Harold Horne (Harold Lloyd) is a lowly shoe salesman working in tycoon John Quincy Tanner's store. He defends Barbara when her driver rear-ends a brute's truck. He pretends to be a rich leather tycoon himself while wooing Barbara who he assumes to be Tanner's daughter but she's actually his secretary. The bumbling attempt has him lying at work, stuck on a ship to Hawaii, and culminates with another skyscraper stunt.
I don't enjoy him lying to get the girl as much as the movie wants me. It starts off nice with him defending her against the giant truck driver. Sometimes, the lying is fun especially against the rich, snooty people. The lying may be worthwhile if she's actually the rich daughter and she can forgive him in the end. I simply don't like it for the girl. The skyscraper stuff is impressive although the rig to make it work is well understood. There are some actual skyscraper work and those are blood-curdling stunts. The Willie Best colored comedic character is bothersome as always with our modern sensibilities. This is a movie of its times. Overall, I like "Safety Last!" much better.
I don't enjoy him lying to get the girl as much as the movie wants me. It starts off nice with him defending her against the giant truck driver. Sometimes, the lying is fun especially against the rich, snooty people. The lying may be worthwhile if she's actually the rich daughter and she can forgive him in the end. I simply don't like it for the girl. The skyscraper stuff is impressive although the rig to make it work is well understood. There are some actual skyscraper work and those are blood-curdling stunts. The Willie Best colored comedic character is bothersome as always with our modern sensibilities. This is a movie of its times. Overall, I like "Safety Last!" much better.