The Sin of Harold Diddlebock (1946)

Synopsis: Preston Sturges writes and directs this zany comedy in which the viewer catches up with the character of Harold Diddlebock 20 years after his triumphs as a first-year man on the football field in the film THE FRESHMAN. Harold has become a mild-mannered clerk who dreams about marrying the girl... Preston Sturges writes and directs this zany comedy in which the viewer catches up with the character of Harold Diddlebock 20 years after his triumphs as a first-year man on the football field in the film THE FRESHMAN. Harold has become a mild-mannered clerk who dreams about marrying the girl at the desk down the aisle. But losing his job destroys that dream, and when he finds a particularly potent drink at his local bar, he goes on a very strange and funny rampage, with lion in tow, which culminates in him becoming the proud and unanticipated owner of a bankrupt circus--a fascinating idea of updating Lloyd's 1920s character to show what's happened to that go-getter. THE SIN OF HAROLD DIDDLEBOCK (also known as MAD WEDNESDAY), produced by Howard Hughes, is considered to contain the actor Harold Lloyd's most hilarious work in the postsilent film days. Lloyd also was resposible for performing all his own stunts. The film is filled with great gags, including some raucous skyscraper antics performed memorably by the quirky sophisticated characters from Sturges's stock company. [More]