Safety Last!

Safety Last! (1923)
Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor

Safety Last! is a 1923 American silent romantic-comedy film starring Harold Lloyd. It includes one of the most famous images from the silent-film era: Lloyd clutching the hands of a large clock as he dangles from the outside of a skyscraper above moving traffic. The film was highly successful and critically hailed, and it cemented Lloyd's status as a major figure in early motion pictures. It is still popular at revivals, and it is viewed today as one of the great film comedies.
Some notes on the transcription:

This film is set in a big city and therefore features a very large amount of background sign text which is irrelevant to the plot. Per recommendations at Help:Film, most of such scenery text that isn't directly relevant to the plot has been left out of this transcription, because including that text in full would greatly obscure more important dialogue and storyline elements.
There are many lengths of dashes used throughout the film, with not much consistency on any of them. Some also appear as if they are underscores (_). There are more than three different dash lengths used and it is not very clear which dash was intended to be used in each case. So in this transcription, no distinction has been made between regular dash (-), en dash (–), and em dash (—) as that is largely up to interpretation. All dashes were converted to em dashes (—), for the sake of textual consistency.

Key (info)
	Dialogue
	In scene
	Storyline

Cast and Crew
Cast
Role	Actor
	Harold Lloyd
	Mildred Davis
	Noah Young
	Westcott Clarke
	Earl Mohan
	Sam Lufkin
	Fred C. Newmeyer
	Mickey Daniels
Crew
Production company	Hal Roach Studios
Distributor	Pathé Exchange
Director	Fred C. Newmeyer (d. 1967), Sam Taylor (d. 1958)
Producer	Hal Roach (d. 1992)
Screenwriter	Hal Roach, Sam Taylor, Harold Lloyd (d. 1971), Tim Whelan (d. 1957)
Cinematographer	Walter Lundin (d. 1954)
Based on available information, the latest crew member that is relevant to international copyright laws died in 1992, meaning that this film may be in the public domain in countries and jurisdictions with 31 years p.m.a. or less, as well as in the United States.

The following is a transcription of a film. The contents below represent text or spoken dialogue that are transcribed directly from the video of the film provided above. On certain screen sizes, each line is represented by a timestamp next to it which shows when the text appears on the video. For more information, see Help:Film.

3985423Safety Last!1923Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor

HAL ROACH

PRESENTS

HAROLD LLOYD
IN
"SAFETY LAST!"

PASSED BY THE NATIONAL BOARD OF REVIEW

Pathécomedy

COPYRIGHT
MCMXXIII
by
Pathé Exchange, Inc.

Pathé Distributors

Directed
by
Fred Newmeyer and Sam Taylor

Assistant Director
ROBERT A. GOLDEN

Story by
Hal Roach
Sam Taylor and Tim Whelan

Photographed by		Walter Lundin (A.S.C.)
Edited by		T.J. Crizer
Titles by		H.M. Walker

Technical Staff

Fred L. Guiol
C. E. Christensen
and
J. L. Murphy

For Your Approval—

THE BOY		HAROLD LLOYD
THE GIRL		MILDRED DAVIS
THE PAL		BILL STROTHER
THE LAW		NOAH YOUNG
THE FLOORWALKER		WESTCOTT B. CLARKE

The Boy —
He has seen the sun rise for the last time in Great Bend —
Before taking the long, long journey.

LEASBURG
250
MILES

Great Bend

GAINSVILLE
165
MILES

TO TRAINS

WESTERN
UNION

"Mother, Mildred has promised to come to the city, and marry me — Just as soon as I've made good."

"Oh Harold, It would just break my heart if you failed———

———I Know I'll get nothing but good news from you."

After a few months—

"Limpy Bill," the Boy's pal—
One pocketbook between them—usually empty—

"What good is a lavalier without a chain — She can't sew it on."

"I know it, Bill—I'll get the chain, all right—the very first money I can scrape up."

Uncle Ike's Pawn Shop
1110 HESTER STREET.
Phone, Bryant 4521

No. 37462

May 5, 1922

Twelve Dollars, $12.⁰⁰

One Phonograph

Loans become due one month after date. All loans by the month. The pledgee not to be responsible for any loss by robbery, fire, water, the act of God or the public enemy.⁠UNCLE IKE'S PAWN SHOP.

