The Kid Brother

Released Jan 22, 1927

1h 23m

Comedy

List

92%

Tomatometer

12 Reviews

85%

Audience Score

500+ Ratings

Harold Hickory (Harold Lloyd), a feeble boy in an otherwise brawny family, is known for being clever -- and getting into trouble. After inviting the lovely carnival worker Mary Powers (Jobyna Ralston) into his home, Hickory discovers that a large sum of money entrusted to his father, the sheriff (Walter James), has gone missing. In this slapstick tale of mystery, Hickory must think fast in order to clear his family name, even if it means facing the strongman Sandoni (Constantine Romanoff).

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Steven D. Greydanus

Decent Films

The first silent film I ever saw that made me actually stand up and cheer… As a first introduction to silent film, I would pick The Kid Brother over the best of Chaplin or Keaton every time.

Rated: A+

Oct 9, 2003

Full Review

Dennis Harvey

48 Hills

A rural underdog tale that is very funny, but also has a little more narrative heft and depth than he usually bothered with...

Apr 17, 2024

Full Review

Sean Axmaker

Stream on Demand

It’s one of Lloyd’s funniest films and one of his sweetest, a comedy driven by a devotion to family and romantic affection...

Jun 11, 2023

Full Review

Robert E. Sherwood

LIFE

The Kid Brother has plenty of action, but not nearly so many loud laughs as one has a right to expect from Harold Lloyd.

Oct 5, 2021

Full Review

David Harris

Spectrum Culture

There are flashes of inspired comedy interspersed with a rote story until an amazing fight scene/scramble ties the film completely together at the end.

Oct 29, 2019

Full Review

Nathanael Hood

The Retro Set

The Kid Brother demonstrates some of the best and most moving of Lloyd's acting...

Rated: 7/10

Jun 3, 2019

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Audience Member

A gem from the silent era that doesn't get as much press as Keaton or Chaplin. There are some great gags here, as well as a nice tinge of travelling fair horror.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

William L

Chaplin may get the name recognition, but Harold Lloyd was every bit the comedy genius that his contemporary was, with a penchant for physical humor that makes many of his films just as endearing today as they were upon release. The Kid Brother is packed full of great little vaudevillian jokes that may have become wildly outdated for today's production teams, but carry an innocent charm that many can find themselves swept up in, given the opportunity. (4/5)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/09/21

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Audience Member

When a huge town fund goes missing, Harold (Harold Lloyd) sees a grand opportunity to prove himself to his family while winning the heart of a girl he likes. When the movie first started, I had no idea what to expect as it was my very first silent film. Once I got settled in and used to the concept, I was thoroughly impressed. Acting: 10 Beginning: 6 If the movie continued on like it started, I would have hated it. For such a short run time, The Kid Brother didn't exactly come out of the gates swinging. It's like an old car: Gotta warm up first. Once it gets going… Characters: 10 So what if all the other characters were one-dimensional? The movie revolves completely around Harold and Harold delivers. You've gotta respect the kid as he's just trying to live up to his family name. His father has never thought much of him and his brothers are always roughing him up and, for once, Harold is hoping to come out on top. Not only does he deal with a number of moral dilemmas, but you can't help but fall in love with the dude's craft and cunning. Harold will make you laugh and cheer by the end of it. Cinematography/Visuals: 10 Conflict: 10 This movie has one of the coolest action scenes that I've seen in an earlier film. It involves a big fight on an abandoned ship. Between that, a cool chariot-style race, and Harold constantly trying to avoid awkward scrapes there is plenty of conflict to go around. Entertainment Value: 10 Memorability: 10 Pace: 10 Slow start but quickly picks up steam. It's a short ride, but the directors made sure they used up every ounce of time available. I appreciated that all the scenes really were necessary and they never overstayed their welcome. Plot: 10 The story is succinct and very well-written. There weren't any cheats as each plot point moved seamlessly to the next. Great character-development is weaved in as well. All the ingredients for a great story. Resolution: 10 Overall: 96 If it weren't for a weaker beginning, The Kid Brother would rank right up there with the all-time best. It had me looking forward to a deeper dive into the silent film world.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I've seen most silent comedies but this was new to me in 2019. Looking it up it's considered the "forgotten masterpiece" of Lloyd. I agree. This a masterpiece of silent movie comedy gags, directing, acting and narrative. All the craft efforts are pulled together with a coherent narrative thru line, a great villain and a wonderful ship prop which apparently they bought and beached off Catalina Island to film on. This got me more interested in Jobyna Ralston who expresses aspects of the divine feminine better than many other actresses of her era. The 2018 Criterion Blu-Ray has a bunch of extras I enjoyed. I could not get comment track to play using PS4

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

The best comedy movie ever made! With the best movie character ever portrayed: Harold Lloyd as Harold Hickory!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/26/23

Full Review

s r

1001 movies to see before you die. Lloyd's gags are great.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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J.A. Howe

Director

Ted Wilde

Director

Harold Lloyd

Director

Lewis Milestone

Director

Harold Lloyd

Harold Hickory

Jobyna Ralston

Mary Powers

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Synopsis

Harold Hickory (Harold Lloyd), a feeble boy in an otherwise brawny family, is known for being clever -- and getting into trouble. After inviting the lovely carnival worker Mary Powers (Jobyna Ralston) into his home, Hickory discovers that a large sum of money entrusted to his father, the sheriff (Walter James), has gone missing. In this slapstick tale of mystery, Hickory must think fast in order to clear his family name, even if it means facing the strongman Sandoni (Constantine Romanoff).

Director: J.A. Howe, Ted Wilde, Harold Lloyd, Lewis Milestone
Producer: Suzanne Lloyd Hayes
Screenwriter: Thomas J. Crizer, Howard J. Green, John Grey, Lex Neal, Ted Wilde
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: Paramount Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 22, 1927, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 18, 2016
Runtime: 1h 23m

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