gagman66

The only version TCM airs of THE GENERAL is the 1969 KILLIAM SHOW'S print. It has only a William Perry piano score. Although a solid score it hardly does the film justice. They are not allowed it appears to run the KINO version with a score by Robert Israel, but they should be able to show the Carl Davis Orchestra scored version produced by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill in 1987! I'm almost for certain that TCM holds the domestic broadcast rights to all of the Thames Silent's! That would include versions of Keaton's OUR HOSPITALITY, THE NAVIGATOR, and THE GENERAL! Most likely however, if another edition of THE GENERAL shows up on TCM anytime soon it will be the new ALLOY ORCHESTRA scored version just out on DVD from IMAGE, and not the forgotten Thames version. I don't know why? I wish that I did! Not to offend anyone here, but THE GENERAL would certainly not be my first choice to introduce newbie's either to Buster Keaton or Silent Comedy! Sticking with Keaton, check out SEVEN CHANCES instead. A much better introduction or maybe a Two-reeler such as the SCARECROW or THE BOAT? It takes some time to appreciate a complex feature such as OUR HOSPITALITY or THE GENERAL properly. Meanwhile, Any of Harold Lloyd's un-cut silent features provides a fascinating first look to the novice, at the enchanting art of silent comedy. THE FRESHMAN is my personal favorite, but superb Lloyd features like GRANDMAS BOY, WHY WORRY? and GIRL SHY among others, are enough to make you a fan for life. For their sheer entertainment value they are pretty difficult to top!

I'm in my late 30's, and I literally grew up on silent films! Back in the Mid 70's, Silent's were plentiful in 8 millimeter and Super 8mm film format. My original interest was in the Western stars of the period. People such as William S. Hart, Tom Mix and Harry Carey, but one day in 1977 I saw the latter half of the Robert Youngson compilation FOUR CLOWS it featured some 40 minutes of footage from Keaton's 1925 classic SEVEN CHANCES. Suddenly I became enthralled over the great silent comedians. I read everything I could find on the subject. Blackhawk films used to run monthly specials on silent shorts, and they had several Chaplin films in their collection. I ordered a few and became an immediate fan of The Little Tramp. I picked up the Harold Lloyd shorts ALL ABOARD(1917)and HAUNTED SPOOKS(1920) on sale and he quickly became my personal favorite! After reading the book Harold Lloyd The King Of Daredevil Comedy, I longed to see some of his great feature films. In the spring of 1979, I got my wish! Blackhawk attained the exclusive 8mm and Super 8 rights to the 16mm Time-Life series. These were caustically cut-down versions of his classics but they were all we had back than. Yipes! I have just 15 minutes to get to church, so I'll have to continue this post later on! Happy Easter Everyone!

The Keaton short you are looking for is probably THE BALOONATIC from 1923, with the very funny Ex-Keystone girl PHYLLIS HAVER providing Keaton a sensational foil! It opens in a Funhouse, and includes a trip for Buster with Phyllis through "THE TUNNEL OF LOVE" one everyone's favorite "Man Who Never Smiles" will never forget! Your right this long two-reeler is an absolute scream! Always one of my favorite Keaton shorts, this was the second Keaton picture I saw back in the late '70's!

"Harlowkeatongirl" I'm not putting down BUSTER KEATON in anyway. Just sticking up for Lloyd as to often is the case getting the shaft and not being mentioned in the same breath with Chaplin and Keaton. Which is wrong! In Buster's favor, SEVEN CHANCES is the film that got me interested in Silent comedy to start with. some of his short comedies are marvels of comic invention. MY WIVES RELATIONS (1922) is one of the funniest shorts ever made! ONE WEEK is a short that exhibits Keaton's comic creativity to it's utmost. The little known 1920 two-reeler THE SCARECROW with it's stockpile of cleaver on-screen gadgetry is a particular favorite mine. Even this short however is strangely derivative of a few Harold Lloyd one-reekers from 1918-19. THE CHEF(1919)is one of these. In it Harold has a whole slew of unique self-help inventions at his disposal in the kitchen. One of the best known Keaton set pieces, the hordes of patrolman pursuing Buster through the streets in COPS (1922) and DAYDREAMS made the same year owes much to Lloyd's earlier FROM HAND TO MOUTH and BUMPING INTO BROADWAY. Both made in 1919. These two films contain remarkably similar chases with droves of policeman on foot rambling after Harold! I guess for this reason I sometimes view Keaton as less of an innovator than his reputation suggests. Although admittedly all three of the big silent comedians borrowed and adapted each others material frequently in their own efforts to try and top each others gags! Certainly Keaton was a excellent gagman and a master of visual humor. He was also one of greatest stunt performers in motion picture history. Neither Chaplin or Lloyd would have attempted a stunt as life threatening as the falling building gag in Buster's 1927 classic STEAMBOAT BILL JR! Over all I think Keaton's two-reelers boasted much more laughs than his feature films. I personally feel all three men Chaplin, Keaton and Lloyd (who should be added to this poll) were equally great for different reasons. What's set them apart is that all of them were unique unto themselves. That is what makes a superb film-maker, "Originality"! All three enjoyed for a time in their heyday complete creative contol of their projects and as such were the masters of their own destiny. I am a great fan of each of them. In fact I have said elsewhere that in my opinion these three men were the great artists of their time. No one like them exists today, nor will their be anyone like them every again! Indeed, this is the true measure of greatness! Wouldn't you agree?

