Because Lloyd's films are less available than those of Chaplin and Keaton, his career has received less attention from historians. Certainly, Chaplin was in a league of his own as a silent film actor and director. Nothing that either Keaton or Lloyd created could match the social commentary and quality of The Gold Rush or Modern Times.

In their silent films, Keaton and Lloyd played similar characters; ordinary people who were forced to extraordinary lengths to win the fickle girl. Although Lloyd promoted himself as a daredevil, Keaton's stunts were undeniably more dangerous. But a film needs to be more than a string of stunts, and Lloyd was probably the equal of Keaton when it came to character and story development.

What is impressive about Safety Last is how well the film is constructed. The film ends, of course, with Lloyd's climb up the department store building. His character is an amateur at climbing, and encounters varied obstacles that increase the suspense on his way to the top.

But a story had to be concocted that would result in the greatest sight gag of his career, the famous shot of Lloyd hanging from the hands of an enormous clock. The climb becomes a heroic publicity stunt for the Department store. He has to be given motivation for his climb (his fiancee). His decision to climb himself has to be made plausible (his pal will soon switch places with him). A device must be created that will prevent the switch (interference from a policeman).

Most of the film is devoted to setting up the climactic climb. However, there is a lengthy sequence of gags related to Lloyd's impersonation of a store manager. As his lovely fiancee (Mildred Davis) is so shallow that she judges him solely by his financial success, he must pretend that he is far above his actual station. Again and again, his ruse is imperiled, but he always cleverly finds a way to save face.

These gags are more humorous than those related to Lloyd's climb, although of course they lack the tension of the latter. My favorite bit has Lloyd bribing an errand boy to play along with his impersonation, only to distract the boy and reclaim the dollar bill. The scene is funny because it adds a truly mischievous aspect to Lloyd's character that we hadn't seen before.

Lloyd's encounter with the department store clock has defined his legacy. Other than Chaplin's 'potato dance' in The Gold Rush, it may be the most famous moment from any silent film. Lloyd's climb of the twelve-story DeVore building is all the more impressive since he had lost a thumb and two forefingers in an accident two years before. Lloyd had clowned around with a bomb that he incorrectly believed was a prop. For the remainder of his career, he wore a glove onscreen when necessary to hide his impairment.

Safety Last was first released on April Fools Day in 1923. Lloyd was newlywed at the time, as he had married his leading lady from the film, Mildred Davis, less than two months before. The only marriage for either partner, it lasted until her death in 1969. They appeared in fourteen films together, most of them two-reelers, with Safety Last as their final joint appearance.

Lloyd's growing success as a comedian also helped the production company of his employer, Hal Roach. Lloyd was the first star for Roach, who later produced the "Our Gang" and "Laurel and Hardy" shorts. (76/100)

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Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8