His Royal Slyness

About the production

The film was produced during a transitional period for Harold Lloyd and Hal Roach, as they moved from one-reel shorts to more complex two-reelers. It was filmed between July 9 and August 23, 1919, but its release was delayed due to a near-fatal accident Lloyd suffered while posing for publicity stills shortly after filming ended. A prop bomb, which Lloyd believed was a harmless smoke pot, exploded in his hand, causing him to lose his right thumb and forefinger and temporarily blinding him. This film is significant as it is one of the last productions completed before the accident changed the trajectory of Lloyd's physical performance style.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Silent-era production in 1920 relied on intertitles, live accompaniment, and studio systems that were rapidly consolidating into national industries.

Why this film matters

His Royal Slyness remains part of the screen heritage of its era, offering evidence of prevailing genres, production methods, and audience tastes. Later revivals, archive screenings, and digitization have kept such titles accessible to researchers and dedicated viewers long after their first commercial runs.

Making of

The production of 'His Royal Slyness' was marked by the growing creative synergy between Hal Roach and Harold Lloyd. Roach directed the film personally, emphasizing a more structured plot compared to their earlier 'Lonesome Luke' shorts. The casting of Gaylord Lloyd was a practical solution to the 'double' trope, allowing for split-screen effects to be minimized. During the shoot, the crew struggled with a limited budget for 'royal' costumes, leading to the eclectic and often historically inaccurate wardrobe seen on screen. The film's release was a major event for the studio, as it helped maintain Lloyd's popularity during his long recovery from the bomb accident that occurred just days after production wrapped.

What critics said

Trade and newspaper reviews from the silent period for His Royal Slyness survive only in fragments, making precise reception history difficult to reconstruct. Modern assessment tends to emphasize historical value, craft, and cultural context rather than box-office performance.

Did you know?

• Harold Lloyd's real-life brother, Gaylord Lloyd, plays the role of the real Prince of Razzamatazz, making the 'look-alike' plot point particularly convincing.
• The film features Mildred Davis, who replaced Bebe Daniels as Lloyd's leading lady; Lloyd and Davis eventually married in 1923.
• The palace set features a humorous mix of cultures, including Native American blankets used as European tapestries behind the thrones.
• This was one of the first films where Lloyd's 'Glasses' character began to rely more on narrative and situational comedy than pure slapstick.
• The film was remade in 1927 as 'Long Fliv the King' starring Oliver Hardy.
• The opening stable scene was filmed at the Uplifters Club, the same location later used for the 1944 film 'National Velvet'.
• Despite the royal setting, the film ends with the kingdom being turned into a republic, reflecting the post-WWI global shift away from monarchies.

Visual style

The film utilizes standard silent-era cinematography but stands out for its use of location shooting at the Uplifters Club to provide a sense of scale. The interior palace scenes use high-key lighting to emphasize the 'royal' atmosphere, despite the low-budget sets. There are also early examples of effective split-screen work to show Harold and his brother Gaylord in the same frame.

Innovations

The film is noted for its early use of sophisticated narrative structure in a short comedy, moving away from the 'string of gags' format. The technical execution of the revolution sequence, involving large crowds and synchronized action, was ambitious for a two-reel production of that era.

Music

As a silent film, there was no original recorded soundtrack. However, modern restorations often feature scores by renowned silent film composers. A notable version includes a theater organ soundtrack performed by Gaylord Carter, a protégé of Harold Lloyd. In 2013, the SONOS Chamber Orchestra performed a live accompaniment for the film at the United Palace Theater in New York.

Famous quotes

Title Card: 'The Prince of Razzamatazz—completing his education in the U.S.A., if such a thing is possible.'

Title Card: 'Harold—a book agent who could sell a set of 'How to Live on a Dollar a Day' to a man with a million a minute.'

Title Card: 'The Kingdom of Thermosa—where they have a revolution every morning to get an appetite for breakfast.'

Memorable scenes

• The 'Mirror' Scene: A classic comedy trope where Harold and the Prince (his real-life brother) mimic each other's movements, highlighting their identical appearance.
• The Revolution: A chaotic and funny climax where the peasants storm the palace, and Harold inadvertently leads them to victory while trying to save the Princess.
• The Book Selling Montage: An early sequence showing Harold's relentless and creative methods for selling books to uninterested Americans.

What audiences thought

Audiences in 1920 embraced the film, largely due to Lloyd's immense popularity and the public's sympathy following his well-publicized accident. The 'double' gimmick with his brother Gaylord was a hit with contemporary viewers. Today, the film remains a favorite among silent film enthusiasts and is frequently screened at festivals with live orchestral or organ accompaniment.

Film connections

Influenced by

• The Prisoner of Zenda (Novel and 1913/1915 films)
• Ruritanian Romances
• Mark Twain's The Prince and the Pauper

This film influenced

• Long Fliv the King (1927)
• The Great Dictator (1940) - for the use of the 'commoner/tyrant look-alike' trope
• Dave (1993)
• The Princess Diaries (2001)

Film restoration

The film is well-preserved. Unlike many of Lloyd's earlier one-reelers which were lost in a 1943 fire at his estate, 'His Royal Slyness' exists in complete form in the Harold Lloyd archive and has been digitally restored.

Where to watch

• The Criterion Channel
• HBO Max (via TCM/Criterion collection)
• YouTube (Public Domain prints)
• Harold Lloyd: The Third Genius DVD/Blu-ray collections