Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Safety Last (1923)
Director: Fred C. Newmeyer, Sam Taylor
Safety Last has remained a part of pop culture and movie history on the strength of its final scene – Harold Lloyd perilously climbing the side of a multi-story building to escape from the cops. (And most iconicly hangs from the face of a clock.) By the time I left the theater I had forgotten most of what had come before the climbing scene, I had just about forgotten why Lloyd was climbing the building in the first place. But no matter, watching this amazing final scene is reason enough for Safety Last to exist. It is still breathtaking. I can only imagine what seeing Lloyd climb and stumble and climb some more felt like in 1923.
The film is simultaneously a throw away and a must see for film lovers.
Safety Last has remained a part of pop culture and movie history on the strength of its final scene – Harold Lloyd perilously climbing the side of a multi-story building to escape from the cops. (And most iconicly hangs from the face of a clock.) By the time I left the theater I had forgotten most of what had come before the climbing scene, I had just about forgotten why Lloyd was climbing the building in the first place. But no matter, watching this amazing final scene is reason enough for Safety Last to exist. It is still breathtaking. I can only imagine what seeing Lloyd climb and stumble and climb some more felt like in 1923.
The film is simultaneously a throw away and a must see for film lovers.
