An iconic figure of American burlesque, Harold Lloyd starred in over two hundred comedies over a period of thirty-four years.
It was with Safety Last!, released in 1923, that his career skyrocketed: his iconic sequence, where the actor climbs a building and finds himself hanging on a giant clock, remains one of the greatest moments of comedy ever filmed. This scene is not only a marvel of humor but also a tour de force in terms of the script: physical action is combined with constantly renewed suspense and new gags.
Released two years later, The Freshman is the biggest success of his career. In this precursor to the teen movie genre, Harold Lloyd plays a lovable anti-hero, full of blunders, but more determined than ever to gain popularity. The film is filled with a series of adventures, culminating in a suspenseful match sequence.
Filmed in 1927, The Kid Brother solidifies Harold Lloyd’s reputation: his inventiveness and technical virtuosity, in service of emotion, rival his peers in comedy, the legendary Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton.
For his last silent film, Speedy (1928), “the man with the horn-rimmed glasses” paints an invaluable portrait of 1920s New York, taking the form of a highly rhythmic stroll through the metropolis. In addition to their irresistible humor and genius performance, these four films, available in restored versions, also share the precious testimony about the urbanization and modernization of America before the 1929 crisis, amid the rise of the middle class and the development of consumer society.
For kids and adults, from 6 years old!
