This is my first time ever reviewing a film from Lloyd Hamilton. I decided to do a silent first, in maybe a month or so I plan on reviewing one of the talkies Geno Cuddy just put up on YouTube as well. But in case you guys are uninitiated, I wanted to start you off with a silent.
So who is Lloyd Hamilton? Started out as half of a comedy team in the teens known as Ham and Bud, Bud being Bud Duncan. Went solo in the late teens, first at Fox and then in 1920, moving on to Educational Pictures (You remember the Buster shorts? That Educational.), where he’d spend the majority of the rest of his career, which expanded until his death in 1935, at the ripe old age of 43. 15 days older than me as I type this. Died after a stomach operation, sadly had severe alcohol issues.
As far as how to view the works of Lloyd Hamilton in the big picture - here’s the problem. The vast majority of his work is lost. I’ve seen about ten or twelve silents, don’t know how much more is out there. Apparently there was a big fire in Fox Studios in 1937 where most of films got destroyed. Fortunately, THE MOVIES from 1925 is not one of them. Written and directed by William Goodrich, a pseudonym for the now banned Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle.
Hamilton was admired by Chaplin, Keaton and his former director, Charley Chase. The latter, when stuck for inspiration, would think what Ham would do. Hamilton was slightly chubby but not overly fat. He wore close that were too small, had a baby face and a tough guy face at the same time. He moved very lightly and could be shy, yet could knock you out and be deceptive if need be. He made fantastic facial reactions, at times similar to Oliver Hardy. He just had the look and movement of a great clown, that “it” factor. It’s a shame we’ll probably never know how good he truly was since so much is lost, but what exists shows a lot of promise. Let’s discuss THE MOVIES.
The films starts out with Ham as a young man living in a real small town. He’s about to go to the city to make it big when his parents warn him to stay away from the movies. Ham’s journey into the city literally involves walking a few steps away from his country home. All of the sudden, he’s on a big city street. This is a very similar gag The Three Stooges later used in CACTUS MAKES PERFECT.
Ham on the street right away is confused, walking out on the street into traffic in direct contrast to the orders from the traffic cop. There is a big crowd of people on the sidewalk that Hamilton seems to be completely out of step with the same way Langdon is with the rest of the world. It’s 1925, the influence is possible. However, any perceived Langdon influences evaporates when Ham all of the sudden pretends to be blind, getting the cop to help him cross the street.
Ham then gets into a great rivalry with Arthur Thalasso, who he bumps into on the street. It seems Thalasso has the upper hand when all of the sudden, Ham knocks him out right in front of the hospital. A great example of Hamilton being mostly timid, but able to be rough when necessary. That came out of nowhere. Nice topper when he rings the hospital bell and walks away. Also a part when Hamilton is deceptive, knocking a hat off a police officer with Thalasso next to him. Hamilton then falls to the ground, making it look like Thalasso knocked the hat off and knocked Hamilton down. Again, an example of Ham being clever and deceptive.
At one point, he sees some bathing beauties go into a restaurant, so he naturally follows them with curiosity. This leads into a lot of fun stuff, including a run in with some actors playing presidents and a pretty young actress looking like Cleopatra. Eventually, Ham runs into - Lloyd Hamilton! Yes, the character he’s portraying is not Lloyd Hamilton because this character runs into Lloyd Hamilton. Wearing more normal street close. The real Hamilton hurt his leg and can’t finish the film he’s working on as a result, but upon seeing his lookalike, decides he’s found his double. Being the on screen husband to the pretty actress in the Egyptian garb convinces the character Ham to do the job.
The shy reactions Hamilton makes when he’s ordered on screen to make love to his on screen wife are fantastic. Somewhat Oliver Hardy like in their humility, it’s what I mean by that “it” factor. Hamilton was just a damn good comic actor and does a wonderful job displaying it here. His actor on screen brother is played by Arthur Thalasso, so when he enters the scene, the big comic chase ensues - great gag with the Income Tax building - and Hamilton eventually takes a few steps back to his country home, the end.
A really fine short. I wanted to do MOVE ALONG, also on YouTube, but alas, I can’t seem to find a print with a music score. Either way though, it’s brilliant. I hope you guys enjoy THE MOVIES, we’re lucky to have it. Also available on the about fifteen year old four DVD set THE FORGOTTEN FILMS OF ROSCOE “FATTY” ARBUCKLE. If you can hunt down a copy for a good price, definitely buy it.