If laughter is your sole criteria "Harlowkeatonfan" than Harold Lloyd easily takes the crown hands down! His Silent feature's are much funnier than either Chaplin or Keaton's! Although great cinema, their certainly aren't very many big belly laughs in Keaton melodrama's such as OUR HOSPITALITY and THE GENERAL! My favorite Keaton feature has always been SEVEN CHANCES, perhaps because it was the first one I saw. I also like it's somewhat obscure follow up GO WEST and the MGM feature SPITE MARRIAGE very much. Yet both of these titles are much lesser know Keaton works. If I can turn every obsessed Chaplin and Keaton fan into just as Big a Harold Lloyd fan, that is my goal. This should be a very simple task to accomplish. All it should require is one viewing of a complete uncut print of GRANDMAS BOY, SAFETY LAST, GIRL SHY, THE FRESHMAN, THE KID BROTHER or SPEEDY. These outstanding films will be sufficient to automatically endear themselves to viewers. Presto, another Harold Lloyd enthusiast is born!

For those who make bogus claims about Keaton Being a better "director" than Chaplin I give you the 1923 drama "A WOMAN OF PARIS" a film Keaton would not, and could not have made. My mother who passed away two years ago, loved Chaplin and Lloyd but didn't enjoy Keaton nearly as much. While that may be just personal opinion, I have recently with in the past year introduced the films of all three artists to numerous people family members, neighbors and friends. Keaton always comes in a distant third place. I have yet to find anyone who prefers him among this group over Lloyd or Chaplin. Always in that order. Going farther back in early 1979. I saw Chaplin's CITY LIGHTS at a local festival. The film received a tremendous reception and everyone wept at the ending. Later that year (September) I saw Lloyd's THE FRESHMAN at the same venue. Just eight years old at the time, never to this day have I heard an audience laugh so hard at a film. The same college later ran two of Keatons best known features THE NAVIGATOR and THE GENERAL reaction to both of these films was no where near what it had been for the either the Chaplin or Lloyd pictures. Again why is Harold Lloyd almost always left out of the equation? Lloyd is perpetually number three on the list, primarily by disassociation. Both Chaplin and Keaton are so much better known because their films have been much more widely circulated. Experience though has shown me that on a level playing field as I said before most contemporary viewers (not stuff shirt critics) might very well pick Harold Lloyd over either Chaplin or Keaton. Lloyd is far more contemporary than they are. If your used to Lloyd, Keaton takes some time to warm up to he's very much a thinking mans comedian and as such more of an acquired taste. All three were certainly great artists, and film makers. All three were certainly masters of Pantomime as well. I deeply resent people automatically putting Keaton ahead of Lloyd just because he is so much more famous today. Despite the recent TCM airings Harold Lloyd is really only just starting to be rediscovered now. While Chaplin and Keaton's rediscovery has been on-going for the past forty years!

