His Royal Slyness
"A Prince for a Day—A Lover for a Lifetime!"
Plot
Harold, a persistent American book salesman, is traveling through the kingdom of Thermosa when he is mistaken for the Prince of Razzamatazz. The real Prince, who looks exactly like Harold, has been sent to Thermosa to marry Princess Florelle but would much rather stay in the United States to pursue his own romantic interests. Seizing the opportunity, the Prince convinces Harold to take his place, leading the salesman into a world of royal luxury and political intrigue. While Harold successfully woos the Princess and enjoys the perks of nobility, a revolutionary uprising led by a disgruntled peasant threatens to overthrow the monarchy. Harold must use his quick wits and American ingenuity to navigate the chaos, eventually winning the heart of the Princess and helping to establish a republic before the real Prince returns.
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.
Historical Background
Released in 1920, the film arrived at a time when the American public was fascinated by the collapse of European empires following World War I. The 'Ruritanian romance' genre, involving fictional European kingdoms, was highly popular in literature and film. The movie's climax, involving a revolution and the establishment of a republic, mirrored the real-world political upheavals in Russia, Germany, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Additionally, the film represents the 'Golden Age' of the American silent comedy short, just before the industry shifted toward feature-length productions.
Why This Film Matters
The film is a key entry in the evolution of Harold Lloyd's 'Glasses' character, transitioning him from a simple clown into a romantic lead and a representative of the 'American Go-Getter' spirit. It demonstrated that slapstick stars could carry sophisticated, plot-driven narratives. The film also solidified the onscreen chemistry between Lloyd and Mildred Davis, a partnership that would define much of 1920s comedy. In modern times, it is studied by film historians as a prime example of the high production values and narrative sophistication achieved by the Hal Roach Studios during the silent era.
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.
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.
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.
What Critics Said
At the time of its release, 'His Royal Slyness' received generally positive reviews, though some trade publications like 'Exhibitors Herald' noted it was 'weak on producing the laughs' compared to Lloyd's previous high-energy shorts. Modern critics, however, often cite it as one of Lloyd's best two-reelers, praising its clever use of the 'Prisoner of Zenda' parody and its technical polish. Rotten Tomatoes critics have described it as a 'delight from start to finish' that shows Lloyd 'turning the corner from ordinary to extraordinary.'
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)
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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.