Phyllis Brown
Safety Last! (1923) is a classic silent romantic comedy that features the remarkable Harold Lloyd. The image of Harold Lloyd hanging desperately from the hands of a skyscraper clock with traffic rushing below is one of the greatest icons in the cinematic industry.
This unforgettable scene not only defines Lloyd’s career but also represents a significant moment in cinematic history. Even after a century, it continues to spark conversation and admiration among audiences.
How the Iconic scene of Lloyd’s scaling of the building made
Harold Lloyd’s memorable scene of hanging from a giant clock on a building is one of the most iconic moments of his career. This classic sequence brilliantly blends inspired comedy with intense suspense as it culminates in a breathtaking climb that serves as the grand finale to the clever gags that come before it.
As he climbs higher, Harold Lloyd faces a series of increasingly challenging obstacles, including a flock of pigeons, getting tangled in a net, navigating a painter’s trestle, dodging a swinging window, and finally confronting the clock itself.
Prize-winning author James Agee described these moments beautifully, saying, “Each new floor is like a stanza in a poem.” The audience’s laughter and excitement grow with each new obstacle.
In fact, many moviegoers in the 1920s were so overwhelmed by the suspense that they would cover their eyes or even faint during these scenes. It became common for theaters to have a nurse on duty or keep an ambulance ready outside just in case.
Lloyd never revealed the exact methods behind his most famous scene, but various sources provide insight into how it was accomplished. Reports from journalist Adela Rogers St. John, along with Lloyd’s own autobiography and interviews, help illuminate the process.
At the time, few special effects were available, and techniques like mirrors, double exposure, glass shots, or hanging miniatures were not used in this sequence. Instead, the scene relied on practical effects and clever camera work to create the illusion of Lloyd’s daring climb.
It is said that to give the impression that Harold Lloyd was climbing continuously, filmmakers used a clever setup in downtown Los Angeles. Various buildings from 1st to 9th Street, each a different height, were used as backdrops.
Rooftop sets were built to mimic the International Bank Building’s exterior, which was located at Temple and Spring Streets. This setup allowed them to create a seamless climbing effect, despite small changes in the background streetscape that attentive viewers might catch.
Harold Lloyd was quite athletic, so he performed many of the climbing stunts in Safety Last! himself. However, there were restrictions: his insurance company prohibited him from doing the entire sequence since an injury could halt production and put the studio at risk. Additionally, Lloyd had to work around a significant injury—he’d lost his right thumb and forefinger in an accident back in 1919.
During filming, some of Harold Lloyd’s most iconic moments in Safety Last! were improvised, and though he took on many of the stunts himself, he occasionally relied on a stunt double for specific scenes.
For instance, a circus performer took over during scenes requiring a rope, while the wider shots featured Bill Strother, a steeplejack who also portrayed “Limpy” Bill in the film.
Strother’s skill as a climber inspired the famous clock scene when Lloyd spotted him scaling a building. This unforgettable sequence was shot on the rooftop of the Western Costume Company
Some Behind-the-Scenes Photos
