''Play Safe'' is a 1927 American silent

comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...

directed by

Joseph Henabery Joseph Henabery (January 15, 1888 – February 18, 1976) of Omaha, Nebraska, was a film actor, screenplay writer, and director in the United States. He is best known for his portrayal of Abraham Lincoln in D.W. Griffith's controversial 1915 sile ...

and starring

Monty Banks Montague (Monty) Banks (18 July 1897 – 7 January 1950), born Mario Bianchi, was a 20th century Italian-born American comedian, film actor, director and producer who achieved success in the UK and the United States. Career Banks was born Mario ...

. An abridged two-reel version was shown in the United States as ''Chasing Choo Choos''.SilentEra entry
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Plot

A gang of bad guys menace a man's girlfriend. 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 transfer to the runaway train from a car racing alongside, repel the pursuing gang, get his girl out of the boxcar, and somehow get the two of them to safety. An oncoming locomotive, a water tower, a steep grade, a frayed rope and a broken plank between cars complicate the hero's task.

Cast

as Monty *

Virginia Lee Corbin Virginia Lee Corbin (December 5, 1910 – June 4, 1942) was an American silent film actress. Early years Corbin was born Laverne Virginia Corbin in Prescott, Arizona to Leon Ernest Corbin and Virginia Frances (Cox) Corbin, and she had a siste ...

as Virginia Craig *

Charles Hill Mailes Charles Hill Mailes (25 May 1870 – 17 February 1937) was a Canadian actor of the silent era. Biography Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 1870, Mailes appeared in 290 films between 1909 and 1935. He married the actress Claire McDowell ...

as Silas Scott * Charles K. Gerrard as Scott's son *

Bud Jamison William Edward "Bud" Jamison (February 15, 1894 – September 30, 1944)Okuda, Ted, and Edward Watz. 1999. The Columbia Comedy Shorts: Two-reel Hollywood Film Comedies 1933–1958'. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland. . was an American film actor. ...

as Big Bill * Max Asher * Fatty Alexander *Rosa Gore *

Syd Crossley Syd Crossley (18 November 1885 – 1 November 1960) was an English stage and film actor. Born in London in 1885, Crossley began his career as a music hall comedian. He appeared in more than 110 films, often cast as a butler, between 1925 an ...

Preservation status

Prints in 35mm and 16mm exist.

References

External links

*
''Play Safe'' at SilentEraLobby poster
1927 films American silent feature films 1927 comedy films Silent American comedy films Films directed by Joseph Henabery American black-and-white films Pathé Exchange films 1920s American films {{1920s-silent-comedy-film-stub