TMBTMB
TMBTMB

Track, discover and find where to watch TV shows and movies.

Discover

  • Movies
  • TV Shows
  • Browse
  • Topics

Account

  • Watchlist
  • Watched
  • Ratings

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Content Policy

© 2026 Movie Browser. All rights reserved.

Data provided by TMDB

Home
Browse
Watchlist
backdrop
backdrop
logo
Two identical men, one straitjacket — guess which twin's actually nuts?
IMDb
51

The Lunatic at Large (1927)

silent-era chaostwin-swap tomfooleryasylum farce

Overview

Comedy

Offering a ride to a millionaire, Sam Smith (Leon Errol) agrees to trade places with his passenger for financial reasons. Only when the men in the white coats put the collar on him does Sam realize that the "millionaire" was actually an escaped mental patient.

Flag of USUS
Content warning
insane asylumfarce

Standout Aspects

Acting

Leon Errol's double duty — subtle physical cues distinguish the twins.

Direction

Newmeyer's timing from Harold Lloyd days keeps farce airborne.

Best for:Solo: Perfect for silent film newbies — pure visual storytelling at 60 minutes.·Background: Intertitles let you glance away without losing the thread.
Fred C. Newmeyer

Director

Fred C. Newmeyer

ReleasedJan 2, 1927
Runtime1h
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacefast
Intensitymedium
Tonelight
Feellight
First National Pictures

Top Cast

Leon Errol

Leon Errol

Sam Smith

Dorothy Mackaill

Dorothy Mackaill

Beatrix Staynes

Warren Cook

Warren Cook

Dr. Wilkins

Kenneth MacKenna

Kenneth MacKenna

William Carroll / Henry Carroll

Theresa Maxwell Conover

Theresa Maxwell Conover

Aunt Teddy

Ask about The Lunatic at Large

Opens AI chat

Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

This lost film survives only via incomplete fragments and stills — what we 'know' comes largely from trade reviews and a novelization.

Cultural

1927's asylum comedies reflected anxieties about involuntary commitment; audiences laughed at confinement that terrified them in real life.

Gallery

Reviews

No ratings yet

Start the discussionBe the first to post — spoiler-safe
Rate & reviewBe the first to weigh in

Recommended

Brain Donors movie poster (1992)
6.1

Brain Donors

Noises Off... movie poster (1992)
7.2

Noises Off...

Amazon Women on the Moon movie poster (1987)
5.9

Amazon Women on the Moon

Held Up movie poster (1999)
5.8

Held Up

The Slammin' Salmon movie poster (2009)
5.8

The Slammin' Salmon

Taking Care of Business movie poster (1990)
6.3

Taking Care of Business

Mr. Bones movie poster (2001)
6.0

Mr. Bones

Fun with Dick and Jane movie poster (1977)
6.6

Fun with Dick and Jane

The Three Stooges movie poster (2012)
5.8

The Three Stooges

Analyze That movie poster (2002)
5.8

Analyze That

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa movie poster (2013)
6.2

Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa

Cadet Kelly movie poster (2002)
6.2

Cadet Kelly

The Mouse That Roared movie poster (1959)
6.3

The Mouse That Roared

29th Street movie poster (1991)
7.0

29th Street

The Killer's Game movie poster (2024)
6.4

The Killer's Game

More Like This

Airplane! movie poster (1980)
7.3

Airplane!

Girls at Sea movie poster (1958)
7.3

Girls at Sea

Young Frankenstein movie poster (1974)
7.9

Young Frankenstein

The Decameron movie poster (1971)
6.8

The Decameron

Boomerang movie poster (2001)
6.4

Boomerang

Just the Worst Time movie poster (2024)

Just the Worst Time

Mystery Men movie poster (1999)
5.8

Mystery Men

What About Bob? movie poster (1991)
6.9

What About Bob?

Max & Marguerite movie poster (2021)
5.0

Max & Marguerite

Lunacy movie poster (2005)
6.7

Lunacy

The Monster movie poster (1925)
5.7

The Monster

Snatch movie poster (2000)
7.8

Snatch

The Butcher Boy movie poster (1998)
6.8

The Butcher Boy

The Ninth Configuration movie poster (1980)
6.4

The Ninth Configuration

Sex and the Single Girl movie poster (1964)
6.5

Sex and the Single Girl

Discussion

Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.

Discussion starters

View all comments →