Bashful (1917)
*** 1/2 (out of 4)
Hilarious one-reeler has Harold Lloyd playing a shy young man who attends a party a meets a beautiful, if slightly wild girl (Bebe Daniels). While at the party he receives a letter stating that his aunt has died and left him two million dollars but he must be married and with a child. The woman agrees to play the wife but they have a few issues trying to get a kid. BASHFUL is a rather hilarious little gem that really should be better known than it is. It's really too bad that more people aren't familiar with it because it contains some very big laughs including one that's certainly going to be considered politically incorrect. It involves a man bringing a baby over for Lloyd to show his uncle but when he up-wraps the baby it turns out to be black. WIthout missing a beat, Lloyd goes to wipe it clean. Yes, I know this won't sit too well today but the joke really worked well. Another hilarious moment deals with the uncle going up to the nursery only to discover countless babies that have actually been stolen from around the neighborhood. Both Lloyd and Daniels are at the top of their game here and 'Snub' Pollard is also good in his role as the butler. Bud Jamison is also extremely funny as the uncle. Fans of silent films should certainly give this one a try.