The 26 year old Harold Lloyd is presented as a powerless, helpless character in this film. He appears as someone who is totally useless to society, bordering on being a menace. His pursuit of happiness via a regular job and procuring comfort from a romantic relationship is denied him. This affords us entry into his humanity, allowing the audience to connect with him and join him on his journey. He is a continuity of the Lonesome Luke character, as well as drawing on the authenticity of Chaplin's pathos. The world around him attempts to strip him away of all of life's luxuries so that he is reduced to poverty. This is his antagonist, and we get behind him as the protagonist to restore balance to his situation.
Review of Follow the Crowd
