Girl Shy (1924)

In the quaint town of Little Bend, California, Harold Meadows (Lloyd) is a timid tailor's apprentice, laboring in his Uncle Jerry's shop. Paralyzed by shyness, Harold fumbles and stutters helplessly in the presence of women, yet ironically pens an unpublished manuscript, audaciously titled "The Secret of Making Love." This guide, filled with elaborate fantasies portrayed as chapters, is Harold's misguided attempt to navigate the labyrinth of love and attraction, each situation presented as his own imagined escapade. Fate weaves an unexpected thread when Harold encounters wealthy Mary Buckingham (Ralston) en route to publisher Roger Thornsby's office. In the throes of this serendipitous meeting, Harold finds his voice, and a spark ignites between them, although their mutual affection remains unspoken. As Harold dreams of Mary, she recurrently cruises through Little Bend, hoping to cross paths with him, even while evading the persistent marriage proposals of Ronald DeVore. When Harold's manuscript is rejected, his self-esteem unravels, making him believe he's out of Mary's league. Misinterpreting Harold’s feigned disinterest as rejection, a heartbroken Mary agrees to marry Ronald. However, as new revelations surface on the wedding day, Harold musters his courage for an adrenaline-fueled, daredevil mission to halt the wedding. "Girl Shy" (1924) is a rollercoaster of love, desperation, and daring pursuits, as Harold fights against time, his insecurities, and societal norms, all in a bid to win Mary's heart and prevent her from marrying the wrong man.

Girl Shy is an action movie featuring Harold Lloyd and directed by Fred C. Newmeyer.

Girl Shy is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Public Domain Movies and Tubi TV and it's also available on Criterion Channel.