Review of Safety Last! (1923) by L J — 20 Jul 2007

Of the "Big Three" of silent comedy, Harold Lloyd was perhaps the best (ie, most naturalistic) actor, with the most likable onscreen persona (Keaton's was also likable, but with 'the Great Stone Face', it's not always apparent what his character is thinking (Lloyd is a far more expressive actor); Chaplin's Tramp is a thief and, although fairly likable (though not to some), he does occasionally come off as trying too hard to BE likable).

This film's big set-piece is, of course, Lloyd's scaling of the Bolton Building (the still of him dangling from the clock is one of the iconic images of cinema), but what comes before that is a stream of brilliantly inspired gags and visual invention (eg. the opening shot of Lloyd saying his goodbyes from behind bars with what appears to be a hangman's noose in the background, only to reveal him (in fact) saying his goodbyes through a gate at a train station).

This is probably Lloyd's best-known film and still stands up today as entertainment. Check it out.