The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection Vol. 1

I've been a Harold Lloyd fan since I was a teeanger and the television show "Hooray for Harold Lloyd" came on and films like "Why Worry" (which, ironically, I saw on TV the night a riot took place in my neighborhood when I was 15) and "Safety last" occasionally appeared on late night television.In seeing this set, I'm reminded of why I prefer Lloyd to Keaton and Chaplin. Chaplin's films have always struck me as more interesting than funny and while I enjoy the Bus man (Keaton, that is), his characters tended to be too bizarre to relate to, so you laughed AT him and not WITH him. Harold Lloyd was different. Most people can identify with wanting to become successful, trying to overcome bullies, getting a girl, and being popular among one's peers. So although he occasionally got into wild and unlikely predicaments, you still laughed WITH and rooted for him because you could see a lot of yourself in Harold Lloyd.Now on to the films. WHY WORRY is an amusing tale of Harold unwittingly coming across a Latin American revolution. John Aasen as the giant makes a good comic partner with Harold. SAFETY LAST is the masterpiece with our man as the "Human Fly" (the famous clock tower scene). When I saw this at the university of South Carolina sixty years after its original release, audiences STILL gasped in shock as I did while seeing this film for the first time since then. GIRL SHY is an underrated masterpiece. Similar in some ways to the Bus man's SEVEN CHANCES, the audience really takes to our man and his troubles in this one, as the tries to overcome a crippling shyness to get a girl and the INCREDIBLE chase scene. You'll really root and cheer for Harold in this one.THE CAT'S PAW is again loosely similar to the Bus Man's SPEAK EASILY in plot. Here our hero is a white man raised among the Chinese (his parents are missionaries) who comes to America and unwittingly stumbles into corrupt politics. I'd keep the kiddies away from the last few minutes (if you've seen it, you'll know why. One poster has alluded to this scene but I will not spoil it-obviously pre-code censorship). In AN EASTERN WESTERNER, our man actually fights off a Ku Klux Klan-type group out west.Since most of these films were done at Hal Roach Studios, some of the original Our Gang kids make cameos from time to time. But in either case, these films are still wonderful to watch today and will return Harold Lloyd to the fond place he had among moviegoers 80 years ago. So sit back and enjoy the Napoleon Dynamite of the 1920s as he rocks on (quite literally in the first scene of AN EASTERN WESTERNER where he's kicked out of a dancehall-see why)!

How often does an opportunity like this come along? Not only to get a chance to see Harold Lloyd in action, one of the classic film comedians of all time, extremely popular in his day, but to see a movie like Safety Last, a film which wasn't even seen by that many people - EVER? To own a copy of the film...when I learned of that possibility, I truly felt shivers run up my spine.Many people HAVE seen the classic photo of a man hanging from the face of a clock, high above a city. Consider that this photo, taken from the film, was created BEFORE the days of special effects which are so easily created for movies today. Think about HOW this scene was filmed.Many have argued that Lloyd put himself in terrible danger to create some of those scenes, that he simply had to, that there was no way to create them otherwise. See what you think.But first, simply sit back and enjoy the films themselves. Try to imagine living in the days when Harold Lloyd films came out, if you can. Try not to compare him to Chaplin or Keaton but experience him as the unique genius he was. I think his films are wonderful, even when judged by the preferences of today's filmgoers.And be grateful that you have the opportunity to add this set of films to YOUR collection. Truly a must for film buffs and historians, not to mention anyone who simply wants to experience something very different from the films shown today.Amazon lists the films in this series and other reviewers have listed the plots of those films so I'm simply urging you to get this collection (or the more extensive collection that is available as well) while you can.

Of the collection of Harold Lloyd's films released in 2005, this set, Volume 1, is the BEST, featuring the legendary Safety Last, The Cat's Paw, and The Milky Way. (Those last two were "talkies.") Also included are some of Harold's finest silent short films making this an absolute must-have for any Harold Lloyd fan. A new copy was not to be had but I found a used copy (flawless I might add!) from Orpheus Classics in Boston, MA. The retailer's attention to detail and insuring that the discs were in excellent condition was OUTSTANDING!

i learned about this fellow in my intro to film class in college and thought he was fairly entertaining and thought i would enjoy seeing more of him!

Harold Lloyd was definetly among the silent movie era's best comedians.My two favourite films in this compilation are Safety Last and Girl Shy.Until I bought this DVD set,I had only seen the image of Harold dangling from the clock near the top of the building.So I finally got to see the actual movie.It was nerve wracking.Our Gang member Joe Cobb appears at the beginning of Girl Shy.But my favourite part of this film is when Harold tries to stop a certain wedding from taking place.First he steals a streetcar,then a cop's motorcycle,than a wagon pulled by two horses.He really made those horses run.Hilarious.I have to agree about the two Harold Lloyd talkies,The Cat's Paw and The Milky Way.Pretty cheesy in comparison to his silent films.Especially The Cat's Paw.That film's final scene is rather disturbing.

funny, athletic, and creative, these shorts never fail to entertain and charm. There is one spanking scene that was annoying, but it demonstrated Harold's lack of expertise in causing women to swoon.

the first volume.Love them all!! this is the comedy my gramma got to enjoy!! Harold is a comic genius!! we are introducing him to our adult children, so happy to be able to do this!! these are great!! He is right up there with Chaplin and Keaton, so much emotion and crazy and down right dangerous stunts! many silents films, then some sound (talkies) movies, then he retires, get all the volumes you can...once you start watching Lloyld you will want more!! remarkable stunts from a guy with basicall only one hand, but more on that later, he is a keeper!! love him!!

Harold Lloyd is sometimes forgotten by modern day film buffs, but he was a giant in his heyday. This collection features his most famous silent film, Safety Last! from 1923. Its human-fly building-climbing scene still makes the heart jump no matter how often one watches it. This really is a must-see film.

The cover for the discs was a little more beat up than I was expecting.but they played fine, and there was a surprise bonus disc (Disc #1 from Volume 2). On the whole a good transaction.