Safety Last! (1923)
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95% of critics liked it
(21 reviews) -
91% of users liked it
(2,854 ratings)
After Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, the silent film era's "third genius" was Harold Lloyd, who stars in this Horatio Alger-style story of an average country boy trying to make good in the big city. The Boy (Lloyd) leaves his sweetheart, The Girl (Mildred Davis, later the real-life… More After Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, the silent film era's "third genius" was Harold Lloyd, who stars in this Horatio Alger-style story of an average country boy trying to make good in the big city. The Boy (Lloyd) leaves his sweetheart, The Girl (Mildred Davis, later the real-life Mrs. Lloyd) in Great Bend while he pursues his fortune in a teeming metropolis. The Boy lands a job as a clerk at a fabric counter of DeVore's, a huge department store, but he lies in his letters home to his beloved, pretending to be the store's manager and spending his earnings on lavish gifts. The Boy's roommate, The Pal (Bill Strother) makes money as a "human fly," performing attention-getting stunts. Promised $1,000 by DeVore's real manager if he can devise a publicity gimmick, The Boy convinces his friend to climb the 12-story establishment and split the winnings with him. On the day of the event, however, The Pal is busy dodging The Law (Noah Young), forcing The Boy to make the arduous climb solo. Dodging a variety of obstacles, The Boy climbs higher and higher, eventually dangling from the store's clock tower, in the film's most memorable image. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi
- Directed By
- Fred C. Newmeyer, Sam Taylor
- Genres
- Action & Adventure, Classics, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Apr 1, 1923 Wide
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
This Harold Lloyd high-class low comedy has thrills as well as guffaws.
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Geoff Andrew, Time Out
The clock-hanging climax that caps this generally charming tale of a country boy out to make his fortune in the big city is a superb example of his ability to mix suspense and slapstick.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The Glasses character in Safety Last would have blended with the background of the department store where he worked if it had not been for action imposed upon him. But what action!
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
The other great silent comics defined their own worlds; Lloyd lives dangerously in ours.
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Jamie S. Rich, Oregonian
As a personality, Lloyd is a combination of silly and sweet, but his true star power comes from his daring athleticism.
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Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Harold Lloyd
as The Boy
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Mildred Davis
as The Girl
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Bill Strother
as The Pal
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Noah Young
as The Law
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W.B. Clarke
as The Floorwalker
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Mickey Daniels
as The Kid
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Mrs. Anna Townsend
as The Grandma
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Helen Gilmore
as Customer
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Gus Leonard
as Office worker
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Charles E. Stevenson
as Ambulance attendant