Hello, Harold Lloyd fans! I didn't even know this part of the forum was here until today! Again as I've stated in other post's, if your looking for Harold Lloyd's silent features on DVD(well DVD-R) than look no farther! I have them all un-cut and restored, along with several Two and Three reelers! I'm no "bootlegger"! I only charge for the cost of the blank Media and shipping. From a legal standpoint, this is all I can charge. I ship everything priority mail so those interested collectors who I know are out there will have their disc's in only 3 to 4 days time! I would hope this post is not considered "spamming", I don't think it is? It is not intended as such. Please don't take it in that light. I only brought this subject up because the previous poster asked about TCM's broadcast of AMONG THOSE PRESENT, which I do have. To continue, If you want GRANDMAS BOY DOCTOR JACK, SAFETY LAST, GIRL SHY, HOT WATER, THE FRESHMAN, THE KID BROTHER or SPEEDY and are tired of waiting on the Lloyd film Trust to finally ink that elusive pack, don't despair! My DVD's or likely as good if not better than the official releases will eventually look anyway! I certainly got fed up with waiting for those long promised Harold Lloyd Collection DVD's to hit the market! That's why I decided to go ahead and produce my own! I have menu's, thumbnails that are precisely timed, background images and more! This is a professional looking product, you will not be disappointed! Just click on the link in my screen name, to send me an E-mail, or let me know the titles you need!

Hey "Harlowkeatonfan", if you want to see more Harold Lloyd sooner than June, TCM on April 20th in celebration of his One-hundred and eleventh Birthday will be running a marathon of Lloyd features and shorts! Titles include GRANDMAS BOY and WHY WORRY? two of his finest films. There will also be a newly restored print of Lloyd's 1964 compilation THE FUNNY SIDE OF LIFE. To my knowledge this picture has never aired on television before! Plus some debuting two-reel shorts! You don't even have to wait that long though, because I have all Eleven of Mr. Lloyd's Silent features full-length and un-edited on DVD-R, right now as we speak! I also have all three of his Three-reelers from 1921, and several two-reelers as well! Most of these are burned and ready to ship! The recordings are from last springs Harold Lloyd "Star of The Month festival" which aired during April of 2003. My home productions were processed from true Super VHS Masters so all are very good quality! In fact they look razor sharp! These prints are primarily the restored editions by Jeffrey Vance that the Trust has prepared in it's attempt to sign an eventual DVD contract with someone. I also have the 1992 Thames British television versions. I would happily make you some copies of any of the films you haven't seen or would like to add to your collection! This same offer applies to any "Silent comedy fans" and or "Lloyd fanatics" out there!

Harold Lloyd greatly respected Keaton, and the feeling was mutual between them. Lloyd actually played a hand in getting Buster his own TV show during the 50's. Even Chaplin in the mid and late 1920's, adopted more Lloyd like "Thrill comedy sequences"into his films. For example, the cabin on of the edge of the cliff in THE GOLD RUSH, the High-wire act in THE CIRCUS. Chaplin also admitted publicly to being artistically "stimulated" by GRANDMAS BOY. Chaplin and Lloyd both wisely warned Keaton not to sign with MGM and give up his independent status. As a result of his not heeding that advice, Buster gradually lost "creative control" of his pictures. All three of these men's influence on future generations of film makers has been quite profound. While each was a genius in their own right Lloyd is the lone one among the three who's work today has yet to receive the wide-spread level of acclaim that he so clearly deserves. Harold Lloyd was more than just a MASTER COMEDIAN, he was also an exceptional FILM-MAKER!

JEFFREY VANCE, is also the author of HAROLD LLOYD MASTER COMEDIAN as well! This was the follow up to BUSTER KEATON REMEMBERED. CHAPLIN GENIUS OF THE CINEMA is the third book in the series. AMC still the domestic broadcast rights to most of Keaton's features. This is why only his public domain features of the 20's and the two he made at MGM are shown on TCM. However, TCM appears to have the rights in America to show the Thames/Photoplay productions scored versions of OUR HOSPITALITY, THE NAVIGATOR, and THE GENERAL. These were released in the states on HBO home video back in the late 1980's. I have yet to see TCM run these versions, though they have aired at one time or other almost all of the rest of the Thames Silents Collection series. (Including the five Harold Lloyd features released on VHS in the early 90's by HBO.) The Killiam shows print of THE GENERAL with William Perry on the Key's, and not Carl Davis awesome Orchestral score is the only print of THE GENERAL I have seen them run. The KINO DVD version with ROBERT ISRAEL's score used to air on AMC fairly frequently. A newly scored Alloy Orchestra version of THE GENERAL has just been released on DVD by IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT. This is paired with Buster's 1928 classic STEAMBOAT BILL JR. For "Harlowkeatongirl" Keaton's films I feel are just about as accessible as Chaplin's are. Harold Lloyd's films on the other hand despite occasional TCM airings over the past two years, are far lesser known today than either Charlie or Buster's. As I've said before, Lloyd's 11 silent features during the 1920's in terms of the degree of sustained quality from film to film don't have to take a back seat to anyones! Lloyd was a certainly a "perfectionist" in the same vain as Chaplin and Keaton, He spent over five and a half hours for example, on less than a two minute sequence during the production of his 1921 feature "A SAILOR MADE MAN" He re-shot the scene from every conceivable angle, strove tirelessly to get the best possible laugh out of the gag. All the while improvising and ad-libbing new bits of bussiness along the way. He did the same thing in every silent feature! For Lloyd like Chaplin filmed endless retakes until he was satisfied. He than previewed his pictures with audiences before general re-lease, (sometimes as many as five times)editing out anything that didn't elect the proper response Even re-filming again! I have also commented that Lloyd is much more "contemporary" and easier for modern audiences to embrace than either Keaton or Chaplin are. I'm not putting down either Chaplin or Keaton by saying this, but on a level playing film something Lloyd hasn't enjoyed since his hey-day (no current restored DVD's releases in print)Harold Lloyd put's up one hell of a fight and shows us why he was in fact more popular throughout the decade of the 1920's than any other comedian in the motion picture field!

