Play Safe (1927)

A gang of bad guys menace a feller's gal. She hides in a freight car and a misstep sends the otherwise-empty train out of the station with the lever pushed to full speed. As the train gains... See full summary »

Director:

Joseph Henabery

Writers:

Monty Banks (story), Charles Horan,

Stars:

Monty Banks, Virginia Lee Corbin, Charles Hill Mailes

Cast

Cast overview:
Monty Banks	...	The Boy
Virginia Lee Corbin	...	Virginia Craig
Charles Hill Mailes	...	Silas Scott (as Charles Mailes)
Charles K. Gerrard	...	Scott's son (as Charles Gerard)
Bud Jamison	...	Big Bill (as Bud Jamieson)
Rosa Gore
Syd Crossley
Max Asher	...	(as Max Ascher)
Frank Alexander	...	(as Fatty Alexander)

Storyline

A gang of bad guys menace a feller's gal. She hides in a freight car and a misstep sends the otherwise-empty train out of the station with the lever pushed to full speed. As the train gains speed, the captive's boyfriend must board the runaway train, repel the pursing gang, get his girl out of the box car, and somehow get the two of them to safety. Tunnels, a water tower, a steep grade, and a frayed rope complicate the hero's task.

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Plot Keywords:

melodrama | heiress

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Release Date:

30 January 1927 (USA)

Also Known As:

Às Mil Maravilhas

Company Credits

Production Co:

Monty Banks Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

50 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Edited into Days of Thrills and Laughter (1961)

User Reviews

A Puzzling Failure

This movie was a fairly famous failure in its day, cut down afterward to a great two-reeler, CHASING CHOO-CHOOS. Many reasons have been offered as to why it failed -- mostly pacing issues -- but taking a look at it, it doesn't wash. It is a well-constructed movie, the gags are funny and heartfelt all the way through, and it doesn't sag in the middle. It is, in short, well worth your time. So why did it fail? I was struck with one possibility: there was no shortage of good slapstick features in this period, with the leads great comics: Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd, Raymond Griffith at Paramount.... and certainly Keaton was having trouble turning out money-making features. And the four I named were not only top comics, they were also good-looking men too. Looking at Banks in this movie, one is struck by the fact that he looks like an ordinary fellow, obviously Italian, and one, perhaps, who could afford to cut down on the pasta.

Whatever its reasons for failure at the time, they don't apply now. If you get a chance to see this, as a cut-down short or in its original released length, don't pass it up.