There is no Bowerie in Los Angeles, of course, but the film uses the equally ill-sounding Slattery Square. It's here that Brother George runs a modest street stand offering free coffee to the bums. He's assisted by his cute daughter.
Harold Lloyd is a multi-milliaire who buys a new car when the ash trays are full on the old convertible. He off-handedly writes a check to Brother George and falls for the cute daughter. Brother George is now able to open a proper charity ward inside, complete with hymn books and organs, but few of the hoi polloi show up.
Most of the ruffians, those most in need of reforming, are down the corner -- "that pool hall gang." Lloyd fills up the charity with the pool hall gang by the simple expedient of insulting all of them and having them chase him inside. They are soon converted by Lloyd's charisma.
Lloyd's hoity-toity friends decide to prevent the forthcoming marriage by kidnapping him. The pool hall gang gets drunk and rescues him. Will they get him to the church on time? The final reel is a zany and precisely choreographed chase.
I found the first half studded with some clever gags but often a bit slow. I understand that there is very little character development in the film, but what there is, is interpolated into the opening scenes. Sometimes I'd rather have my funny bone tickled than my empathy provoked.
Another reviewer was irritated by the Christian subtext that, for the most part, eluded me. There is a hymn sung -- "Onward Christian Soldiers" -- but otherwise there is no religious iconography, no crucifixes or mentions of God or heaven or any of that. Of course the foundation of Brother George's charity is mercy and generosity, but I'd hate to think those were exclusively Christian traits.
Harold Lloyd is a multi-milliaire who buys a new car when the ash trays are full on the old convertible. He off-handedly writes a check to Brother George and falls for the cute daughter. Brother George is now able to open a proper charity ward inside, complete with hymn books and organs, but few of the hoi polloi show up.
Most of the ruffians, those most in need of reforming, are down the corner -- "that pool hall gang." Lloyd fills up the charity with the pool hall gang by the simple expedient of insulting all of them and having them chase him inside. They are soon converted by Lloyd's charisma.
Lloyd's hoity-toity friends decide to prevent the forthcoming marriage by kidnapping him. The pool hall gang gets drunk and rescues him. Will they get him to the church on time? The final reel is a zany and precisely choreographed chase.
I found the first half studded with some clever gags but often a bit slow. I understand that there is very little character development in the film, but what there is, is interpolated into the opening scenes. Sometimes I'd rather have my funny bone tickled than my empathy provoked.
Another reviewer was irritated by the Christian subtext that, for the most part, eluded me. There is a hymn sung -- "Onward Christian Soldiers" -- but otherwise there is no religious iconography, no crucifixes or mentions of God or heaven or any of that. Of course the foundation of Brother George's charity is mercy and generosity, but I'd hate to think those were exclusively Christian traits.