Girl Shy (1924)

The premise for this Harold Lloyd vehicle is the oft-used trope of the nice guy who is terribly shy around women, in this case, so much so that he begins stuttering and even trembling. What makes it amusing initially is that he's also an aspiring writer who, of all things, has written a how-to book for other young men called "The Secret of Making Love". The two fantasy sequences he dreams up while writing, for chapters dealing with a woman who is a vampire (vamp) and a flapper, are fantastic, and I wish there could have been more of them. Lloyd is of course cool, confident, and macho in his daydreams, at one point giving the flapper (Judy King) a spanking. In real life he can't even muster the courage to sit down next to a rich young girl who has tried to sneak her dog on a train (Jobyna Ralston). The love story that develops between Lloyd and Ralston is predictable, but sweet. The two of them carry around mementos of their meeting (a box of dog treats for him, and a box of Cracker Jacks for her), pining away for each other. Lloyd endures humiliation in many ways, the most memorable being when an entire office crowd around to laugh over his book, and then mock him mercilessly. These empathy building devices for the 'nice guy' are cliché today, but I found them endearing and interesting, especially since the film is from 1924. There are a few nice gags along the way, but what really makes the film is the madcap journey he takes aboard all manner of vehicles - a car, train, pair of horses, streetcar, motorcycle, etc. towards the end. It's an extended sequence that is brilliant and memorable.

This movie was absolutely amazing for a silent film. At first I didn't encourage his book because it almost degraded women for loving men who don't treat them right. I enjoyed how after he'd actually been with a woman his whole perspective changed. I thought the film was well in order and I had my eyes on each scene the entire time. Although, it felt dragged out when he was trying to make it to the ceremony on time. He must have drove every vehicle there was in that time period. The ending was beautiful and well worth the long chase. The lighting was well done and for such an ancient movie the chases done in the vehicles were well put together and smooth. Overall this movie was a delight to watch, it was humerus, and it was cute.

Many black and white silent movies have gone by the way side. As far as appreciation goes in this day and age they deserve a whole lot more than we give them credit for. Mostly because these movies require a lot more effort into consideration of the plot and witty humor. They are so simple at their core though... like this movie for example is so beautifully done because its so innocent. No pretentious special effects or made up stars just a pure scene unedited and raw, giving it a lot of organic texture and feel. The scene where Harold Meadows is writing his book and begins his flashback with the "vampire" woman is absolutely adorable, such delicate lighthearted humor is a breath of fresh air in an entertainment industry beginning to rely on shock value, ratings and financial success. Harold Lloyd is an underrated silent film actor for sure, silent movies would not be complete without the star to make them even more endearing than before and Lloyd certainly articulates his charming warmth and melodramatic expressions to an audience young and old in a way that we can all understand how the character is feeling.

Bashful, stutterer Harold Meadows pens a book on what he knows about least, women. While taking the train into LA he befriends Mary Buckminister by rescuing her dog. At the publisher's the secretaries mock his work and the editor sends him packing. In the meantime he continues his pursuit of Mary but with the failure of his book he feels unfit to support her. When an underling suggests turning the love maker's guide into a satire they send him a check for three grand. Now all Harold has to do is get Mary back, preferably before her wedding service is complete.In Girl Shy, Lloyd's regular guy persona has the added handicap of stuttering (in a silent) which he mines into more than a few comic moments along with the abject shyness that provides him with a steady flow of humorous moments before the wildly slapstick finish. Lloyd's normal character allows for development and so his films can be a lot more patient than the other silent giants usually bent on rapid fire comedy. There's a nicely balanced romantic chemistry with Robyna Ralston as Mary (they'd make six films together) giving the film an added facet beyond producing belly laughs. The sweet touching relationship, complete with a Cracker Jacks box leitmotif allows the film to branch out from slapstick and give it a more human aspect. Along with some signature Lloyd pratfalls and one ingeniously stretched out climax that has the usually law abiding Harold committing one felony after the next to get to the church in time to stop the wedding Girl Shy is shy of little.