The defence The Sentimental Softie
“Form is the argument.”
Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.
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Safety Last!
Comedy · Romance · Thriller · 1923
When a store clerk organizes a contest to climb the outside of a tall building, circumstances force him to make the perilous climb himself.
Movie details
Safety Last!
“You're Going to Explode With "Safety Laughs" when You see This Fun Bomb.”
1923 Comedy · Romance · Thriller 1h 13m
Critical arithmetic
One number, for now.
Scores change. Arguments endure.
TMDB
7.7 / 10
Community rating
When a store clerk organizes a contest to climb the outside of a tall building, circumstances force him to make the perilous climb himself.
CriticWise case file
What this film says about your taste.
Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.
The archetype split
Who fights over Safety Last!?
For the defence
The Sentimental Softie
“You came to feel something, and you will.”
Read their case For the prosecution
The Cool Ironist
“Feeling things is a little embarrassing.”
Read their objectionThe split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.
Taste neighbourhood
Nearby on the taste map.
TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.
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The Lady Vanishes
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Holiday in Handcuffs
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Where it lives
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Names above the title
The people responsible.
Cast & crew
Directed by
Sam Taylor · Fred C. Newmeyer
Written by
Hal Roach · Sam Taylor · Tim Whelan
Harold Lloyd
The Boy
Mildred Davis
The Girl
Bill Strother
The Pal
Noah Young
The Law
Westcott Clarke
The Floorwalker
R
Roy Brooks
Man Laughing from Window (uncredited)
Mickey Daniels
Newsboy with Freckles (uncredited)
Court is in session
Put Safety Last! on trial.
Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.
The prosecution The Cool Ironist
“Technique in search of a pulse.”
Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.