Never Weaken (1921)
Summary: When The Girl's (Mildred Davis) job is in danger, the Boy (Harold Lloyd) runs to the rescue and drums up enough customers to keep the office running. But when he sees her in the arms of another man, he becomes despondent and decides to take drastic actions to end his pain. But those actions are not nearly as scary as what he eventually must face.
Director: Fred C. Newmeyer
Viewed via: TCM/VCR
Current Commercial Availability: The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection Vol. 3
Note: This was Lloyd's last short film.
1) This film has two distinct parts: saving the girlfriend's job part and suicide/thrill part. The first part is really ho-hum and almost beneath him quality-wise. It's the same old trick people into thinking that they need something via cruelty act. These antics get boring real quick.
2) The second part though is comic gold. While many will (and probably should) question the use of suicide as a comic trope, it works here. And, honestly, he had me at spell checking the suicide letter. It just felt so random that you can't help but laugh. It is weird and, especially at first, a bit uncomfortable to watch. But you laugh, if only because you know that he isn't going to succeed. And I have to add: This has been rated TV-G. Can you imagine anything released today that would be rated G and would involve a series suicide attempts from the protagonist?
3) And the suicide attempts lead into the real meat of this short: The Boy vs. The Construction Site. This sequence portends so much of the high-flying antics that'll pop up in Lloyd's features. As he wobbles across the various steel beams, you get the feeling that, despite the different settings, you're watching the Safety Last! training ground. You laugh, you cringe, and you feel genuine relief when he scrapes by.
4) Favorite Part: The boy's mistaken belief that he is in heaven and his eventual realization that he is far from it. Much of it is done in close-up and Lloyd's expressions (curiosity, grand elation, unease, and shock) are absolutely perfect. It's one of those moments that can make or break a film and Lloyd nails it.
While the first part of Never Weaken is a bit dull, the second part kicks both the tension and comedy up to a fever pitch. The subject matter may mean that this isn't for everyone, but those who like their comedy to flirt with the dark and/or dangerous side will appreciate this short. It is certainly my favorite Lloyd film (short or feature) to date.
Director: Fred C. Newmeyer
Viewed via: TCM/VCR
Current Commercial Availability: The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection Vol. 3
Note: This was Lloyd's last short film.
1) This film has two distinct parts: saving the girlfriend's job part and suicide/thrill part. The first part is really ho-hum and almost beneath him quality-wise. It's the same old trick people into thinking that they need something via cruelty act. These antics get boring real quick.
2) The second part though is comic gold. While many will (and probably should) question the use of suicide as a comic trope, it works here. And, honestly, he had me at spell checking the suicide letter. It just felt so random that you can't help but laugh. It is weird and, especially at first, a bit uncomfortable to watch. But you laugh, if only because you know that he isn't going to succeed. And I have to add: This has been rated TV-G. Can you imagine anything released today that would be rated G and would involve a series suicide attempts from the protagonist?
3) And the suicide attempts lead into the real meat of this short: The Boy vs. The Construction Site. This sequence portends so much of the high-flying antics that'll pop up in Lloyd's features. As he wobbles across the various steel beams, you get the feeling that, despite the different settings, you're watching the Safety Last! training ground. You laugh, you cringe, and you feel genuine relief when he scrapes by.
4) Favorite Part: The boy's mistaken belief that he is in heaven and his eventual realization that he is far from it. Much of it is done in close-up and Lloyd's expressions (curiosity, grand elation, unease, and shock) are absolutely perfect. It's one of those moments that can make or break a film and Lloyd nails it.
While the first part of Never Weaken is a bit dull, the second part kicks both the tension and comedy up to a fever pitch. The subject matter may mean that this isn't for everyone, but those who like their comedy to flirt with the dark and/or dangerous side will appreciate this short. It is certainly my favorite Lloyd film (short or feature) to date.