Feet First (1930)

Harold Horne is a dreamer, a stock boy at Tanner Shoes, who against all odds and expectations, ascends to the role of a salesman in their new Honolulu outlet. His rise, much to the chagrin of his manager, Mr. Endicott, is aided by a six-month course at the Personality Plus Corp, where he learns to charm and persuade with an arsenal of polished phrases, some of which he borrows from rival salesmen. Harold's world turns upside down when he meets Barbara, a young woman he mistakenly believes to be a wealthy heiress and the daughter of the Tanners, owners of his workplace, due to a chance encounter involving a limousine and an introduction to the actual Tanners. On the flip side, Barbara, who is in fact Mr. Tanner's secretary, is under the impression that Harold is a leather tycoon, a misguided narrative that Harold perpetuates in a desperate bid to match her presumed status. Fate throws Harold into a whirlwind of chaos and confusion when he inadvertently boards the same ship as the Tanners and Barbara, heading back to the mainland. Trapped as a stowaway in his only suit, Harold must juggle evading ship authorities, maintaining his wealthy facade, and avoiding recognition by the nearsighted Mrs. Tanner who he served at the shoe store. His struggle for survival extends far beyond keeping his cover, as he scrambles to find shelter and food aboard the ship. The climax of Harold's misadventures unfolds in an unforgettable sequence where he "emerges from a mailbag cocoon" in a daring attempt to deliver a letter, leaving him precariously dangling from a skyscraper's scaffolding. As Harold navigates this high-stakes comedy of errors, a chance at a 'happily ever after' with Barbara hangs in the balance, contingent on his ability to survive his self-spun web of deception and misfortune.

Feet First is a comedy movie featuring Harold Lloyd and directed by Clyde Bruckman.

Feet First is currently streaming on Criterion Channel.