Which version of Chaplin's THE GOLD RUSH will air this evening? The original, or the frustrating 1942 re-issue? Does anyone know? Although TCM has run a longer version before in the non re-mastered KILLIAM shows print (produced way back in 1969!) It too is only a hybrid of the original motion picture. Why can't TCM run the original 1925 release? In 1953 the copyright of the 1925 version of THE GOLD RUSH lapsed and Chaplin lost the rights to it. Since than dozens of prints in varying degrees of completeness and clarity have been put together in "public domain" circles. Finally just with-in the last few years, Kevin varying has assembled a version that is probably about as close as were ever going to get (save for a Carl Davis orchestral score) to how the film first appeared back in 1925. Sadly chances are that at least some footage has been lost for ever. What remains has recently been restored by Brownlow as much a possible to it's former length and pictorial quality It is now out on a two-disc set with the '42 revision from Time-Warner Home Video. However,it's my understanding that TCM for some bazaar reason is "prohibited" from airing this version! I hope this is wrong, but if so, Why is this? THE OFTEN QUESTIONED (AND DESERVEDLY SO)1942 VERSION WITH CHAPLIN'S MUNDANE NARRATIVE COMMENTARY RUNNING THROUGHOUT VERY SIMPLY IS NOT THE GOLD RUSH! AMAZING THAT "THE MASTER OF PANTOMIME" RUINED ONE OF HIS GREATEST FILMS BY TALKING TO MUCH"! I thought Chaplin understood that his "Little Tramp" must never speak!" Additionally some twenty minuets of footage is missing, and several out-takes were actually substituted in this version. Even the ending is different! The most noteworthy change has Charlie picking up a note from "Georgia" that is intended for him. In the original film the note of apology wasn't meant for the Tramp at all but rather the ladies man 'Big Jim" instead! This is a significant alteration! This sequence and several others are significantly more effective in their entirety! In effect, the 1942 and 1925 versions of THE GOLD RUSH practically look like two different films!

Actually Little Tramp Lover, MY BEST GIRL is available on DVD from MILESTONE. The print is excellent quality and the score is simply outstanding! I strongly recommend this picture. TESS OF STORM COUNTRY(1921)is an emensely moving film.It too is on DVD from MILESTONE.(Note: Mary made two versions of this film, the first in 1914) LITTLE ANNIE ROONEY has always been my favorite Pickford feature. It is not presently available on DVD. It may be among the restored Pickford titles Milestone plans to release before the end of the year. Hopefully, POLLYANNA (1918)will also be included in that group. "SUDS"(1920) is a much talked about but little seen Pickford classic. I've wanted to see it for more some 25 years now. Since I was just 8 years old! It is slated for official DVD release sometime soon!

I would gladly send you an E-mail Little Tramp Lover, but where do I send it? Incidentally my Harold Lloyd DVD-R's are all processed from True Super VHS (SP Mode) masters, so they are very good quality.

