Retrospective: Movie Crazy (1932)

MOVIE CRAZY (1932)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
RATING: Four stars

"Movie Crazy" may not be the best Harold Lloyd film ever made, but it
comes darn close. Despite being a monumental flop at the box-office
(as well as two early talkies he made prior to this one), one wonders
why because it is so flat out funny and charming. Those weaned on
romantic comedies of the 2000 decade will find there was far more wit,
imagination and playfulness in this genre almost a century earlier.

Lloyd is Harold Hall, an ambitious actor whose glasses may get in the
way of real movie stardom, which he so desires. His family doesn't
think much of his desires yet Hall pursues stardom by going west. He
lands in Hollywood under false pretenses - let's just say it has to do
with the wrong photograph being sent with his name on it. The
photograph has a Rudolph Valentinoesque kind of actor, far removed
from the goofy Hall. Hall's first audition goes awry to say the least,
not to mention his brief stint as an extra where he overacts! Hall
meets the blonde, sassy Mary Sears (Constance Cummings), an actress
under contract to a studio. Little does Hall realize that a seeming
Latina starlet whom he pines for on another movie set is the same Mary
Sears. Of course, Mary has too much fun teasing Hall (whom she
nicknames "Trouble") to tell him the truth, including telling him that
he can't see any other women, including the seductive Latina.

Don't expect any of the tomfoolery and death-defying stunts of Lloyd's
earlier silent films in "Movie Crazy." The movie delights in simple
sight gags and occasional slapstick (including the breaking of glass
doors that will leave you howling with laughter), but it also delights
in the charm of its leading star. It is no accident that Lloyd's
"Glasses" character inspired Clark Kent except Lloyd is the bumbling,
clumsy Clark Kent with or without glasses. And yet, despite his
awkward stages such as prancing around puddles with only one shoe or
wearing a "magic" coat (you have to see it to believe it), we root for
Hall to make it big and make his sweet, rickety relationship with Mary
Sears come true. We also hope he can steer her away from her amorous,
drunk co-star, Vance (Robert Thomson).

"Movie Crazy" is a wild comic ride, a fun-filled, laugh-a-minute film
with plenty of laughs for any fan of Lloyd and of movies as well.
Added to that is the most memorable performance(s) in the film by the
magnetic Constance Cummings. The twinkle in her eye and her flair for
comic timing work so exceedingly well that she will make one swoon
with awe and delight - a marvelous actress. No wonder Hall gets into
so much trouble in the film - he is in love.

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