Overview
A small-town boy's big city dreams lead to hilarious misadventures and unexpected romance.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- breezy
- suspenseful
- classic movie night
- family viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a landmark silent comedy whose acrophobic visual set pieces, slapstick timing, and technical ingenuity remain extraordinarily effective.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The climactic department-store ascent turns building height, falling objects, clocks, and precarious ledges into sources of both laughter and acrophobic tension.
Harold claims to be a department-store manager while actually working as a salesman, creating the central deception around Mildred and her mother.
The country boy leaves Great Bend for the city, promises to succeed, and repeatedly improvises solutions to appear prosperous.
The prominent clock and the building's exposed exterior repeatedly organize the film's escalating danger and slapstick rhythm.
Films like Safety Last!, and why
The General
silent-era slapstick, escalating physical comedy, and romantic striving
Modern Times
classic silent comedy built around an underdog's energetic physical ingenuity
The Gold Rush
romantic silent comedy combining visual gags with social ambition and mistaken appearances
Movie Details
- Directors
- Sam Taylor, Fred C. Newmeyer
- Release Date
- 1923-03-12
- Runtime
- 73 min
- Rating
- 7.7 / 10 (607)
Cast
- Harold Lloyd
- Mildred Davis
- Bill Strother
- Noah Young
- Westcott Clarke
- Roy Brooks
- Mickey Daniels
- Richard Daniels
- Ray Erlenborn
- William Gillespie
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- HBO Max Amazon Channel, Philo, Fandor Amazon Channel, HBO Max
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Safety Last! about?
- A penniless young salesman invents a glamorous career and risks a dizzying department-store climb to win the girl and prove himself.
- What is Safety Last! like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Safety Last! as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Safety Last! violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Safety Last! as mild.
- What did critics think of Safety Last!?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a landmark silent comedy whose acrophobic visual set pieces, slapstick timing, and technical ingenuity remain extraordinarily effective.
- Which films are like Safety Last!?
- Films with a similar feel include The General, Modern Times, and The Gold Rush.
- How long is Safety Last!?
- Safety Last! runs 73 minutes.
- Where can I watch Safety Last!?
- In United States, Safety Last! streams on HBO Max Amazon Channel, Philo, Fandor Amazon Channel, HBO Max.
