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Recommendations
Senior Film Conservator
The evocative power of The Kick in High Life (1920) continues to haunt audiences with its artistic bravery, the artistic provocations of The Kick in High Life demand a follow-up of equal intensity. Explore the following titles to broaden your appreciation for Comedy excellence.
The visceral impact of The Kick in High Life (1920) stems from to transcend the limitations of its 1920 budget and technology.
Lotta Sherry the belle of Volstead, is strong for parties, and is about to celebrate the birthday of her baby sister with a blow-out which bids fair to be a staggering success. Invited by Lotta to attend the forth-coming affair, Bud Weiser is greatly elated. At the moment the guests are assembling they receive a thrill from the unexpected appearance in the offing of Smokey Johnny Walker, on his trusty charger. Hearing the shout, "Milk here!" the charger halts. Johnny detaches himself from the lawn and contrives to worm into the party. Troubles at once begin for Johnny. Slapped on the back by peevish Bud, he coughs his store molars on to the turf, where Lotta's pet bull dog seizes them and makes mean faces at Johnny. Mr. Walker, looking as though he had been aged in the wood, mumbles something with a hair lip accent in reply to Bud's designing, damaging question, and his reply sounding gummy to Lotta, she and Bud leave him flat. At the party, a mysterious gentleman proves to be none other than Knockout Clancy, Johnny Walker's old pal, sent by him to avenge the insult of the straying teeth. An attempt by Clancy to steal Lotta Sherry from Bud Weiser starts things popping, and after a more than 2.75 wallop from Bud. Clancy, starting with the butler, wipes out the entire party. Meanwhile, Gaston, the Bolshevik chief, returning by the kitchen route with enough dynamite and light artillery to get even with everybody, ingeniously tests the explosive by filling his assistant's pipe with a stick of it. Enraged, the latter feeds the rest of the dynamite to the family mice. Enters then the cat, who chases the mice into the birthday cake, and- then things begin to happen.
The influence of Al Herman in The Kick in High Life can be felt in the way modern Comedy films handle artistic bravery. From the specific lighting choices to the pacing, this 1920 release set a high bar for atmospheric immersion.
Based on the unique artistic bravery of The Kick in High Life, our vault has identified these titles as the most compelling follow-up experiences for fans of Comedy cinema:
Dir: Charley Chase
A young married couple volunteer to take charge of several orphans after the asylum has burned down. Of course they find their hands full with their troublesome charges.
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Dir: Unknown Director
The Judge needs a present for his wife's birthday, so Harry suggests a new corset. They go to the shop, but he's so embarrassed to ask the saleslady he hides in a phone booth.Harry goes in, but finds a GUY wearing one, and runs out.They both dress as women to get back in, but Mrs. Rummy gets there and chases him out.
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Dir: Robert Thornby
Mary Willard takes over her father's railroad after his death. Her major competitor is a ruthless crook named Harvey Judson. She arranges for Judson to be kidnapped and taken to an isolated spot deep in the forest and turned loose to fend for himself. She accompanies the kidnappers to the wild and Judson, not knowing who she is, begins to fall in love with her. Complications ensue.
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Dir: Ralph Ince
A fascinating piece of cinema that shares thematic elements.
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Dir: Unknown Director
The village youths are rivals for the hand of the local belle. Their battles lead them to the village store, where chaos soon reigns, terminating in the place being blown up, leaving Bobby a happy victor.
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Dir: Maurice Campbell
Carver Endicott, a young sophisticate, is rejected by his fiancée for being too foppish and dull. When she feigns an interest in his father, Carver attempts to disgrace his family name by working as a farmhand and later as a busboy in a hotel. However, the newspapers only praise him for his self-sacrificing principles; and finding that he cannot bring shame to the family through menial labor, he takes up with a notorious actress. But when this maneuver also fails, he returns to his former fiancée, who has no further complaint about his being an inexperienced dullard.
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Dir: Frank Moser
The simple story is about two siblings, little brother Bud and big sister Susie. After they've been reading "Huckleberry Finn" they dream of adventures on the Mississippi River.
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Dir: Lloyd Ingraham
While walking along the street one day, Arthur P. Hampton, an impoverished young doctor, and his chums, Stub Masters and Johnny Stokes, are persuaded to part with their last remaining funds by tag day solicitor Mary Jane Smith, with whom the doctor promptly falls in love. Doc's friends then hit upon a get-rich-quick scheme. Knowing that his Uncle George has promised a large sum of money upon his nephew's marriage, they persuade Doc to send out fake wedding invitations naming Mary Jane as the blushing bride. Uncle George, elated at the good news, writes to Mary Jane's aunt, Angelica Burns, an old sweetheart, to invite Mary Jane and Angelica to be his guests on an ocean voyage. Meanwhile, Mary Jane pays a visit to the doctor's office and, upon seeing the wedding invitations, becomes so flustered that she trips and sprains her ankle. Doc comes to her rescue and then begs her to pose as his wife. She agrees, but at ship-side, Stub and Johnnie confess all to Uncle George, who flies into a rage until Doc announces that he and Mary Jane have chosen a wedding at sea.
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Dir: Hal Roach
An American book salesman (Lloyd) is persuaded to go to the kingdom of Thermosa to impersonate the Prince. He is greeted by a peasants' revolt before the real prince shows up to claim his throne and princess. The revolution succeeds, and the American is elected president of the new republic.
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Dir: Edgar Jones
A mail-order bride arrives at a Maine lumber camp but doesn't like her prospective husband.
View DetailsAnalysis relative to The Kick in High Life
| Film Title | Atmosphere | Complexity | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kids Is Kids | Tense | Layered | 94% Match |
| A Fitting Gift | Surreal | Layered | 96% Match |
| The Deadlier Sex | Gothic | Layered | 97% Match |
| The Land of Opportunity | Gritty | Layered | 87% Match |
| New Ralgia | Ethereal | High | 85% Match |
This guide was algorithmically generated using the cinematic metadata of Al Herman's archive. Last updated: 5/26/2026.
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