The Kid Brother [Criterion Collection] [Blu-ray]

Director: Lewis Milestone, Ted Wilde, J.A. Howe

Overview

The milquetoast offspring Harold Lloyd of a rural community's burly sheriff proves himself a man's man when he defeats the thuggish villain threatening the town. Alternately touching and hilarious, The Kid Brother is among comedian Harold Lloyd's best work and was the most popular film of 1927.

Product Details

Release Date:	03/12/2019
UPC:	0715515227414
Original Release:	1927
Rating:	NR
Region Code:	A
Presentation:	[B&W]
Sound:	[silent]
Language:	English
Time:	1:22:00
Sales rank:	42,468

Special Features

New 4k digital restoration ; Orchestral score by composer Carl Davis from 1989; Alternate archival organ score performed by Gaylord Carter; Audio Commentary from 2005 featuring filmmaker and Harold Lloyd, and Harold Lloyd's granddaughter Suzanne Lloyd; Harold's Leading Ladies, a new conversation between author Cari Beauchamp and Suzanne Lloyd; Anatomy of a Gag: Monkeyshoes, a new video essay by critic and filmmaker David Cairns; Behind-the-scenes stills gallery curated by Harold Lloyd archivist Richard Simonton Jr. ; Close to Home, a new video essay on the film's shooting locations by author John Bengston; Dutch television interview wiht Lloyd from 1962; Featurette from 2005 about Greenacres, Lloyd's estate, hosted by Suzanne Lloyd; Two restored rare early Lloyd shorts: Over the Fence (1917) and That's Him (1918), with new Wurlitzer theater pipe organ scores and a discussion of their early film formats by archivist Dino Everett; New tour of the Wurlitzer organ with Composer Nathan Barr and organist Mark Herman; Plus: An essay by critic Carrie Rickey

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Harold Lloyd	Harold Hickory
Jobyna Ralston	Mary Powers
Walter James	Jim Hickory
Leo Willis	Leo Hickory
Olin Francis	Olin Hickory
Constantine Romanoff	Sandoni
Eddie Boland	Flash Farrell
Frank Lanning	Sam Hooper
Ralph Yearsley	Hank Hooper
Gus Leonard	A Townsman

Technical Credits

Howard Green

John Grey

Lex Neal

Ted Wilde

Jesse L. Lasky	Producer,Producer
Adolph Zukor	Producer
Howard Green	Screenwriter
John Grey	Screenwriter
Harold Lloyd	Producer
Lex Neal	Screenwriter
Ted Wilde	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

One of the "problems" with Harold Lloyd's best movies is picking out a "best" among them -- there's an embarrassment of riches to be found in at least half-a-dozen (and this writer would add The Milky Way to the usual list of silent candidates). But The Kid Brother may just stand out in front of the others, with its mix of action sequences and drama amid the comedy. It's got a knowing wit about it, as a "rural drama" at a time when such works were already an object of parody, that adds an additional humorous edge to its impressive array of gags, stunts, and cliffhanger plot elements. Obviously, much of the credit for the movie's success resides with Lloyd himself, and also the presence of Jobyna Ralston as his leading lady, but some recognition must be given to Lewis Milestone, whose career as a comedic director was reaching its peak in 1927 (he would win his first Oscar for Two Arabian Nights, made that same year). In those days -- as distinct from later on, when he slowed down as a director -- he knew how to move a story along, and on The Kid Brother Milestone (one of three directors here) does just that, incorporating a huge amount of plot in 83 minutes. Not that the plot ever gets in the way, or slows down the comedy....