The Kid Brother (1927)
(Ted Wilde, US 1927, 82 min., 35mm)
Harold Lloyd teams with his frequent co-star Jobyna Ralston for the final time in this romantic comedy. Harold, the youngest and weakest of the Hickory clan, is mistaken for his father, the sheriff, by “Flash” Farrell (Eddie Boland), a slick con-man running a medicine show for Mary Powers (Ralston), following her mother’s death. When his father orders Harold to shut down the show, he is humiliated by Flash and the medicine tent goes up in flames. When money collected from the town for the construction of a dam goes missing, Harold must find the culprits and win the girl to save the day. At least eight writers and gagmen were employed by Lloyd to ensure it had more gags than any of his previous features.