Little Tramp Lover, Don't misunderstand I am a huge Chaplin fan and delighted to see him be the "Star of The Month". I have most of the Image DVD releases though, and find it disappointing that THE KID in particular is misrepresented in the new TIME-WARNER DVD release. Three powerful scenes were entirely cut-out! Then there are the various other cuts throughout the series. My sole interest for this reason was only in the two disc set that finally gives us a truer picture of the original release of THE GOLD RUSH. Even here though Time Warner and the Chaplin estate settled for a cheap lone Piano accompaniment. (To be honest I hate to admit it, but I have yet to see this version. I have seen the old Paul Killiam print.)What makes this so disappointing is CARL DAVIS adapted his own score from both Chaplin's 1942 compositions and the 1925 original orchestral arrangements for theatrical showings back in 1999! Again the most complete versions of Charlie's FIRST NATIONAL SHORT'S (not to mention proper projection speed) were with the older IMAGE DVD series.The new Time-Warner series just isn't giving us the films as Chaplin had made them. My interest in the Time-Warner's though has been heightened some after seeing the new "Richard Shickle" documentary "Charlie" The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin, I must admit. I'm very gratified that you have seen many of the Lloyd features. In case you interested I have GIRL SHY (with both scores) on DVD-R! Although my current ready to burn program also includes THE FRESHMAN along with it. I could make up a disc that has both versions of GIRL SHY however. In fact I have the entire TCM festival from last April, plus a few other titles like GET OUT AND GET UNDER (Vince Giordano score) and the talkie PROFESSOR BEWARE for example. These programs have multiple thumbnails and background images. If you would be interested in obtaining any titles from me just let me know right here So I can contact you direct.

Little Tramp Lover, I scarcely can believe you have not yet seen GIRL SHY! Over the past 12 years or so, it has easily been one of Harold Lloyd's more visible films. His first Independent production in 1924, the film has been issued on home video officially twice since 1992 (HBO in the U.S., Connoisseur UK) and unofficially several times by Peter Kavell, Virgin Video(UK) and in brief Holiday promotion two years by the Harold Lloyd Trust (VHS only). The Thames(HBO)Kevin Brownlow/David Gill restoration Jim Parker scored version, and the new Trust version with Robert Israel score are both full-length. My preference is for the original Parker score,but both versions have aired on TCM. Last running just a couple months ago or so. It is not scheduled to air again during the up coming April 20th HL Birthday Marathon GRANDMAS BOY and WHY WORRY? will however. Have you seen these two superb Lloyd features? GIRL SHY is one of the greatest silent comedies of the 1920's,and probably deserves a spot right up their with THE FRESHMAN with Lloyd's very best work. I first saw the film or a condensed version of it in an old Blackhawk films print in 1979. Even though that version was missing around 20 minutes of footage, it has always been one of my favorite silent comedies. Experience has shown me that modern viewing audiences (I'm not talking about critics here) are much quicker to embrace Harold Lloyd's feature films over either Charlie Chaplin's or Buster Keaton's! For instance, I introduced some friends to Harold first they saw some four features and a short or two. Than I showed them one of Keaton's acknowledged Masterpieces SHERLOCK JR. Sorry to say My friends just didn't "get" Buster! If your used to Lloyd, I've always found Keaton is an acquired taste! In fact the next thing we watched was Chaplin's SHOULDER ARM'S from clear back in 1918! It easily got 5 times the laughs that,SHERLOCK JR. did! I have made Chaplin fans out of some of my friends, but on the whole they all still prefer Harold Lloyd! As for Keaton, even a brilliantly funny picture such as SEVEN CHANCES hasn't generated much interest in him I'm sorry to say. The Harold Lloyd Trust is supposed to be working hard on getting all the restored features out on DVD yet before the end of this year! These DVD's apparently are ready for production right now, but no one has yet stepped forward to sign a distribution deal! For Heavens Sake, complain to Time-Warner that they decided to sign a contract to release "BUTCHERED CHAPLIN" (incomplete versions of THE KID, The first national shorts, MODERN TIMES etc.) instead of "COMPLETE LLOYD"! In fact TCM even refuses to air the new fully restored full-length version of THE GOLD RUSH, only the chopped up 1942 reissue! Hopefully these guy's will eventually pick up the contract to put out all the Harold Lloyd features on DVD as well sometime soon! So fan's let them know you want this to happen and not a year or two from now, but as soon as possible! These films deserve and need to be made available on DVD! It's absurd that you can buy most all of Chaplin and Keaton's films on DVD, but not Harold Lloyd's! Especially now, since all his silent features have been fully restored!

