| The Big Idea | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Gilbert Pratt |
| Produced by | Hal Roach |
| Starring | Harold Lloyd |
| Cinematography | Hal Mohr |
Production company | Rolin Films |
| Distributed by | Pathé Exchange |
Release date |
|
Running time | 1 reel |
| Country | United States |
| Language | Silent (English intertitles) |
The Big Idea is a 1917 American short comedy film starring Harold Lloyd. [1] The film has been preserved and is available online. [2]
Harold, Snub and Bebe are employees at a pawn shop that is having trouble attracting customers. The boss informs Bebe that business is so slow that he will have to let her go. Both Harold and Snub are smitten by Bebe. Harold comes up with a clever way to save Bebe's job. He circulates a fake telegram stating there is an item in the pawn shop marked with a double X that contains $10,000. Harold proceeds to mark numerous items in the shop with the double X and makes sure that several people on the street accidentally see the bogus telegram. Very soon the hopeful customers come into the antique store and buy almost everything on the floor. The happy proprietor rehires Bebe. She and Snub see the phony telegram too. Snub sees the only unsold item left in the shop—a large vase—has a double X on it and buys it. Snub eagerly buys the vase before Harold can tell him about the ruse. Snub angrily smashes the vase—and finds a large sack containing $10,000. Snub and Bebe happily leave the antique shop arm in arm with the huge amount of money.
Like many American films of the time, The Big Idea was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors required a cut of a closeup of hands holding U.S. currency. [3]
Lonesome Luke's Wild Women is a 1917 American short comedy film starring Harold Lloyd. A print of the film exists in a collection.
Pinched is a 1917 American short comedy film starring Harold Lloyd. A print of the film is held by the Museum of Modern Art, and it has been released on DVD. Like many American films of the time, Pinched was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. The Chicago Board of Censors required a cut of scene with a man thumbing his nose.
The Flirt is a 1917 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd. Copies of the film survive in the film archives of the Museum of Modern Art and the British Film Institute.
All Aboard is a 1917 American short comedy film starring Harold Lloyd.
Bashful is a 1917 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd. A copy exists in the film archive of the Museum of Modern Art, New York City.
Step Lively is a 1917 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd. A print of the film at the UCLA Film and Television Archive. Like many American films of the time, Step Lively was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors required two views of a quarter to be cut.
The Lamb is a 1918 American short comedy film starring Harold Lloyd. It is believed to be lost. Like many American films of the time, The Lamb was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. The Chicago Board of Censors required cuts of the first, fourth, and sixth tough dancing scenes and of the men wiggling their backs in comedy duel scenes.
A Gasoline Wedding is a 1918 American short comedy film starring Harold Lloyd.
Look Pleasant, Please is a 1918 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd. A print of the film is held by the Museum of Modern Art.
Here Come the Girls is a 1918 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd about activities in a corset shop. Prints of the film survive in the film archive of the Museum of Modern Art.
On the Jump is a 1918 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd. A print of the film survives in the film archive of the Museum of Modern Art. Like many American films of the time, On the Jump was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors cut the scene of the man thumbing his nose.
It's a Wild Life is a 1918 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd.
Hey There! is a 1918 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd. Like many American films of the time, Hey There! was subject to cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors required cuts of the man standing on his head to look at a woman's legs and the scene with a fat woman with her kimono lowered from her shoulders.
Two-Gun Gussie is a 1918 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd.
Somewhere in Turkey is a 1918 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd.
Bride and Gloom is a 1918 American short comedy film starring Harold Lloyd. It is presumed to be a lost film. Like many American films of the time, Bride and Gloom was subject to restrictions and cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors required a cut of two scenes of Lloyd in berth with woman.
Two Scrambled is a 1918 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd. The film is presumed to be lost. Like many American films of the time, Two Scrambled was subject to restrictions and cuts by city and state film censorship boards. For example, the Chicago Board of Censors required a cut of the intertitle "The honest tailor will return the wallet, but it is killing him by inches."
Swing Your Partners is a 1918 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd. Copies of the film survive in two collections.
Never Touched Me is a 1919 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd. A print exists in the Staatliches Filmarchive.
Heap Big Chief is a 1919 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd. Previously thought to be a lost film, a print was located at the Cinema Museum in London in 2018. The recovered film was later shown to audiences on the second day of the Silent Laughter Weekend on April 28, 2019.
 | This 1910s short comedy film–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |