Series: Harold Lloyd Director: Alfred J. Goulding Producer: Hal Roach Titles: H.M. Walker Photography: Walter Lundin Editor: Stars: Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels, Snub Pollard Company: Pathé Exchange Released: 19 May 1918 Length: 1 reel Production No.: L-29 Filming dates: February 18 - March 3, 1918 Rating: -/10

Two-Gun Gussie

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Open on Harold Lloyd elegantly playing the piano at an upper-crust gathering of sorts, where he is warmly received and observed (even after taking a spill). One man is holding a plaque of sorts which Harold receives. One year later, he is a "jazz lizard in the Howling Poodle Tango Bar," a Western saloon, tickling the ivories while a bunch of cowboys and their girls dance. When he stops for one moment, a cowboy (James Parrott) shoots him in the rear-end, forcing him to keep playing while leaping over his chair. Cut to Bebe Daniels, a Salvation Army girl asking for donations at the bar. Here enters baddie "Dagger-Tooth Dan" (William Blaisdell), whom Bebe asks for a donation. While she isn't looking, Dan pulls a gun on Harold and takes a sizable chunk of money from his pocket. When he leaves, Harold notices the money in Bebe's collection tamborine and takes it back, but not before getting into an argument with her, after which she slams down the tamborine and storms off. Meanwhile, "Whooping-Cough Charlie" (Stevenson), Sheriff of Bohunk (Pleurisy County), opens a pair of envelopes, one with a letter and a photo of Dan, the other with a letter and a photo of Harold. However, while distracted by saloon worker Snub Pollard, who polishes his badge (and combs his hair in its reflection), Dan takes his own photo and swaps it with a sleeping Harold's photo. After Snub leaves (taking Charlie's cigar as payment), Charlie reads a note from a Jonathan Jones asking him to "hand my son [Harold] this cheque and send the Boob home." With Dan's photo now attached, Charlie hands him the check. He then reads the other note, from the Sheriff of Hickville which warns the Sheriff to "look out for this guy. He's the toughest thing in the county." He and a group of roulette players gather around Harold, who is given a cigar (from the Sheriff), a light (from another patron) and a beer (from Lew Harvey). Harold acts tough, destroying (and wearing) his porkpie hat and strutting off to the exit... though he trips and the others laugh, but not when he whips around!

By the next morning, "they got Gussie believing it now. He's bought a book of rules on how to be tough - in six parts." He subdues a gang of rowdies with a gun that doesn't work, but he pulls out a smaller pistol and shoots at a tin can with a string connected to it (pulled by a black boy, whom Harold pays off with a coin). He waltzes into the bar and starts shooting off his gun, causing Snub to shake and his glass to explode (due to a bullet). Everyone scurries and hides except Dagger-Tooth Dan; Harold shoots multiple times, but Dan does not move. He finally notices Harold and invites him to the bar for a beer. Snub, hiding under the counter, gives them two, and Harold finishes his before swapping the two glasses (and taking the coin Dan put on the counter) as Dan puts his gun away. Dan notices his glass is empty and smacks Harold. Despite the Sheriff's intervention, Dan continues to bully Harold around; Harold even pulls out Dan's gun, but Dan simply breaks it and shoves him. While Dan lights up a cigarette, Harold cranks up a lantern on a post Dan leans against, which seems to burn the bottom of a man (William Gillespie) seated on the edge of the upper balcony. The indignant patron blames Dan and throws his beer and a couple of bottles at him, putting Dan in a daze. Once Dan snaps out of it, the chase begins. Harold hides behind a side of the bar while Dan climbs onto it. Snub comes from his hiding place and grabs a rifle; both he and Harold fire off shots at Dan's bum from both sides. Dan climbs off the bar, and Snub shoots a bottle which pours beer on Harold (who pulls out a mini-umbrella). When Harold returns the favor, Snub shoots at him, then disguises himself in a false beard and a different hat, both of which, along with his apron, are shot off by Harold. After his pants are shot off, Snub grabs a white flag and surrenders. Re-enter Bebe, who taps Harold's shoulder causing his gun to go off, to which a startled Bebe hides behind the side of the bar. Harold sneaks up with his gun, but as they move closer, their lips touch and they act bashful. Snub, Dan and a gang of others hide behind a table, guns pointed at Harold, but a barrel of beer sprays them all (it's unclear how) as Harold holds Bebe and blows out a ceiling lantern.

Favourite bit Harold tries to intimidate the bar patrons by demonstrating the accuracy of his shooting skills on a tin can. What they don't see is a kid off-camera pulling the tin can with a piece of string every time Harold fires his pistol!

Trivia • Copyrighted June 1, 1918. • There are several signs hanging in the saloon: - "Your face is good - but it won't fit in the cash register". - "Ask for credit and you will get it in the neck". - "Keep your mits in sight when dealing". - "When you win grab coin quick." - "Nothing sold stronger than liquid fire".

	Harold Lloyd Two-Gun Gussie
	Bebe Daniels The girl
	Snub Pollard Snub
	William Blaisdell Dagger-Tooth Dan
	Charles Stevenson Whooping-Cough Charlie, the sheriff
	William Gillespie Angry bar patron
	Gus Leonard Conservatory listener/ Bar patron
	Dorothea Wolbert An admirer
	Helen Gilmore Woman in saloon
	Lew Harvey Bar patron who gives Harold a beer
	James Parrott Bar patron who shoots Harold
	Sammy Brooks Barman
	Max Hamburger Bar patron
	Wallace Howe Bar patron
	Hazel Powell Applauding woman on couch
	Chris Lynton Bar patron
	M.J. McCarty Bar patron
	Fred C. Newmeyer Bar patron
	William Peterson Bar patron
	Hazel Baugh [?]
	Jane Blyer [?]
	T. Callahan [?]
	Mary Chamberlain [?]
	Herbert Crawford [?]
	Billy Fay [?]
	W.E. Graham [?]
	Grace Hamilton [?]
	Maynard Laswell [?]
	Grace Madden [?]
	E. Neville [?]
	J.B. Nicholson [?]
	Lulu Novello [?]
	Len Powers [?]
	Robert Yost [?]
	Bud Jamison [UNCONFIRMED]

UNIDENTIFIED CAST

INTERTITLES (click image to enlarge)

Acknowledgements: The Harold Lloyd Encyclopedia by Annette D'Agostino Lloyd (book) Jesse Brisson (review, and help) Jim Jarvis (information and help) This page was last updated on: 31 October 2021