“For Heaven’s Sake” (1926) starring Harold Lloyd / Z-View

For Heaven’s Sake (1926)

Director:  Sam Taylor

Screenplay: John Grey, Ted Wilde, Clyde Bruckman, Ralph Spence (titles)

Stars: Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston, Noah Young, Paul Weigel

Tagline: There’s a new Lloyd comedy in town. You have laughed yourself hoarse at every one you have ever seen, but when you see him trying to “uplift” a gang of underworld crooks you will think you never laughed before.

The Plot…

J. Harold Manners (Lloyd) is a millionaire who accidentally sponsors a mission to provide relief to the poor.  When the publicity hits the newspapers that the J. Harold Manners’ Mission has opened, J. Harold goes down to have his name taken off the mission.  He’s embarrassed and doesn’t want to come off as a publicity seeker.

At the mission J. Harold meets Hope (Ralston), the daughter of the man running the mission.  J. Harold is attracted to Hope.  When she tells him the mission isn’t getting many folks coming in.  J. Harold decides to get down and out people to the mission by going through the poor section of town and provoking them.  The idea is they will chase him back to the mission.

What could go wrong?

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)…

This was a tough production for Harold Lloyd.  Many scenes were cut (but later used in his film Speedy).  Lloyd reportedly wasn’t happy with the final product.  Surprisingly, For Heaven’s Sake became one of Lloyd’s most successful films and the 12th highest-grossing film of the Silent Era.

For Heaven’s Sake (1926) rates 3 of 5 stars.