This is a Snub Pollard comedy short. Snub was an Australian silent comedian who mostly supported other comics and was partnered with Harold Lloyd for his earlier films with Hal Roach Studios. However, by the time Lloyd went on to bigger and better films, Pollard began starring in a string of fair comedies. While never a big name, his films are generally funny and a few are classics (such as "It's a Gift"). In "The Big Idea", like "It's a Gift", Snub plays an inventor. Can this film come close to the quality and laughs? Well, like the other film, this one is filled with crazy sight gags and it has a certain weirdness I really liked.
Snub the inventor has come up with something, but he's not about to have the idea stolen--and has booby-trapped his lab to prevent folks (like the city engineer) from prying. On the day he shows off his latest invention to the crowd, you really have no idea what it is--but it looks a lot like a HUGE Zamboni machine. Sadly, however, the film appears to be missing much of the original footage and it soon ends...leaving the viewer wondering what the heck they were missing. Because it is funny but clearly incomplete, I'll give it a 6. I'd sure like to see the rest.