The opening shot of this film is blatantly lifted (or an homage, if you want to be more generous about it) from Keaton's "Cops" from 1922. Lloyd is funny, but nowhere in the league of Keaton or Chaplin, I'm afraid. (Not, of course, that this is much of a criticism). Overall though I found that that shot was really the only interesting part of a film that was rather bland until the riveting finale...anyone agree?
shareI will agree to disagree. This film is a Classic and easily puts Lloyd in the company of Chaplin, et al. He may not be quite as good, in other films, but Safey Last! is not one of those films.
shareThis film is ingenius, endlessly inventive, and Lloyd's performance is priceless.
I loved it when I saw it around 10 years ago. I loved it today when I saw it in a large screening hall filled with people (most of them of young college age). The whole place roared with laughter. There was a long applause at the end.
This film is obviously timeless and I consider it to be a real winner.
Ma Ze Po?! Republikat Bananot?!!!!
First time I saw it was at the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater where it pakced the house at $7 a ticket. Not so outrageous a price these days but quite a lot in the 70's. Gene Kelly, Liz Taylor and Jimmy Stewart were also sell outs.
sharejust watched it and I agree it is a timeless classic
shareI can't remember which Keaton that opening shot is from, but Harold did add the hangman's noose in the background. I'd agree he stole it, but it was actually a little funnier in Safety last if I remember right. Also I wouldn't be suprised if that gag shows up even before the Keaton movie.
As for Safety Last, it was a great film, definitely not "rather bland". I would agree that it isn't the best (Lloyd or otherwise) silent comedy though. the Finale is the only superlative section of the film (I was cringing every time he almost fell off). The rest of the movie was just "really funny".
Well audiences back then proved that Harold was the better and SUPREME comic back then. His movies made way more than Chaplin's and he was a LOT more popular than Chaplin. The only reason Chaplin is known more is because Lloyd kept his films from being shown all the time in fear of they wouldn't be shown correctly, while Chaplin and Keaton had their films out for everyone to see all the time, thus many generations had no idea Lloyd existed, and I'm guessing why Chaplin is better known than Keaton is because Chaplin had a cuteness to him, while Keaton's stone face might have turned some people off(even without watching his movies), it did for me when I was younger. But I finally watched his movies and enjoy them more than Chaplin. Chaplin is the least funniest out of the 3. Also because he was so liberal might also be why Hollywood celebrates him more, since they just love liberals.
"He who gazes upon the sun, need not debate it's brilliance! ... Uh, Ling Po." -Harold Lloyd
This year's blockbusters will have grossed more money than the vast majority of films ever made, but does that put them amongst the greatest films ever? Don't think so...
shareHow did you find out about Hollywood and the liberals? Please, keep it on the down low. We wouldn't want EVERYONE to know this amazing secret. I jest, of course, you have good comments until you blew it with your stupid ignorant Chaplin/liberal prejudice. Take a hike.
shareHe made good points, you should take a hike instead.
share
Actually, he made no valid points, at all.
Just because a movie is higher-grossing, doesn't make it a better film.
Example: TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN
And bringing in the tired old trope about Hollywood and liberals adds nothing to the discussion.
So, grab a pair of boots and join him on the trail.
Lloyd may have stolen this idea from Buster, but Buster stole an entire film from Lloyd. See: Lloyd's The Freshman and Keaton's pale imitation College.
shareSee the documentaries 'The Third Genius' about HL and 'A Hard Act to Follow' about Keaton by Brownlow and Gill (on DVD).
You get the point that the comedy stars of the day clearly 'borrowed' gags/ situations from each other. They show clips of where HL copied Keaton and visa versa. You've only got to consider the 'thrill' elements of later films to see HL and 'Safety Last's' influence.
Harold Lloyd was a genius - whether you rank him 1st, 2nd or 3rd (with Keaton/ Chaplin) is up to personal preference.
Long live Silent Movies!!!
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Not only did they "borrow" from each other, but the also took form their common stage roots.
Don't lend your hand to raise no flag atop no ship of fools.
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I would also disagree, each contributed his own flavor of comedy. Chaplin was more of the poet, Keaton very analytical, I see Lloyd as being a combination of both, and yet he seems to be more modern in his comedy.