Watch His Royal Slyness

His Royal Slyness is a silent comedy film released in 1920, directed by Hal Roach and starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, and 'Snub' Pollard. The movie is about a young man named Harold Van Pelham who falls asleep while reading a book about a royal family only to wake up believing he is a prince himself. Despite his lack of training, Harold is convinced that he can save the fictional kingdom of Thermosa from ruin if he impersonates the missing crown prince. Harold, along with his servant Eggbert, sets out on an adventure to save the kingdom and hopefully win the heart of the beautiful princess.

The movie begins with Harold daydreaming about being a member of a royal family while his fiance, Mildred, tries to get his attention. When she finally snaps him out of his daydream, he falls asleep reading a book about a royal family. As he sleeps, he dreams of being the crown prince of the fictional kingdom Thermosa, a country on the brink of bankruptcy.

The queen of Thermosa has decided to auction off the royal jewels to pay the country's debts. In desperation, the people of Thermosa hope the missing prince will return and restore their fortune. Harold awakes suddenly and believes he is the prince himself. He sets off with his servant, Eggbert, to Thermosa to claim his throne and save the kingdom from ruin.

Once in Thermosa, Harold quickly realizes that being a prince is not as easy as it looks. He has to learn how to act royal and deal with the constant attention of the press. The queen and her advisors are not convinced of Harold's identity and think he is an impostor. If he fails to prove he is the real prince, he will be hanged.

Harold's love interest, Princess Florelle, is also skeptical of his identity but offers to help him if he can prove he is truly the prince. Harold must navigate the royal palace and avoid being caught by the queen's guards who are on to him. He eventually discovers the truth about the missing prince and uncovers a plot to overthrow the monarchy.

Despite his lack of experience and training, Harold manages to outwit the conspirators and saves the kingdom from financial ruin. Along the way, he impresses Princess Florelle and wins her affection.

The movie features typical silent comedy tropes such as physical gags, situational humor, and exaggerated facial expressions. Harold Lloyd's character is often seen teetering on the edge of a dangerous situation, only to cleverly escape at the last minute. His signature comic timing and slapstick humor make the movie a delight to watch.

Another notable aspect of the movie is its use of special effects, which were groundbreaking for the time. The filmmakers used a technique called "superimposition" to show Harold's daydreams of being a prince. This technique involves filming two separate scenes and then overlaying one on top of the other during the editing process.

Overall, His Royal Slyness is an entertaining and lighthearted comedy that showcases Harold Lloyd's talent for physical humor and comic timing. Its use of special effects and imaginative storyline make it a must-see for fans of silent films and classic comedy.

His Royal Slyness is a 1920 comedy with a runtime of 27 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2.