Movie Crazy

(Clyde Bruckman, Harold Lloyd, US 1932, 84 min., 35mm)

National Endowment for the Arts. Harold Lloyd was one of the few stars to successfully make the leap from the silent screen to talkies and Movie Crazy is frequently cited as his best sound picture. The film tells the story of a small-town bumpkin who dreams of becoming a famous actor. After a series of mix-ups, the would-be movie star is summoned to Hollywood for a screen test. Once there, he proceeds to wreak havoc on the studio lot, fall in love with the same girl twice, and of course, catch the eye of the studio head who reluctantly recognizes his comic genius. This film showcases Lloyd’s magical charm and further establishes the actor as one of the greats of early screen comedy.