Although there is a lot to like in Harold Lloyd's The Kid Brother, perhaps the most understated and least applauded aspect is the chemistry and intermixing shenanigans that results from Jobyna Ralston's character showing up on the scene. Both Lloyd and Ralston had shared the screen before in previous antics, but their interlocking here is as sweet and endearing as can be. It would be their last date on screen before Jobyna would retire a couple of movies into the "talkie" era because of an unfortunate lisp, but if anything, it's a fitting and memorable farewell. Aside from the romance, The Kid Brother also has more than a handful of laughs up its sleeves and while I'm not a big fan of the movie's switch to elaborate stunts in the third act, the majority of the film showcases a somewhat restrained and down to earth tone that is both laugh-out-loud funny and charming at the same time.

Mary took over the Prof. Powers Original Mammoth Medicine Show after her father Prof. Powers' death. She arrives in Hickoryville with her con-man workers Farrell and Sandoni. Sheriff Jim Hickorys has two tough manly sons Leo and Olin. Then there is the youngest son Harold (Harold Lloyd) who was born on April Fool's Day. Hank Hooper hates the weakling Harold. Mary mistakes Harold for the Sheriff. The town places money for the dam with the real Sheriff. Harold tries to shut down the medicine show but ends up burning it down. Farrell and Sandoni decide to steal the dam money.This is compelling story with romance and slapstick comedy and drama. There are no building climbing or any big stunts from Harold Lloyd. He's doing smaller stunts with a focus on the slapstick comedy. This is interesting from start to finish. And who doesn't love a monkey?

Lloyd is the kid brother of three tough older men. He's the wimp who washes dishes and does other household chores until fate places him in a position to save a large stash of the community's money that was stolen by itinerant goniffs.It's not a classic but it's amusing. Lloyd seems always to be pursued by others and many of the gags revolve around his various hiding places being uncovered -- sometimes by a very well-trained primate in the hands of a monkey wrangler.Jobyna Ralston is winsome and pretty. The final confrontation between Lloyd and the gargantuan Romanoff is successfully rendered. Lloyd winds up with the girl.It must take a different kind of skill -- an improved sense of the kinetic, overactive Golgi bodies, or something -- to make an effective silent comedy. Imagine -- none of the gags can depend on dialog.

While this is not one of Lloyd's most famous films, It is certainly one of his best. You can look through countless numbers of comedy films (The Gold Rush and The General included)and you will struggle to see better timing than that on display here. That is not a put down to those two classic comedies it is only a testament to the timing of Lloyd, Who was certainly on a par with Chaplin and Keaton. In this movie he plays the weakling in a family with two strapping brothers and a large hard to please father. Always put upon Harold has to capture a villain by himself to gain the respect of his father and brothers, And win the heart of his fair maiden. The amount of sight gags crammed into this 80 minutes is incredible, and the timing is as I said earlier is absolutely perfect.