To Vice Bunny (Lotus Flower 1922): Try as I may, I have not been able to reach you since Sunday at your e-mail address. I have your mailing address, but this isn't enough! My local post office demands a first and last name. This you never provided me! Please contact me at the e-mail address that I have provided to you! Thanks!

Dear Coffeedan1927: You sir, are MISTAKEN, according to Jeffrey Vance and Suzanne Lloyd, The print aired of THE MILKY WAY last Sunday was NOT the New digital transfer the HL trust just restored from Harold's own 35mm nitrate print source material! Now, are you going to argue with them? You can go to www.haroldlloyd.com, if you don't believe me! Or log into the HL group at Yahoo.com. I tell you there is still another print, that according to Vance (who just happens to be the guy who made up the digital transfer) looks "infinitely better than the substandard version TCM is currently showing". So you see,TCM did somehow air an old print buried somewhere in their archive by accident! By the way, I had previously read your earlier explanation as well,and I understood the basis for this interpretation. Also I have no affiliation with the HL film Trust, I am just a long time fan. Who is greatly indebted to TCM for this fine tribute. but please, no more incidents of this nature! OK?

It's probably just as well that you didn't record THE MILKY WAY, it was the WRONG PRINT! Honestly now, I am NOT exaggerating here in the least. The newly re-mastered print was supposed to air, but it didn't! So the right print should be re-scheduled by TCM soon! As for DVD's, no one knows for sure? The HL film Trust set a "Target Date" for early to mid summer but nothing official has been announced yet! Of course it is likely it wouldn't be until after this festival is over. Easter Sunday is Harold's One Hundred & Tenth Birthday! Some great films are slated to air. I have heard over and over again from people who have seen the picture that WHY WORRY? IS Harold Lloyd's funniest film hands down! I have not seen it yet, and I'm very anxious to do so! Another note about the DVD's the Trust fully intends to release everything that is airing on TCM and a number of Two-reelers that are not. I still would tape the features and shorts this Sunday that you don't have yet anyway. It could be awhile before you get another chance. Obviously the features should be shown again before very long, but I would not be so sure about the Two and Three reelers! They may only air this once!

I think the film you have reference to is MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID from 1952. This is a biography (largely fictional) of the 1910's -20's aquatic ballerina Annette Kellerman. I still need more information to be sure. Like some supporting cast members perhaps. In this case, they were big names like Victor Mature as the leading man, and Walter Pidgeon. Does that help you?

I have Super VHS or Super VHS ET copies of all the Harold Lloyd broadcast's aired to date. I would gladly make you copies of the ones that you missed. You may or may not be aware, that TCM aired the wrong print of the 1936 Lloyd talkie THE MILKY WAY last night. The Lloyd film Trust provided them with a new pristine copy. They aired an old public domain by mistake! I don't know how this happened. One thing I do know, I wish Keaton, Lloyd, and yes even Chaplin had never spoken on the big screen! Give Chaplin credit though he didn't speak at all until he finally had something to say! Even in MODERN TIMES with his poetic little gibberish song, Chaplin still wasn't ready yet better than halfway into the 1930's to make a verbal statement. Lloyd and Keaton on the other hand decided to speak before they even had the slightest inkling as to what to talk about. All three of these men were extraordinary pantomimist's and remarkably gifted film makers and when they decided to speak, the image's they created on screen were completely destroyed! Eventually Lloyd, (although much later after Keaton) lost most of the creative control over his pictures and he became just another talking actor/comedian. It was very sad indeed to see these by comparison inferior, Sound films dominate an entire evening of Harold's "Star of The Month Salute". Lloyd was so much greater as a Silent film maker. Fortunately, there will be only silent movies for the remaining final two weeks of this tribute. I'm very anxious to see WHY WORRY? and GRANDMAS BOY! I think many fans may also be pleasantly surprised to find out just how good NEVER WEAKEN, A SAILOR MADE MAN and DR.JACK actually are too!

