This isn't Harold Lloyd's best film but it certainly is one of his better films and is guaranteed to please. Perhaps the reason it isn't quite up to his best films' standards is because the movie is just so silly--but who cares when it's STILL a wonderful film.
Harold plays a slightly different character than usual. He's a very neurotic guy who is deathly afraid of illness--even though he's perfectly healthy. BUT, at the same time, he's a lot more macho than the usual Harold "when the chips are down".
Our hero and his nurse arrive on a fictitious island off the coast of South America that looks exactly like Mexico. He's come for his health and to relax--but considering how healthy he really is, this is ridiculous. Interestingly enough, his arrival coincides with a violent revolution! Harold is oblivious for the longest time and only realizes something is amiss when he is locked in a prison cell with a giant of a man.
He and the giant escape, but the giant is in pain due to a toothache. So, right in the middle of all the chaos, Harold takes time to help the giant but pulling this painful tooth. Once they succeed, the giant LOVES Harold and will do ANYTHING to help him. Well, Harold wants to stop the revolution and so he and this guy together stop it! Most of this is due to the fact that the giant is nearly indestructible but, surprisingly, the two bad guys leading the revolution are actually beaten up very savagely by Harold!! He is quite the Rambo and ready for action! Well, along the way, Harold realizes he isn't sick and is a man of action. Part of his new resolve includes recognizing how wonderful his nurse is and marrying her. All-in-all, a VERY sweet movie with enough laughs to satisfy even curmudgeons!
PS--After reviewing this movie, I saw another Lloyd film, A SAILOR-MADE MAN. In so many ways it was a precursor to this film--in both he's a rich gadabout who makes good by rescuing a lady in distress in a foreign land. This is the better of the two movies, but loses a point for not being very original.
UPDATE: I was able to see this on the big screen recently and with an orchestra--what a treat. And the Carl Davis musical score was terrific as well.
Harold plays a slightly different character than usual. He's a very neurotic guy who is deathly afraid of illness--even though he's perfectly healthy. BUT, at the same time, he's a lot more macho than the usual Harold "when the chips are down".
Our hero and his nurse arrive on a fictitious island off the coast of South America that looks exactly like Mexico. He's come for his health and to relax--but considering how healthy he really is, this is ridiculous. Interestingly enough, his arrival coincides with a violent revolution! Harold is oblivious for the longest time and only realizes something is amiss when he is locked in a prison cell with a giant of a man.
He and the giant escape, but the giant is in pain due to a toothache. So, right in the middle of all the chaos, Harold takes time to help the giant but pulling this painful tooth. Once they succeed, the giant LOVES Harold and will do ANYTHING to help him. Well, Harold wants to stop the revolution and so he and this guy together stop it! Most of this is due to the fact that the giant is nearly indestructible but, surprisingly, the two bad guys leading the revolution are actually beaten up very savagely by Harold!! He is quite the Rambo and ready for action! Well, along the way, Harold realizes he isn't sick and is a man of action. Part of his new resolve includes recognizing how wonderful his nurse is and marrying her. All-in-all, a VERY sweet movie with enough laughs to satisfy even curmudgeons!
PS--After reviewing this movie, I saw another Lloyd film, A SAILOR-MADE MAN. In so many ways it was a precursor to this film--in both he's a rich gadabout who makes good by rescuing a lady in distress in a foreign land. This is the better of the two movies, but loses a point for not being very original.
UPDATE: I was able to see this on the big screen recently and with an orchestra--what a treat. And the Carl Davis musical score was terrific as well.