NOTICE—Instructions—This receipt WILL NOT BE HONORED BY US unless signed by person who left above described goods. PERSONS desiring goods shipped to them, can send this receipt to us properly signed, together with amount due, and we will promptly forward same. OR THIS RECEIPT, properly signed, can be placed with Wells Fargo & Co. Express and they will collect and forward goods to you. Twenty-five cents charges for packaging.

NO GOODS SENT C. O. D.⁠If you w[...] extended, send interest due, and give number [...]

"Oh, pal—She's just got to believe that I'm successful—until I am."

"If we'd had more records I could 'a' got the chain, too."

Rent for two weeks ^$14 ⁰⁰
Final Notice

There were certain days of the week when she could be sure of a letter from him. They were Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday—

Dearest Mildred,
⁠This little La Vallier caught my eye, and I thought you might like it. The pattern of the chain did not quite suit me, so I left it with the Tiffany expert to be altered.

My position with the De Vore Department Store grows in responsibility every day. My progress has been simply marvelous.
⁠Be patient a little while longer. I hope to send for you just as soon as I can clear up four or five big business deals.

The Boy was always early—He couldn't have cared more for his job if it had been a position—

Employee's Entrance
DE VORE DEPT. STORE

"Keep on bein' earlier every mornin', son, an' you'll be President—or a night watchman."

N^o15

CITY TOWEL
"KEEP CLEAN"

709213

CITY

Towel Supply

CORP'N.

RESTAURANT DEPT.

"KEEP CLEAN"

The longest year The Boy ever spent—in thirty minutes.

"Hey, you! It's all your fault. If you don't get me back in ten minutes I'll lose my job."

"I dunno, my watch has stopped."

"Stop the car at the next corner, please."

The WHITE COMPANY

"You'll be lucky if you don't get fired for this!"

ALL EMPLOYEES
MUST REPORT
AT 8.A.M. SHARP

STORE CLOSES
AT
ONE O'CLOCK SATURDAY

Mr Stubbs—
Head Floorwalker. Muscle-bound—From patting himself on the back—

MENS FURNISHINGS

De Vore Dept. Store

Saturday brings two great events—A half holiday, and the pay envelope.

Name HAROLD LLOYD
6 Days@ $ 15.00
Deductions $
Net $
No. 205

STORE CLOSES
AT
ONE O'CLOCK SATURDAY

"I think I like the first pattern you showed me best."

"No—no —Just a sample, please."

^El Roi-Tan
"Perfect
Cigar"

"If it ain't Jim Taylor of Great Bend! You o-l-d rascal! How you have got on in the world ———"

"Bill, you'd be surprised at the pull I've got with the cops. I can do anything—and get away with it."

"I'll prove it to you. I'll kneel down behind, and you shove him over backwards. Then watch me square it."

"YOU'LL DO TIME FOR THIS! THE FIRST TIME I LAY EYES ON YOU AGAIN, I'LL PINCH YOU!"

"Shucks, you ain't seen nothin'—I could climb one sixteen-stories high—blindfolded."

805

GOOD EATS
N^o 1

FOR LADIES
•AND•
GENTLEMEN

CHICKEN DINNERS

STEAKS

805

GOOD EATS
N^o 1

CHICKEN FRIED
•STEAK•
COUNTRY GRAVY

OWN BAKERY

WAFFLES

SAMPLE
BUSINESS MEN'S
LUNCH
50 Cents

PLATINUM
LaValliere Chains
1/2 off
Today Only—

Lavallier
⁠Chains
^{^$15⁵⁰}

Direct from "Tiffanys" — via Silverstein & Son.

"Don't you think it's dangerous for a young man to be alone in the city, with so much money?———

———If I were you, I wouldn't wait. I'd go to him right away."

"I'll do it. I'll surprise him!"

Mother instinct was right. The Boy is in great danger.

ON
SALE

"———8-9-10-OUT!"

"Is this a yard and a half?"

"Who dropped that Fifty Dollar Bill?"

"Go and adjust your apparel, young man. I shall report you to the General Manager."

"Very well, Mr Stubbs. I'll send for the young man."

GENERAL MANAGER.
PRIVATE

The most wonderful city The Girl has ever seen—except Great Bend.

ANNIVERSARY
Sale

"Wrap this, please. The lady is in a hurry."

"We're SO proud of you, Harold, and your w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l position."

Stubbs

Stubbs

OK

"Must I personally supervise every sale that is made in this department?"

"Now observe me closely. I will illustrate the correct form of salesmanship."

