Some of Silent Cinema's funniest moments may be found in HAROLD LLOYD'S WORLD OF COMEDY (1962).
Although he had not appeared on screen for many years, comic genius Harold Lloyd had kept ownership of his films, storing them in special vaults at his Beverly Hills mansion. He loved sharing the gift of laughter from his old movies whenever he could. Student audiences were a favorite, as were the young patients in Shriner hospitals for children. It was here that he had experimented showing compilations of his favorite cinematic moments culled from his old classics.
It is important to remember that Harold's original films were unavailable for viewing by the general public for decades. He did not want them to be shown on commercial television where they were likely to be broken up for advertisements and shown at incorrect projection speeds. He was wise, especially when one considers what TV perpetrated upon the feature films and shorts of Laurel & Hardy and the Our Gang kids. In the early 1960's, 35 years after his Silent Glory Days, he produced and released this look back.
Generous selections from both silent and talkie films are shown (including, oddly, a couple of snippets from sound pictures shown 'silent'). We get to see Harold dealing with the obstreperous turkey & taking a most adventurous drive in his new car from HOT WATER (1924). A Latin American revolution causes him problems in WHY WORRY? (1923). The dog on a train and the race to the church sequences from GIRL SHY (1924) are up next. After segments from THE MILKY WAY (1936) and PROFESSOR BEWARE (1938), we are treated to the hilarious dance with Louise Closser Hale in MOVIE CRAZY (1932) and Harold's dangling from the side of the skyscraper in FEET FIRST (1930).
While this compilation film is terrific fun, nothing takes the place of enjoying the movies in their full-length versions, now newly restored & freshly scored.
The great success of this film internationally, as well as a special award at the Cannes Film Festival, meant Harold would certainly have to come up with a sequel of more greatest moments, which he did the following year with HAROLD LLOYD'S FUNNY SIDE OF LIFE (1963).
