[A] clever little gem.
The Sin of Harold Diddlebock (1946)
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work ![]()
Reviews Counted:9
Fresh:8
Rotten:1
Average Rating:6.7/10
Runtime: 1 hr 35 mins
Genre: Comedies
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... 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]
Starring: Harold Lloyd, Frances Ramsden, Jimmy Conlin, Rudy Vallee
Starring: Harold Lloyd, Frances Ramsden, Jimmy Conlin, Rudy Vallee, Edgar Kennedy, Raymond Walburn, Arline Judge, Franklin Pangborn, Lionel Stander, Margaret Hamilton
Director: Preston Sturges
Director: Preston Sturges
Screenwriter: Preston Sturges
Producer: Howard Hughes, Preston Sturges
Composer: Werner Richard Heymann, Harry Rosenthal
Reviews for The Sin of Harold Diddlebock
The film is studded with gems, many of them contributed verbally by the Sturges stock company.
Sturges's restored original version is a major rediscovery: a loving and gentle essay on Lloyd's screen character, laced with poignant observations about middle age.
... it's saved by a few inspired flashes of comedy sprinkled throughout.
Abetted by some excellent dialog from Sturges' pen, Lloyd handles his role in his usual funny fashion.
More DVDs
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 14% 14% | The Ugly Truth |
| 98% 98% | Up |
| 36% 36% | G.I. Joe: The Rise of … |
| 52% 52% | The Taking of Pelham 1… |
| 45% 45% | Ice Age: Dawn of the D… |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
| 44% 44% | Night at the Museum: B… |
| 86% 86% | A Christmas Tale |
| 60% 60% | Paper Heart |
What’s Hot On RT
Other News
Sponsored Links
Around The Network
- The Sin of Harold Diddlebock at Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh Links
Featured

Subscribe to RT's YouTube channel and don't miss a second of our cracking video content.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes and join us as we tweet about the week's releases.



Top Critic

