In the small town of Hickoryville, the Hickorys are the town's most respected family: Sheriff Jim and his strapping sons Leo and Olin are symbols of strength and authority. But the youngest son, Harold, is meek, slender, and largely dismissed by his family. When his father and brothers attend a town meeting about a dam project, Harold is left behind. Donning his father’s badge and gun out of curiosity, he’s mistaken for the sheriff by Mary, a young woman running a traveling medicine show after the death of her father. This chance encounter sets off a series of events in which Harold must rise above expectations and prove that brains and heart can outshine brute force.

The Kid Brother is widely considered one of Harold Lloyd’s finest films, masterfully blending comedy with genuine character development, romance, and adventure. Released in 1927, it builds upon a familiar narrative arc—reminiscent of Tol’able David—but infuses it with Lloyd’s signature timing and charm.

While technically a loose remake of The White Sheep (1924), the film finds its true identity in Harold’s portrayal of the underdog, a young man underestimated by all who rises to become a quiet hero. Moving away from the bustling city settings of Lloyd’s other 1920s films, The Kid Brother offers a pastoral backdrop that deepens the emotional stakes of the story.

The film was shot in what were then rural towns of California, including Glendale, Burbank, and Altadena. The climactic scenes on a derelict ship were filmed on Catalina Island, adding an adventurous tone to the final act.

In his pursuit of laughs, Lloyd assembled a team of eight writers and gag creators to pack the script with comedic moments. Though not all of them made it into the final cut, many were recycled in his later films.

Upon release, the film was a critical and commercial success, and remains a favorite among silent film fans. It was also Jobyna Ralston’s final film as Lloyd’s leading lady, concluding a successful series of collaborations before she took a supporting role in Wings (1927).

The Kid Brother was successful and popular upon release and today is considered by critics and fans to be one of Lloyd's best films.

Trivia

• Though not credited as director, Harold Lloyd heavily influenced the film’s direction and scripting, as was typical in his productions.

• The derelict ship scenes were filmed on an actual abandoned ship on Catalina Island, not on a studio lot.

• The “kid brother” title is a clever nod to the protagonist’s social role—as the underestimated sibling who eventually becomes the true hero.

• Several comedic sequences cut from the final edit were later reused in Lloyd’s subsequent films, such as Speedy (1928).

• Lloyd’s performance was praised for its emotional nuance, showing a gentler, more introspective side of his on-screen persona.

The Soundtrack

Brais González integrated the double bass for the first time for the score of The Kid Brother; a soundtrack that draws on the influences of traditional American music, swing and echoes the music of old Western films.