Hollywood history is filled with names and places which have begun to fade into obscurity. Sadly, huge percentages of these films have been lost to time, along with the names and stories of the people behind them. However, film preservation efforts continue. Suzanne Lloyd, the grand-daughter of comedian Harold Lloyd, has spear-headed the preservation efforts to make sure her grandfather’s movies are not lost to the passage of time. This year’s TCM Classic Film Festival put the silent film legend firmly into focus with an incredible presentation on Lloyd’s work with experimental photography.
Harold Lloyd is perhaps best known as a silent film comedian, with his name usually spoken in the same breath as Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. Lloyd’s earliest credits are in 1913, with his final role coming in 1947’s The Sins of Harold Diddlebock. Cinephiles will most recognize Lloyd from his stellar work in 1923’s Safety Last.
Harold Lloyd: New Dimensions in Sight and Sound utilized the amazing facilities at the Linwood Dunn Theater inside the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences. Hosted by Lloyd’s granddaughter Suzanne, not only did the presentation work with the facility’s period accurate projection, but also a painfully restored fotoplayer. The machine dates back to 1912 and is still in full working condition.
Suzanne Lloyd has been absolutely instrumental in spearheading the preservation of her grandfathers work, and her presentation of the family’s rich collection of home movies, as well as Lloyd’s extensive collection of 3D photography, was heartwarming.
The home movies dated back as early as 1926, showing Lloyd as a young man with his growing family. His wife (and former co-star) Mildred Davis is always near-by. Lloyd clowns around in the clips, his playful onscreen persona showing through in his interactions with his children, and later his grandchildren. Viewing these movies through a genealogical perspective, these are a tremendous find. These are not films starring Harold Lloyd, this is Harold Lloyd the man. He’s a father, a grandfather, and even a great-grandfather. In the preservation of these clips, the Lloyd family (and because of Suzanne’s work, fans of the comedian) get to see another side of this silent film legend.
Obviously, these videos are incredibly important to the classic film community, showing a new side to one of silent film’s greatest legends. However, these films also hold great value outside their connection to the entertainment industry. In these clips we see the Santa Monica beachfront as it looked in the 1920s, and DisneyLand as it looked upon opening in 1955. These are historical artifacts. While pictures and documents are great, these filmed clips capture a snapshot of life as it was, making history that much more accessible.
The presentation continued, showing an extensive collection of 3D photographs Lloyd took during his extensive career. As his acting career slowed with the demise of silent film, Lloyd became an ardent (and professional) photographer. The images show his impressive mastery of 3D photography, even as early as the 1920s. He takes pictures of landmarks, places he visits, and even other celebrities. A particularly striking 3D image features a luminescent Marilyn Monroe during a photoshoot at the peak of her popularity. The stunning work shows that the comedian truly stands as a renaissance man of visual media.
Suzanne Lloyd’s work has been truly instrumental in the preservation of Harold Lloyd’s work. Thanks to her efforts, a large number of the comedian’s movies have been preserved, saving them from the fate of so many other films of this era. The work of film preservationists continues all around the world, ensuring that these vital pieces of history don’t suffer the same fate as thousands of rolls of film during the early years of Hollywood. Luckily the available technology continues to develop, making this process easier with each passing day. Hopefully with this ongoing hard work, we can continue to preserve these vital and important pieces of history.
RELATED: Movie Review – FAST AND FURIOUS
RELATED: Take a look at the rest of our coverage of the TCM Classic Film Festival, here.
- Movie Review: MATERIALISTS - June 12, 2025
- Movie Review: THE PHOENICIAN SCHEME - June 6, 2025
- Movie Review: FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA - June 6, 2025
