day's a joke, providing hilarious fodder in relating the events later on. That was the world of Harold Lloyd, which made him one of the most successful silent movie comedians.

In October 1924's "Hot Water," Lloyd finds himself in an unusual situation as a happily married husband. A simple grocery errand, a leisurely ride in his new car, and a Freudian wish in a dream about getting rid of his dreaded mother-in-law, all make for one single day for Lloyd where he plays a spouse caught in a Kafka-like bizarro world.

Reminiscent to his earlier gag-heavy shorts, "Hot Water" is broken up into three segments, in which if separated could be standalone two-reeler shorts. A grocery list submitted by his adorning wife (Jobyna Ralston) turns out to be a handful for Lloyd after purchasing the goods. He seen shuffling a number of packages, compounded by a live turkey he won in a raffle, in a streetcar going home. When he finally arrives, his wife's in-laws, including her loafing brother and bratty kid brother, make their visit even more interesting.

Hot Water (1924)

*** (out of 4)

Harold Lloyd feature about the married life and those annoying mother in laws. This film is pretty much broken into three segments, all of which are full of nice laughs even though this certainly isn't a classic. The second segment involving Lloyd taking the family out in his new car gets the most laughs as the family destroys the car within minutes. The final segment has Lloyd thinking he's killed the mother in law only to have her come back as a ghost.

You can get this short in New Line's box set.

This was just great! Since this wasn't one of the Harold Lloyd silent films that I had heard much about, compared to others, it was a wonderful surprise. I think it's right up there with "The Freshman" and his other hit movies.

Except with the early "turkey" scene on the trolley which I think went on too long, the rest of the gags were hilarious and very entertaining. Of lot of that was due not just to Lloyd but Josephine Crowell, who played the mother-in-law. She reminded of the brutish Anne Ramsey in "Throw Mama Off The Train." Crowell plays the stereotypical mother-in-law: a big, gruff, mean-looking woman who makes life miserable for poor newly-wed Harold. She is joined by a no-good brother-in-law and a mean little kid. The three of them come over to visit Harold and "wifey."

The film really is three long comedy segments: the trolley scene, a ride in an automobile and Lloyd thinking he killed his wife's mom after chloroforming her.

After showing up at the newlyweds, the whole group all goes for a ride in Lloyd's brand new fancy car and by the time the trip's over, the automobile is demolished. When they get back home, Harold, a little peeved by now, chloroforms the mother-in-law and then thinks he overdid it and killed her. All kinds of haunted house-type sight gags occur which help convince him she is dead, and he is going to be arrested and charged with murder.Many of jokes in this "skit" are extremely funny.

This is one solid hour of laughs and entertainment.

This is an unusual domestic comedy for Harold Lloyd. Instead of spending the movie trying to "get the girl," he marries her in the first few minutes and spends the next hour dealing with the trials of wedded bliss.

In a way, the feature can really be seen as a melding together of 3 shorts. In the first, Harold attempts to navigate his way home with multiple small packages & a very live turkey. In the second, Harold illustrates the pitfalls of taking the in-laws (including a monstrous mother-in-law) for a ride about town in the new family car. In the third segment, well - it's hilarious, but you'll need to see it for yourself...

Harold Lloyd is wonderful throughout. But then you expected that, didn't you?

Harold (Harold Lloyd) crashes into a girl on the way to his friend's wedding. The couple gets married and has many misadventures. One involves a turkey. There is the annoying mother in-law. Harold gets drunk which leads to a chloroform incident.

This is Harold Lloyd doing his character with his style of comedy. There are some fun physical comedy. There are stunts but none of the highflying ones. It's good clean fun.