During this same year, 2008, I had my introduction to both the work of Buster Keaton (with the marvelous and perfect film "The General") and to the work of the Marx Brothers (with the memorable and perfect film "Duck Soup"). Unfortunately I haven't watched another Buster Keaton film and neither another Marx Brothers film but fortunately the 10-disc box set "The Definitive Collection: Harold Lloyd" is available. I came across some Harold Lloyd films on DVD but for some reasons I never got any of them even I do had desires to watch something of his stuff and finally when I saw the box set I decided to wait in buying Harold Lloyd stuff until I could get the box set. The past week was my birthday and my dad gave me lots of hours of Harold Lloyd. The box set consists of two "seasons" each of them with 5 discs and "Bumping Into Broadway" is the first from the disc 1. It is a great, nearly perfect 26 minutes film that was nothing but an amazingly funny and absolutely pleasant introduction to the work of Lloyd.
It begins as a story about the differences between classes in a same place. Meanwhile in Broadway famous actresses spend hundreds of dollars just for a dinner other people can't afford $3.75 for the their rent. Classic stuff and one of the persons who can't afford the rent is the boy that Harold plays, the boy who is a writer but who's wonderfully old typewriter is practically unusable. The desperation is there, they could be outside without a place to say but the boy is one of those persons. He, with some difficulties, found the money for his rent but there's the neighbour, the girl (Bebe Daniels) who doesn't have any cent, the boy give her his money, she kiss him and he has to run.
Mostly is a hilarious escape of the boy, first he is just again the woman, who is the owner of the building, and her helper who had just given the beating of his life to another man in the same position of the boy, without any cent. But our protagonist is not like that man, he is quite agile and clever enough to can fool those who want the money. There are some memorable and hilarious moments; I think my favourite of the "first part" is when the boy is seated but just apparently. And the final encounter with the police is great and not just for the moment when it happens (just after the boy wins lots of money!) but for everything; Lloyd against many many cops and eventually making fool of all of them to be finally with the girl, his girl.
"Bumping Into Broadway" is a short film of 20 and so minutes of pure silent fun. Absolutely recommend to any film lover out there. 9.5 out of 10
It begins as a story about the differences between classes in a same place. Meanwhile in Broadway famous actresses spend hundreds of dollars just for a dinner other people can't afford $3.75 for the their rent. Classic stuff and one of the persons who can't afford the rent is the boy that Harold plays, the boy who is a writer but who's wonderfully old typewriter is practically unusable. The desperation is there, they could be outside without a place to say but the boy is one of those persons. He, with some difficulties, found the money for his rent but there's the neighbour, the girl (Bebe Daniels) who doesn't have any cent, the boy give her his money, she kiss him and he has to run.
Mostly is a hilarious escape of the boy, first he is just again the woman, who is the owner of the building, and her helper who had just given the beating of his life to another man in the same position of the boy, without any cent. But our protagonist is not like that man, he is quite agile and clever enough to can fool those who want the money. There are some memorable and hilarious moments; I think my favourite of the "first part" is when the boy is seated but just apparently. And the final encounter with the police is great and not just for the moment when it happens (just after the boy wins lots of money!) but for everything; Lloyd against many many cops and eventually making fool of all of them to be finally with the girl, his girl.
"Bumping Into Broadway" is a short film of 20 and so minutes of pure silent fun. Absolutely recommend to any film lover out there. 9.5 out of 10