Safety Last! (1923)

Directors:

Fred C. Newmeyer
Sam Taylor

Writers:

Hal Roach (story) &
Sam Taylor (story) ...

Release Date:

1 April 1923 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family | Romance | Thriller

Plot:

When a store clerk organizes a contest to climb the outside of a tall building, circumstances force him to make the perilous climb himself.

Plot Keywords:

Human Fly | Department Store | Stunt | Clock | Publicity Stunt

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Harold Lloyd	...	The Boy
Mildred Davis	...	The Girl
Bill Strother	...	The Pal
Noah Young	...	The Law
Westcott Clarke	...	The Floorwalker (as Westcott B. Clarke)

Runtime:

70 min (24 fps)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

Australia:G | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

Atlantic Hotel, Broadway, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Hal Roach Studios

Trivia:

Harold Lloyd got the idea for this film when he saw Bill Strother climbing the Brockman Building in Los Angeles as a stunt one day. Lloyd - who had a difficult time watching anyone else perform a dangerous stunt because he had no control over that situation - hid behind a corner, peeking to check on Strother's progress every few moments. After Strother reached the roof, Lloyd went up and introduced himself.

Goofs:

Continuity: The Boy knows the Cop is behind him from the position of long shadows, but the cop is too far behind the boy for the shadow to be seen. In other shots where shadows from people are seen, including Boy and Cop, the shadows are short.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Movies Are Adventure (1948)

Excellent Comedy in the Best Tradition of the Silent Classics

This is an excellent comedy in the best tradition of the silent classics. It is pleasant and lively, with a story revolving around silly predicaments combined with a good assortment of gags, and it all leads up to a terrific finale that combines humor with excitement and suspense.

Harold Lloyd has an ideal role as an earnest young man trying to make good in the big city so that he can impress his girlfriend. His antics in the department store are very amusing - in this part, it's hard not to be reminded of "Are You Being Served?" - there is even Stubbs the floorwalker fussing endlessly over trivial details. The situation is built up nicely until we get to the famous climbing scene that climaxes everything. This climax is one of the best sequences of its kind, set up very carefully and executed skillfully with lots of good detail.

Most fans of silent comedies should find "Safety Last" to be very enjoyable. And even those who do not normally watch silent comedy should be able to appreciate its masterful and thoroughly entertaining conclusion.