The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

G

Released Apr 14, 1947

1h 30m

Comedy

List

89%

Tomatometer

9 Reviews

58%

Popcornmeter

500+ Ratings

Two decades after a game-winning touchdown and praise as a college football hero, the once hopeful Harold Diddlebock (Harold Lloyd) has been beaten down by the drudgery of office life. When Harold is fired by his egotistical boss, E.J. Waggleberry (Raymond Walburn), he wanders into a bar and orders a drink -- the first of his life. After the kindly bartender (Edgar Kennedy) invents a cocktail just for him, Harold goes on a wild binge, and his luck starts to change.

Variety Staff

Variety

Abetted by some excellent dialog from Sturges' pen, Lloyd handles his role in his usual funny fashion.

Nov 13, 2007

Full Review

Tom Milne

Time Out

The film is studded with gems, many of them contributed verbally by the Sturges stock company.

Jun 24, 2006

Full Review

Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Sturges's restored original version is a major rediscovery: a loving and gentle essay on Lloyd's screen character, laced with poignant observations about middle age.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

... it's saved by a few inspired flashes of comedy sprinkled throughout.

Rated: B-

Aug 20, 2006

Full Review

Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Sep 25, 2005

Full Review

Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan

Flat later Harold Lloyd who is really out on a ledge here

Rated: 3/5

Oct 19, 2004

Full Review

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Blobbo X

Blobbo laugh, experience entertainment.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/17/24

Full Review

Simon E

This somewhat quiet, beautifully paced film is not Preston Sturges's funniest but it is still brilliant. Harold Lloyd plays Harold Diddledock the forgotten college football player who after 20 years of office drudgery, stops for a drink at a local bar and is embroiled in a night of screwball fantasy. The jokes come thick and fast, and there are even high wire stunts to top it off. The story is meant to parallell Lloyd's career. he hadn't worked in film for nearly a decade. Whilst patchy at times it is a moving tribute by one of the masters of comic dialogue to one of the greats of the silent era of comedy.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/05/22

Full Review

steve d

Mild entertainment at best.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

kevin w

Here is an interesting curio, an overlooked comedy gem by two masters of their genres, unexpectedly tripped up by their individual reliance on their different styles. Preston Sturges was a script guy, a guy in love with the power of words, while Harold Lloyd obviously was a physical communicator. The difference made for a tempestuous team-up in their time working together and yet, nonetheless, the results are often surprisingly effective, and more so than perhaps either could have imagined or believed. Definitely file under "give this one a chance".

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

s r

A rambunctious trip that at times reminded me of the Marx brothers. That suit, hat, tie and lion were epic.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Good innocent fun with some great dialog

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

Full Review

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Preston Sturges

Director

Harold Lloyd

Harold Diddlebock

Frances Ramsden

Frances Otis

Jimmy Conlin

Wormy

Raymond Walburn

E.J. Waggleberry

Edgar Kennedy

Jake

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Synopsis

Two decades after a game-winning touchdown and praise as a college football hero, the once hopeful Harold Diddlebock (Harold Lloyd) has been beaten down by the drudgery of office life. When Harold is fired by his egotistical boss, E.J. Waggleberry (Raymond Walburn), he wanders into a bar and orders a drink -- the first of his life. After the kindly bartender (Edgar Kennedy) invents a cocktail just for him, Harold goes on a wild binge, and his luck starts to change.

Director: Preston Sturges
Producer: Preston Sturges, Howard Hughes
Screenwriter: Preston Sturges
Distributor: RKO Radio Pictures, United Artists
Production Co: California Pictures
Rating: G
Genre: Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 14, 1947, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 9, 2017
Runtime: 1h 30m

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