Why Worry? (1923)
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Harold Van Pelham (Harold Lloyd) is a hypochondriac, rich businessman who sails to the tropics for his 'health'. Instead of the peace and seclusion he is seeking, he finds himself in the middle of a revolution. He is imprisoned where he befriends friendly giant Colosso (John Aasen), and they engineer an escape. Together, they quell the revolution.
- Actors:
- Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston, John Aasen, Wallace Howe, Jim Mason, Leo White, Gaylord Lloyd, Mark Jones, William Gillespie, Sam Lufkin, Lee Phelps, Charles Stevenson
- Directors:
- Fred C. Newmeyer, Sam Taylor
- Producers:
- Jeffrey Vance, Hal Roach
- Writers:
- Sam Taylor, Ted Wilde, Tim Whelan, H.M. Walker
- Aka:
- Lieber krank als sorgenfrei
- Genres:
- Action & Adventure, Children & Family, Classics, Comedy, Romance
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Reviews (1) of Why Worry?
Silent Harold - Why Worry? review by Steve
My pick for Harold Lloyd’s funniest picture. He plays a rich hypochondriac who travels to a South American island for his health, only to unwittingly get involved in a revolution. And eventually fall in love with his long suffering nurse (Jobyna Ralston). It was extensively ripped off by Woody Allen for Bananas (1971).
The star is more pompous, affluent and entitled than usual. Yet still another naive optimist. The comedy trades on mistaken identity. So the rebels who wage a coup d'état think Lloyd has been sent by an American bank to put down their insurrection, rather than an effete toff in search of restful privilege.
Most of the story relates to our hero's relationship with a giant hermit (John Aasen) who becomes loyal after Harold removes his bad tooth and who carries out all the dangerous work behind the wealthy tourist’s back. As usual, there isn't much to do for the female lead.
Ralston would be Lloyd's foil for the rest of the decade, and while not much of a change from Mildred Davis (who Lloyd had married in real life…) she is still appealing. This is a fast paced, well plotted comedy full of crazy, imaginative sight gags and athletic stunts. And one of the great silent comedies.