Detailed Summary
Introduction: The Ambitious Young Man
Harold Lloyd plays an unnamed, ambitious young man from a small town who moves to the big city to make something of himself. He leaves behind his sweetheart, played by Mildred Davis, promising her that he’ll become a success. However, once in the city, Harold struggles to find his footing and ends up working as a lowly sales clerk at a department store.
The Big City Struggles
Harold writes home, exaggerating his success to impress his sweetheart. In reality, he’s barely getting by, living with a roommate in a cramped apartment and dealing with difficult customers at the department store. His letters home, filled with grand promises, create a humorous contrast with the reality of his everyday struggles.
The Stunt Climbing Plan
In an effort to win a $1,000 prize from the department store and finally prove himself, Harold comes up with a dangerous publicity stunt. He convinces his friend, a “human fly” who has experience scaling buildings, to climb the store’s building, attracting a crowd and generating buzz for the store.
However, when the day of the stunt arrives, Harold’s friend gets into trouble with the police and is unable to make the climb. Left with no other option, Harold himself takes on the challenge of scaling the building.
The Clock Tower Scene
This is where the film reaches its famous climax. As Harold climbs higher and higher, the comedic tension builds as he faces one obstacle after another—a loose window ledge, a net of pigeons, and, of course, the dangling clock hands that have since become an iconic image in cinema history.
The scene is a masterclass in physical comedy, with Harold’s genuine expressions of fear and frustration adding to the humor. Despite the peril, Harold’s determination drives him to keep going, inch by inch, until he finally reaches the top.
Movie Ending
Harold’s heroic climb attracts a huge crowd, and his stunt is a massive success. He wins the $1,000 prize, and his sweetheart arrives just in time to witness his triumphant moment. The film ends on a high note, with Harold and his love finally reunited and his goal of making something of himself in the big city achieved.
Are There Post-Credits Scenes?
Being a silent film from 1923, Safety Last! does not have any post-credits scenes, as that concept wasn’t part of filmmaking at the time.
Type of Movie
Safety Last! is a silent romantic comedy that relies heavily on physical humor and slapstick. It’s one of the greatest examples of the slapstick genre during the silent film era, filled with breathtaking stunts and laugh-out-loud moments.
Cast
- Harold Lloyd as The Boy (the protagonist)
- Mildred Davis as The Girl (Harold’s sweetheart)
- Bill Strother as The Pal (Harold’s friend, the “human fly”)
- Noah Young as The Law (the policeman)
Film Music and Composer
Since it is a silent film, Safety Last! was typically accompanied by live music during screenings. However, the movie has since been released with various modern scores. Many recent versions feature scores by renowned composers like Carl Davis and Robert Israel, who have crafted soundtracks that enhance the comedic timing and dramatic tension of the film.
Filming Locations
- Los Angeles, California was the primary filming location.
- The famous clock tower scene was filmed at the International Bank Building at the corner of Spring and 7th Street in downtown Los Angeles. The real location adds to the peril of the stunt, which was performed with only minimal safety measures.
Awards and Nominations
While Safety Last! was released long before the major film award institutions were established, the movie has since been widely recognized as one of the best comedies in film history. It is preserved in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Behind the Scenes Insights
- Harold Lloyd performed many of the stunts himself, including the famous climb, despite having lost the thumb and index finger of his right hand in an earlier on-set accident.
- Although safety nets were used in certain parts of the building, Lloyd was genuinely hanging several stories above the ground in many shots.
- Mildred Davis, who played Harold’s sweetheart in the film, was Lloyd’s real-life wife.
- The clock scene was inspired by Bill Strother, a real-life “human fly” who was known for performing building climbs for publicity.
Inspirations and References
The film drew inspiration from real-life “human flies,” individuals who would climb buildings as part of promotional stunts. Harold Lloyd was also inspired by the work of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, his contemporaries in the silent film comedy scene.
Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes
There is no known alternate ending to Safety Last! and no major deleted scenes have surfaced. The film’s narrative was tightly constructed around the climactic building climb, and the pacing of the film flows smoothly from beginning to end.
Book Adaptations and Differences
Safety Last! is not based on a book. However, it was inspired by the popularity of urban daredevils and “human flies” who would climb skyscrapers for crowds in the 1920s.
Memorable Scenes and Quotes
Key Scenes
- The Clock Scene: The most iconic scene in the movie, with Harold dangling from the clock hands several stories above the ground.
- The Escalator Gag: Early in the movie, Harold gets into a humorous tangle with a crowd of women on an escalator.
- The Tightrope Walk: Harold has to carefully balance himself along a narrow ledge during the building climb, adding to the suspense.
Iconic Quotes
Since it’s a silent film, Safety Last! relies on title cards rather than spoken dialogue. However, the visual humor and Harold’s expressions more than compensate for the lack of spoken lines.
Easter Eggs and Hidden Details
- The clock scene has been referenced in numerous films, including Back to the Future (1985) during the famous clock tower scene.
- Harold Lloyd’s character in Safety Last! wears round glasses, a signature part of his screen persona that distinguished him from other silent comedians like Chaplin and Keaton.
Trivia
- Harold Lloyd was one of the highest-paid stars of the silent era, and Safety Last! was one of his biggest box-office successes.
- Lloyd lost two fingers in a 1919 accident involving a prop bomb but continued to perform dangerous stunts.
- The clock tower stunt has become a symbol of the ingenuity and physical prowess of silent film comedy, and it’s often replicated in film parodies.
Why Watch?
Safety Last! is a timeless comedy that holds up surprisingly well even by today’s standards. Its blend of suspense, humor, and impressive stunts makes it a must-watch for fans of classic cinema and slapstick comedy. Plus, seeing Harold Lloyd dangle from that clock tower will always be breathtaking, no matter how many times you’ve seen it.
Director’s Other Movies
- The Freshman (1925)
- Girl Shy (1924)
- The Kid Brother (1927)
- Speedy (1928)
Recommended Films for Fans
- The General (1926) – Starring Buster Keaton
- City Lights (1931) – Directed by and starring Charlie Chaplin
- The Freshman (1925) – Another Harold Lloyd classic
- Modern Times (1936) – Another silent comedy masterpiece