It's not a one shot deal TCM aired the latest restorations of Safety Last, Girl Shy, Hot Water, The Kid Brother and Speedy three times a piece since the Lloyd marathon, which was on May 28th 2002. So now that they are finally debuting THE FRESHMAN (Tomorrow at 8:00 EDT) as well as For Heavens Sake, and later in the month A Sailor Made Man, Dr Jack, Grandma's Boy and Why Worry?, I assume they will air from time to time. However, I'm somewhat displeased with TCM over the needless confusion as to when the first nights broadcasts begin! Listing one time in the Star of The Month articles and another in the "Photo Gallery" section. Also I wish THE FRESHMAN were running twice once at the start of the festival and the other on the 27th of April (instead of "Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy"). This picture has not aired on television in America in more than 2 decades! This full-length restoration which according to the Jeffrey Vance is just under 80 minutes is making it's World Broadcast Debut. TCM's blundering on the start time could mean allot of people who would like to and have waited years to see it probably will end up missing it all together, or tune in with 15 to 20 minutes left! Plenty of Folk's were not happy THE FRESHMAN wasn't run last year! It will not re-air until at least July (maybe on Silent Sunday Nights) if I were you I'd try and arrange to have someone record it for me. You have the rest of the day! THE FRESHMAN is my favorite Lloyd feature. Week two isn't nearly as strong as it's all Lloyd sound films. Although Movie Crazy is very good and The Milky Way is good. I wouldn't just give up because I don't have cable back till Monday! No Way! You do not want to miss the first weeks lineup with The Kid Brother,and Speedy back to back it is superb! Be weary of bootleg DVD's of THE FRESHMAN floating around (excluding the Japanese DVD release.)Most of the video's that can be found or either public domain, or not legit! The only "Lloyd Trust authorized" video's released in the USA, were the Thames restorations released on HBO video about a decade ago! Unfortunately,THE FRESHMAN was not included, The Five titles from last May were though.

Dear Spencer 1964: The "Documentary" you have reference to is HOLLYWOOD a massive production in at least 13 parts produced by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill for Thames (British) Television in 1979. It is currently in print in VHS, but not DVD. The stunt-man in question, was the great Harvey Parry. Who never made any such claim at anytime, that HE was the figure dangling from the hands of the clock in "SAFETY LAST!", back in 1923. He did however, claim that he had doubled for Lloyd on some extreme wide angle shots on the real buildings. Later Perry wanted it understood that this was in fact, not so! Rather it was in FEET FIRST in 1930, (Lloyd's second talkie) when this actually took place. Likewise though Lloyd was doubled in SAFETY LAST! in the long shots, (and only in the long shots) of the real buildings by Bill Strothers. Who portrayed Harold's pal "Limpy Bill" in the film. (All of this though is fairly common knowledge.) None the less the majority of the "climb" is still Lloyd's. It was actually preformed on a average of 15 to 20 foot high sets, "facades" constructed on roofs of several different buildings. One for each "higher stage" of the climb. The sets were constructed in fact, only three to four feet or less from the roof edges! Of course many people know about the "moveable platforms" covered with mattresses that were at various times any where from about 10 to 15 feet blow Lloyd and just out of the perspective range of the camera in case there was a slip up! The Clock sequence is interesting because Lloyd who repeatedly would re-shoot take after take of the same scenes, much like Chaplin did, and much to the dismay of than producer Hal Roach (this had a significant bearing on their breakup) actually dislocated his shoulder during one of them! As Al Goulding Jr. described it "Harold stopped filming for about 15 to 20 minutes, just long enough to "pop" it back into place, than went right back to shooting that same sequence"! Such was Lloyd's habitual quest for perfection! By the way sir, Harold actually lost TWO fingers, both the THUMB and FOREFINGER on his right hand, during that exploding "PROP BOMB" incident in 1919! Lloyd actually preformed the over whelming majority of his own stunts throughout the remainder of his career. However, due to this disability and the "insurance company's" flatly refusing to cover some "ideas" at times, he simply wasn't able to preform them all. Even Keaton in COLLEGE used a "double" for the scene where he supposedly "pole vaults" through a second story window! Not enough "height" you see!

