Review: Why Worry? (1923)

Directed by: Fred C. Newmeyer, Sam Taylor | 60 minutes | comedy, adventure, family, romance | Actors: Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston, John Aasen, Wallace Howe, Jim Mason, Leo White, Gaylord Lloyd, Mark Jones

Harold Van Pelham is a wealthy hypochondriac who is only occupied with taking pills and feeling ill. If he hears of an ailment, he is bound to suffer from it. He does not realize at all that his nurse has been secretly in love with him for a long time, he is so busy asking for attention for his ailments. The cruise to the tropics for his health is romantic for the other couples on board, if not for them, much to the chagrin of his nurse. A revolution is underway at the destination and the warring parties are using reciprocal violence and kidnapping.

For a long time Harold has no idea what is happening around him, only when he ends up in prison does it dawn on him that something is wrong. In his cell he befriends the big friendly giant Colosso (John Aasen) and together they manage to escape. This has already fueled his heroism, but if they want to harm his nurse, the turnips are all done.

A crazy farce that rumbles on with one inventiveness after another. The way in which Harold can continue to pretend that he has not noticed anything is so very well thought out, everything is really right. When he is taken to prison thinking that those nice soldiers will take him to his hotel, he suddenly turns around near the prison and runs away. You think that’s because he finally realizes what’s happening, but he runs off to pick up his briefcase at the front of the “hotel” and then runs back to the soldiers.

Completely idiotic, but commanding great admiration is the scene in which he has to compete with a large army together with his nurse and the friendly giant. Mostly hidden behind a wall, he supposedly marches in front of the troops with a rifle. These troops consist of two rows of stakes that resemble the tops of guns that he and his nurse send along the walls at the right pace. A great find in every way. A super fun film that melts every gloom in the warm tropical sun.