DeVore Department Store
COMPLAINT CARD

Dated 6-30-22

Employee LLOYD
No. 170
Subject REPORT TO GENERAL MANAGER'S OFFICE AT ONCE.

"Oh yes. Our European buyer wants my advice. This is most important."

"The idea of working in your shirt sleeves! Think of the shock to your customers—women of culture and refinement."

"Another complaint of this nature, and we will have to get along without your services. That will be all."

"I'm just dying to see your office. Please let me look."

"But Harold, I DID want to see your office."

"Well then—just a peek. But you must promise not to stay."

"BOY! Empty this basket. Don't let me have to remind you again."

"Oh Harold, let me ring one—And see who it will bring in."

"STUBBS—

———I don't wish to be annoyed by any more of your petty complaints about personal appearance———

———You know, you're no collar ad. yourself."

"That will be all."

"Fire drill, I try them out every day."

"Open your mouth and shut your eyes———"

"She's fainted! Get some water, quick!"

"And just think—You've made money enough already for our little home."

"I must have left my purse in your office. Won't you please get it for me."

"I'd give a thousand dollars—to anyone—for a new idea—One that would attract an enormous crowd to our store."

"Something is wrong with our exploitation! We simply are not getting the publicity that our position in the commercial world calls for."

"Will you give me a thousand dollars, sir—if—if—I can draw hundreds of people to our store?"

"Let's give the boy a chance. Think of the publicity in the newspapers. The De Vore Department Store will be all over the front pages."

Kelly Pool		50^c
Billiards		50^c
All other Games		50^c

"Will you climb the Bolton Building—twelve floors—for five hundred dollars?"

"Say, for five hundred dollars I'd climb to Heaven, an' hang by my heels from the pearly gates."

"Mrs Van Buren, have this young man send your car home. I'll be so glad to have you ride over to the club with me."

"Darling, dreams do come true. We'll be married tomorrow."

"I'll send you to the hotel in the car. Meet me here tomorrow at 3."

"Take this young lady to her hotel — And Mrs Van Buren says you're through for the day."

"Good bye, darling. Tomorrow will be our lucky day."

The "Lucky Day"
The press agent had been told to flood the town—
⁠He submerged it.

Acme Drug C^o

JOHNSON'S
NERVE TONIC
A Good Body-Builder

ACME DRUG CO.

MYSTERY MAN IN DEATH DEFYING THRILL
To Climb Wall of Towering Skyscraper

The DeVore Department Store to be Scene of Sensational Stunt

At 2 p. m. today an unknown individual, calling himself the "Mystery Man," will climb to the dizzy heights of the Bolton Building.

The start will be made from the DeVore Department Store in the heart of the downtown district.

A special squad of mounted police has been assigned to handle the great throng that will pack the streets in this vicinity while he is making his perilous ascent.

The "Mystery Man" claims that [...]

"Look! Thish guy ain't got any face. They mustta run outta ink."

3825

Bolton Building
As the "big hour" approaches

WATCH The MYSTERY MAN
CLIMB This BUILDING
AT 2.P.M. TO-DAY

"Where does this bird start from?"

"You lay low. Maybe I can ditch him."

Tool House

"Meet my lady frien'—
From the Follies."

KICK
ME

"There's only one way out. You climb to the second floor, an' duck through the window. Then I'll put on your coat an' hat, an' go the rest of the way. They'll never know the difference."

"Go on, you can do it. Only o-n-e floor."

"I'M the Mystery Man. I wanted to surprise you."

De Vore
Department
STORE

206

ALLEN KIRBY
REAL ESTATE

"You'll have to go one more floor—till I ditch the cop."

304

HORTON & WELLS
ATTORNEYS AT LAW

SPORTING
GOODS

HORTON
AND
WELLS

"Why dontcha take that net off? It's in your way."

"You've gotta keep on goin'—till I ditch the cop."

"Young man, don't you know you might fall and get hurt?"

"Come on. Just this one floor, an' you'll be through."

"You BE THERE, or I will be THROUGH."

804

ACME
BOARDING C^o

"Great! You got the right idea, kid. That's the best one you've pulled yet."

"Make this next floor faster. I'm having a little difficulty in ditching the cop."

"Get out of here!
Don't you know the dog might fall?"

904

JULIAN DERIOT
THEATRICAL
PHOTOGRAPHER

"I'll be right back—
Soon as I ditch the cop."

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published in 1923, before the cutoff of January 1, 1929.

The longest-living author of this work died in 1967, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 56 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.

Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse