Lloyd Hamilton's The Optimist (1923)

 

During the last two years, I have been able to gain access to a number of Lloyd Hamilton films that were unavailable to me while I was writing my biography of Hamilton. A chapter of my upcoming book, Sixteen Comedians of Silent Film, will thoroughly examine these films. Here, as a sneak preview, are screen captures from The Optimist (1923).

Hamilton makes the mistake of feeding a starving bird, which draws other birds to his home and brings about a vicious attack.  The comic scene ideally anticipates the more scary bird attacks of Hitchcock's The Birds (1963). 

Hamilton tells the story of his Pilgrim ancestors, which leads to a clever dissolve to Hamilton in 17th Century America.

 

Hamilton keeps score as he shoots down Indians.

 

 

Hamilton protects the modesty of a toddler.

The Optimist is a funny film that shows Hamilton at his best.  My thanks to the Filmmuseum in Amsterdam for providing me with a copy of this rare film.