The Movie Stunt That Changed Hollywood Forever

This week on 100 Things We Learned From Film, we’re heading back to the silent era for one of the most influential comedies ever made:1923’s Safety Last! starring the legendary Harold Lloyd. We dive into the making of the film, the jaw-dropping skyscraper climb, how Lloyd performed dangerous stunts despite missing fingers on one hand, and why the famous clock-hanging scene became one of the defining images in cinema history. Along the way we explore early Hollywood, the genius of silent comedy, Hal Roach Studios, rooftop trick photography, real-life “human spider” climbers, and how Safety Last! helped shape action-comedy for generations to come. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, silent film history, production trivia, and plenty of facts about Harold Lloyd — the often-overlooked third giant of silent comedy alongside Chaplin and Keaton. If you enjoy the show and want to help support future episodes, consider joining us on Patreon for bonus content including once a month our exclusive Cartoon craic episodes, early episodes and the chance to pick future films.