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Harold Lloyd, 1894-1971
Born Buchard, Nebraska
While not as well known today, Harold Lloyd ranks with Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton as one of the greatest silent film comedians. In 1917 Lloyd invented the character of a young man with horn-rimmed glasses. His humble appearance hid traits of extraordinary ambition and perseverance, which yielded eventual success. Lloyd's trademark roles featured comic suspense twists that placed him in physical danger. His best-known film, Safety Last (1923), made him the master of daredevil comedy. To escape a policeman, Lloyd's character finds himself climbing the side of a tall building in downtown Los Angeles. As suspense builds, he is forced to cling to the hands of a giant clock near the top of the building. This image of Lloyd dangling from the clock hand has become one of the most familiar scenes in film -- especially silent film -- history.
Eugene Kornman, 1923 |