Cinematography:
Walter LundinComposer:
Carl DavisCast:
Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, Bill Strother, Noah Young, Fred C. Newmeyer, Mickey Daniels, Marie Mosquini, Gus Leonard, Charles Stevenson, Earl Monah (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
The comic genius of silent star Harold Lloyd is eternal. Chaplin was the sweet innocent, Keaton the stoic outsider, but Lloyd - the modern guy striving for success - is us. And with its torrent of perfectly executed gags and astonishing stunts, Safety Last! is the perfect introduction to him. Lloyd plays a small-town bumpkin trying to make it in the big city, who finds employment as a lowly department-store clerk. He comes up with a wild publicity stunt to draw attention to the store, resulting in an incredible feat of derring-do on his part that gets him started on the climb to success. Laugh-out-loud funny and jaw-dropping in equal measure, Safety Last! is a movie experience par excellence, anchored by a genuine legend. (Criterion)
(more)Reviews (2)
The jokes aren't as elaborate as in Chaplin's films and Lloyd isn't as masterful a mimic comedian as Charlie, but it's still a blast. The humour is ubiquitous, varied and, above all, effective, and the story is sufficiently straightforward and original for a silent slapstick. Paradoxically, I liked the first half in the shop a bit more, the skyscraper climb gets a bit boring after a while, despite the persistent creativity and charge... 85%
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"So what do you think, young man? I would only take a sample of the first fabric." - "Wie bitte???" Poor Harold had a heart attack and moved on. We all know the rest. It was hung up and a chapter of film history was firmly etched into the foundations of this immortal art. The immortal young American with the glasses and the straw hat has the good fortune to be the essence of youth, and that is immutable, which is why Harold Lloyd films remain as attractive today as they were back then. Giving girls gifts and having a place in life is a constant of the world and must be fought for. I'm breathless with excitement at the final climb and my nails are bitten to the bone - that's how compelling it is. "I'll be right back - Soon as I ditch the cop."
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Gallery (33)
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