Saturday 29 July 2017

The Sin of Harold Diddlebock (1947 Preston Sturges & scr)

Sadly only available in the awful print kindly made available by the bandits at Elstree Hill, this is not prime Sturges but recognisably his and a great entertainment - certainly more successful than the following year's Unfaithfully Yours. I wouldn't be surprised if he was pissed when he wrote it. Title is questionable (omit 'The Sin of'?)

Harold Lloyd is very successful in the lead, supported by a whole host of Sturges' favourite actors - Jimmy Conlin, Raymond Walburn (Christmas in July), Rudy Vallee, Franklin Pangborn, Robert Dudley and Robert Greig, plus Lionel Stander and Frances Ramsden (her only lead role). Full of cherishable lines and moments (e.g. Lloyd doing the nails of manicurist Arline Judge) and featuring the sensational Jackie the Lion, about whom I could find nothing - though it seems he was the MGM lion from 1926 - 1956. Scene with him on ledge is hilarious and terrifying.

Released by RKO after Howard Hughes recut as Mad Wednesday in 1950.

No comments:

Post a Comment