THE KID BROTHER

Harold Lloyd plays the scrawny youngest son of the town sheriff. Although he can usually outwit his burly older brothers and the local bully, he doesn't have the toughness to earn his father's respect. When out-of-town con men take off with the townspeople's money, The Kid Brother has the opportunity to show up his brothers, prove himself to his father, and impress the girl. If he can only apprehend the thug, recover the money, and avoid the mischievous monkey.

hehe... funny monkey.


THEN

Anyone going to see this film in 1927 knew what to expect. The typical Lloyd everyman has lots of dreams and little else, but with good natured persistence, sharp wits, and a little luck, he manages to endure the barrage of gags and end up on top. And just like the clock tower scene in Safety Last, or the football scene in The Freshman, Lloyd heaps on the gags in the climatic sequence at the end that's worthy of rewinding and rewatching.

But The Kid Brother does distinguish itself from the rest of Lloyds filmography; it has a more cohesive story than most, and that story has a lot of heart. It also has Chicago, the monkey, who steals the show.

The Academy Awards' notorious tendency to reward drama disproportionately over comedy started with the very first Oscars: Although Chicago's performance was far superior, the award for Best Performance by a Monkey went to Bimbo for his role in Chang.

NOW

Monkeys are always funny.