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5.4/10
Senior Film Conservator
A definitive 5.4/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Good Morning Sheriff remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
If you have twenty minutes to spare and you like watching grown men struggle with basic physics, you should probably watch Good Morning Sheriff. It is a perfect choice for anyone who finds the idea of a 'reluctant hero' funny, especially when the hero is basically a human marshmallow.
If you hate silent films or think black-and-white movies are boring, this won't change your mind. It is very much of its time, for better or worse. 🤠
Lloyd Hamilton is the star here, and he has this very specific way of moving. He walks like his shoes are two sizes too big and filled with water.
It’s not as polished as something like She's a Prince, but it has a weirdly cozy energy. You can tell they just found a dusty street and decided to start filming.
The plot is paper-thin, even for a short. The old sheriff is lazy, the mayor gets mad, and Lloyd just happens to be standing there when a new lawman is needed.
The way the mayor pins the star on Lloyd’s chest is one of those small moments that made me chuckle. He pins it so aggressively it looks like it actually hurt Lloyd, who just stands there looking confused.
Lloyd's character, 'Lucky Lloyd,' isn't actually lucky at all. He’s the kind of guy who would trip over a flat surface, which he basically does three times in the first five minutes.
He takes the job mostly to impress the mayor's daughter, played by Ruth Hiatt. She doesn't have a whole lot to do besides smile and look comely, but she plays the part well enough.
There is a scene where Lloyd tries to act tough in front of her that is genuinely adorable. He puffs out his chest and immediately loses his balance.
The comedy isn't high-brow. It’s mostly people falling down, or people getting angry at Lloyd for being a disaster.
I noticed one of the extras in the background of a town scene just staring directly at the camera for a solid four seconds. It’s those little mistakes that make these old shorts feel more real than the big blockbusters today. 🎬
The pacing is a bit weird. Some gags go on way too long, like a bit with a hat that I thought was never going to end.
But then, other moments fly by so fast you almost miss them. It feels like they were making up the timing as they went along.
Lloyd Hamilton never got as famous as Chaplin or Keaton, but he has this lonesome quality that is really sweet. You just want to give the guy a sandwich and tell him everything is going to be okay.
The 'villains' in the movie are barely there. They mostly exist so Lloyd has something to be scared of.
I actually liked this more than It's a Bird, mostly because Lloyd feels like a real person you might meet at a bus stop. A very clumsy person, but a person nonetheless.
The ending comes out of nowhere. It’s like they ran out of film and just decided to stop the story right there.
It’s not a masterpiece like Pages of Life, but it doesn't try to be. It just wants to make you grin for a few minutes while a guy in a too-small hat tries to act like a big shot.
One thing that bugged me was the lighting in the indoor scenes. It’s so bright it washes out everyone's faces, making them look like ghosts with mustaches.
But the outdoor stuff looks great. You can almost feel the heat and the dust of the old west town.
It’s a silly little movie. Sometimes that’s exactly what you need after a long day of dealing with people who take themselves too seriously.
If you're looking for deep meaning, keep looking. If you want to see a man get confused by his own badge, this is the one for you.
It’s better than Is Marriage the Bunk? by a long shot. At least here, the physical comedy feels like it has a bit of soul behind it.
Lloyd Hamilton deserves a bit more credit. He’s like the patron saint of the awkward guys.
Anyway, give it a watch if you find it. It won't change your life, but it’ll probably make you smile at least once. 🌵
IMDb —
1923
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