Chaplin, Lloyd and Keaton stand alone! There is no one like them today and never will be again! They are the supreme comic artists and geniuses of the cinema! No one else comes even close! Anyone who does not agree, I encourage you to pay close attention over the next four weeks! Starting at 8:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time with the TCM Premier of Lloyd's unforgettable 1925 classic THE FRESHMAN! My lone regret is that the new restoration of GRANDMAS BOY (instead of FOR HEAVENS SAKE) will not immediately follow. However, with uncut versions of both THE KID BROTHER and SPEEDY this is a pretty strong opening for the Lloyd festival and should more than confirm just how much he rightfully deserves to be held in equal esteem to Chaplin and Keaton. Personally I think GIRL SHY and SPEEDY alone are as good as any of Keaton's features, and NEVER WEAKEN (in it's entirety) may be the best comedy short ever made! There are plenty of tender poetic sequences and genuine heart felt emotion to be found in the films of Harold Lloyd! Not just the hilarious visual humor and physical comedy. Walter Kerr who dubbed Lloyd as an "Architect of Sympathy" wasn't joking! As many people who may have thought they knew Lloyd, are bound to soon discover for themselves! As well as the masses still waiting to be introduced, to his tremendous depth of talent. Not only as a comedian, but as a film maker who enjoyed complete creative control over every aspect his films during the prime of his career and closely supervised each stage of production. Discounting the on screen credits, As William K. Everson said "Lloyd was the Boss and the so called directors in his films seem to have been little more than "incidental he didn't work for them, they worked for him"! This is why I always refer to them as co-directors, since before talkies took over, as long as he was in independent production Lloyd himself, was always the principle director. Furthermore when Lloyd produced he staged his productions better than virtually any other silent film director did during the 1920's! The photography in Lloyd's independent features is some of the finest, and most ground breaking, (at times) you are likely to find from that entire decade. As for Chaplin many of you my not be aware,and be thrilled to learn the following. This coming July TCM will debut a brand new unedited and freshly re-mastered print of the original 1925 version of THE GOLD RUSH! It may even contain the once lost orchestral score that accompanied it's New York World Premier that year ! I do know that this score was discovered in the Chaplin Vault about 11 years ago, and has been revived at theatrical screenings around the world on a limited basis. At present, most of the domestic broadcast rights to Keaton's major films are still owned by AMC! I certainly hope this changes soon. Without question, all of the Chaplin, Lloyd, and Keaton features should be found right here, on TCM!

There are two different starting times for the Lloyd festival found on this sight. The articles portion is still using Eastern Standard Time, while the "Photo Gallery" has the Daylight Savings Time changes. Now how hard can it be to change a few numbers so as not to ruin many peoples chances of seeing these films on time,and from the start of the broadcast? I'm very happy TCM is airing the films and the first evenings schedule is superb,but there is no excuse for mass confusion about when the broadcasts actually get underway! If after not being shown on TV in the USA in more than two decades,and never restored. I had tuned into THE FRESHMAN an hour late (as many people are likely to do) I would have screamed bloody murder! Also many of the list running times in the "Star Of The Month" readings are not accurate. In some cases they are as much as 10 full minutes off the mark. I am a huge Lloyd fan, and I know just how good many of these movies really are. Among the Funniest and most charming films ever made! I didn't want any other emerging or potential fans to miss out, because of ludicrous scheduling errors! Two months ago on this site the starting times for week one were all correct, so what happened? Why hasn't this discrepancy been quickly resolved? I personally feel that even the Lloyd detractors are only such because, what they have seen of Lloyd's work has been far to limited or the wrong films, taken in the wrong context. Also few films have been available in the past that were both complete and restored. It is a extraordinary revelation indeed when a person really gets to see these masterworks as they were made and intended to be seen. Lloyd's films have had far greater influence over the years then many people have generally been led to believe. After seeing the "Star Of The Month" festival in commemoration of Harold's 110th Birthday, This fact will prove quite undeniable!

The first night of the month long (Sundays) Harold Lloyd festival will begin at 8:00 PM Eastern Daylight Time,or 7:00 PM Central Daylight Time! You see Daylight Savings Time starts at Midnight on Saturday night or Sunday morning (12:00 AM). So,don't forget to reset your clocks! THE FRESHMAN (my favorite Lloyd feature) kicks off this tremendous lineup,at 7:00 PM CDT in my part of the country. This site should be updated tomorrow with complete details. I have been tearing my hair out for the past week, hoping TCM would revise their misleading schedule on this site! I don't want a bunch of people who have waited for ages to see these films tune in an hour late when THE FRESHMAN only has 15 or 20 minutes left! The April TCM trailer now in circulation, clearly shows that every week during the month the tribute will begin at 8.00 PM Eastern Daylight Time or 7.00 PM CDT! No matter what has been listed on this web-site for the past month! Plus the Harold Lloyd Trust has confirmed the time change themselves! Many of the films during the month including the first two not just THE FRESHMAN but also FOR HEAVENS SAKE have never aired on TCM before! These will be back to back premiers! Harold Lloyd's World of Comedy that wraps up the first evening (after The Kid Brother and Speedy) is another TCM and I think World Television Premier!