| Buster Keaton was a genius. You don’t need me to tell you that – hell, everybody knows that – but I’m going to repeat it anyway. Genius.
Why am I going on and on about something that’s common knowledge? Because I just watched a double feature of Our Hospitality (1923) and Sherlock, Jr. (1924), and I simply can’t keep quiet about this a minute longer.
If you’ve seen Keaton’s stuff, you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, you need to put the paper down right now and track down one of his movies immediately.
Kino Video’s series The Art of Buster Keaton contains dozens of the silent comedy icon’s movies taken from beautifully restored prints, and features enjoyable musical accompaniment. I first heard of this collection back in 1995 when the laser disc versions were released, but I didn’t stumble across any VHS rental copies until this week. Having already seen Keaton’s acknowledged masterpiece The General (1927), I immediately zeroed in on the volume containing Sherlock, Jr. – a groundbreaking 45-minute piece I’d heard nothing but good things about. The tape is a double feature and begins with the feature-length Our Hospitality, a film I have fond memories of from a TV broadcast several years ago. Watching it again was a revelation. I can’t believe I’d forgotten how much I loved this movie.
After a melodramatic prologue explaining the ongoing feud between the Canfields and the McKays, Our Hospitality introduces Keaton as John McKay Jr., a city boy raised in ignorance of the feud. One of our first glimpses of him is straddling the World’s Least Dignified Bicycle, fruitlessly trying to look dapper as his ridiculous bike rattles him down the street. Once he inherits the family’s country estate, he takes a trip on an even more ridiculous vehicle, a tiny steam locomotive that wobbles its way down the track with all the surefootedness of a drunken wind-up toy. During the bumpy voyage, he strikes up a friendship with a pretty girl who, unbeknownst to him, is a member of the Canfield family. Once they arrive, the girl asks her father if her new gentleman friend may come over for supper. Pa Canfield accepts her request, eager to show off his southern hospitality.
Once Mr. Canfield learns of John’s true identity, he’s appalled. He vows not to harm McKay while he’s a guest in his house, but as soon as he leaves, he’s fair game. John, learning that his sweetheart’s kin plan to murder him the moment he steps out the door, does some quick thinking. What ensues is pure brilliance – a hysterical comedy based almost entirely on suspense.
Suspense doesn’t usually work in comedy, since we’re certain that the main characters won’t be harmed. Here, though, Buster is actually risking his life for real, doing heart-stopping stunts such as clinging to a craggy precipice or performing a breathtaking rescue from the edge of a waterfall. We laugh with relief as we see Buster escape death by the barest of margins, while we marvel at his incredible bravery. This is one of the greatest silent comedies ever made – possibly even better than The General.
Our Hospitality is a tough act to match, but Keaton just about manages it with Sherlock, Jr. This story of a movie-house projectionist who dreams of being a detective impresses viewers with its remarkable technical and conceptual innovation. The special effects are flawless as Keaton steps into a movie screen and gets pummeled by edits as the film switches scenes, leaving him sitting on benches that disappear, or tripping over suddenly appearing obstacles. (One of my favourite Warner Bros. cartoons, Duck Amuck, owes a debt of inspiration to this film.)
Once the movie screen stops trying to eject Keaton, he becomes Sherlock Jr., the dapper hero of the film, and sets about solving the mystery of the stolen watch. Some of Keaton’s most astonishing stunts soon follow, including one on a water tower that actually cracked a bone in his neck. Even more astonishing, however, is a pair of how’d-they-do-that moments, in which Buster performs a costume change by leaping through a window, and disappears entirely into a small box held by his assistant. Wow!
The Art of Buster Keaton series is now available on DVD in a special boxed set from Kino. You should seriously consider picking it up, no matter who you are. |
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