Safety Last
Released - April, 1923 
Directed By - Fred C. Newmeyer, Sam Taylor
Starring – Harold Lloyd (The Boy), Mildred Davis (The Girl), Bill Strother (The Pal), Noah Young (The Law), Wescott Clarke (The Floorwalker).
Description – After saying goodby to his Mother and girlfriend at the trainstation (although it looks like he is going to the gallows), The Boy is off to the big city to find success.
He takes a sales clerk job at the Da Vore Department store earning a very modest wage. However, in an effort to not cause concern with his mother and girlfriend, he says he is doing much better than he actually is.
This false impression causes his girlfriend to believe that he can now support a family and she takes a train to join him. Not wanting to admit to his limited success, The Boy now pretends to be the store’s General Manager.
After hearing the real General Manager offer $1000 to anyone who can come up with a good idea that will bring more customers into the store, The Boy has a brainstorm. He partners with his construction worker friend ‘Limpy’ Bill offering him $500 if he will climb the 12 story building where the store is located.
This stunt generates a great deal of publicity, but there is one problem. It turns out that Bill is wanted by the police and The Boy is forced to climb the building himself.
NOTABLE: In 1994 this film was added to the National Film Registry in the Library of Congress.
The image of Harold Lloyd holding onto the bending clock hands on the side of the building is one of the most famous screen images of all time.
Harold Lloyd performed his own climbing stunts in spite of losing a thumb and forefinger four years earlier working on another film.. A prosthetic glove was used to disguise the deformity.
Personal Note: This is a classic silent comedy that when presented at the 1962 Cannes Film Festival as part of a compilation film produced by Lloyd generated renewed interest in the legendary silent comedian. The film is both very funny and very exciting.
The Harold Lloyd Comedy Collection Vol. 1
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Tags: 1920's comedy, fred c newmeyer, hal roach studios, harold lloyd, mildred davis, national film registry, sam taylor
