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The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

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The Sin of Harold Diddlebock

G

Released Apr 14, 1947

1h 30m

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

89%

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9 Reviews

57%

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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

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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

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

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

Rated: B-

Aug 20, 2006

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 3/5

Sep 25, 2005

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Steve Crum

Kansas City Kansan

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

Rated: 3/5

Oct 19, 2004

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Blobbo X

Blobbo laugh, experience entertainment.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/17/24

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steve d

Mild entertainment at best.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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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

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Audience Member

Good innocent fun with some great dialog

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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Audience Member

A delightfully inventive and utterly bonkers attempt on the part of Sturges to try and revive Lloyd's career. It's far from Sturges' or Lloyd's best work (in fact, there are long stretches, especially in the second half, that feel utterly disastrous), but there are flashes of brilliance and scenes of exquisite, delirious Sturges madness (Harold's declaration of love is the highlight--besides, of course, the extended prologue from "The Freshman"), and it's hard not to at least admire the effort and appreciate the oddity of the piece.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Two versions of this film exist, the 90-minute Preston Sturges original, and the Howard Hughes 77-minute re-cut called "Mad Wednesday", neither of which are highlights of Lloyd or Sturges' brilliant comedy careers. Ostensibly, Sturges coaxes Lloyd out of acting retirement to play a middle-aged version of his silent persona, who inadvertently buys a circus while high on a lethal alcoholic drink. Lots of slapstick between Lloyd and Sturges regular Jimmy Conlin, including a "Safety Last" type high wire act on the ledge of a tall downtown building (complete with circus lion), but nothing here comes close to 1925 Lloyd or 1942 Sturges.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/01/23

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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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