His Royal Slyness

His Royal Slyness

About His Royal Slyness

His Royal Slyness is a 1920 American comedy film written by H.M. Walker and directed by Hal Roach. The film presents a classic silent slapstick comedy of mistaken identity. The plot follows a young man (played by Harold Lloyd) who's a look-alike to a prince. Under peculiar circumstances, he is sent in place of the prince to a troubled kingdom where he is expected to quell civil unrest. His ingenuity and common-sense approaches to problems end up winning over the populace as well as the princess.

Making / Production

The film was produced by the Hal Roach Studios and was well-received for its comic timing and interesting plot. Despite being over a century old, the film's humor and charm remain intact, showcasing the timeless appeal of silent, physical comedy and situational humor. It runs for approximately 22 minutes.

Actors

• Harold Lloyd: Played the dual role of the young American as well as the prince. His outstanding performance showed both the timid and charming prince and the clever, resourceful commoner.
• Mildred Davis: Played princess of Thermos. Her acting was as captivating as her beauty, making the love story element of the movie quite engaging.
• Snub Pollard: Played the role of the undersecretary. His comedic timing added a greater depth of humor to the film.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Harold Lloyd performed his own stunts in the movie, which was common in the knight-errant slapstick he often performed.
• The title "His Royal Slyness" is a play on words referring to the main character's clever, cunning tactics within the film.

Quotes

• "All royal blood is blue. I'll do my best to see that none of it gets spilled."

Music, Soundtrack

• The 1920 silent film would originally have been accompanied by a live orchestra or pianist in cinemas. No official soundtrack was released.