Why Worry?
About Why Worry?
Rich hypochondriac Harold Van Pelham (Harold Lloyd) sails with his nurse (Jobyna Ralston) and his valet, Mr. Pipps (Wallace Howe), to the island of Paradiso for a rest. A revolt led by Jim Blake (Jim Mason) is underway. Harold treats the gunfire as if it were staged for him until he is jailed with Colosso (John Aasen), a giant with a toothache. Harold pulls the tooth. Colosso stays with him, and the two, with the nurse, break the revolt. Harold drops the pills and marries the nurse.
Cast & crew
More about Why Worry?
Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor directed. Taylor wrote the story and H. M. Walker wrote the titles. Hal Roach produced. Pathé Exchange distributed, with sales help from Associated Exhibitors. Wikipedia dates the release September 2, 1923. Senses of Cinema notes that filming wrapped on June 22, 1923, and that protests moved the setting off a Mexican town and onto an imaginary island after the picture had been shot.
Themes
Background
Lloyd's 1923 feature sends a rich American invalid into a revolution on a made-up South American island, after a Mexican setting was dropped.
Preservation
Prints survive. A copy is on the Internet Archive.
Notes
- AFI dates the release September 16, 1923. The copyright, to Hal E. Roach Studios, is August 11, 1923, number LU19294.
- John Aasen's first film. An August 11, 1923 Exhibitors Trade Review item, cited by AFI, said he was over eight feet tall and weighed 460 pounds, and that a newspaper story about the size of his shoes led the company to him.
- He is credited on some prints as Johan Aasen.
- Ted Wilde and Tim Whelan are credited with gags in the Senses of Cinema note. Walter Lundin photographed. Thomas J. Crizer edited.
- Wikidata's publication date is September 9, 1923, a third date beside the Wikipedia and AFI listings.
Scenes
- Harold watches the revolt and assumes the island has staged it for him.
- In the cell he pulls Colosso's tooth, and the giant attaches himself to Harold after that.
Also available
- Internet Archive (silent-why-worry)
Quotes
Tell them they'll have to stop it immediately. I came down here for a rest.
