Copyright 22 April 1929 by Joseph M. Schenck Productions. Released through Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. New York opening at the Capitol: 24 March 1929. U.S. release: 6 April 1929. 9 reels. 7,047 feet. 78 minutes. (Warner Archive has a 10/10 DVD).
SYNOPSIS: A humble pants-presser (Buster Keaton) falls hopelessly in love with a big star of the stage (Dorothy Sebastian). His chance to get near his idol comes about when one of the players in the production is forced to flee the police and the pants-presser who knows every line in the play (he has seen it 67 times) is induced to take his place. Although the inept fan causes a near disaster on stage, the star takes him under her wing and then marries him to spite her leading man (Edward Earle), who is playing up with a socialite (Leila Hyams). The star soon regrets her hasty marriage, but becomes reconciled to living with her new husband when he pluckily rescues her from a gang of criminals on a seagoing yacht.
NOTES: Keaton's last silent. Although released with a continuous sound-on-film music score and sound effects (including a roar from Metro's trademark lion), there is no spoken dialogue.
COMMENT: Despite the fact that the most screamingly hilarious moments occur early on in the movie during a riotous performance of an old Civil War melodrama, this is one of my favorite Keaton comedies, enhanced by a strong plot line, stylish direction, some wonderfully comic, acrobatic routines from Buster, and a great support cast.
You owe it to your funnybone to see our Buster managing to inadvertently wreak havoc, both on stage and off. I'd rate Buster on the Civil War stage as one of the funniest routines of all time!
SYNOPSIS: A humble pants-presser (Buster Keaton) falls hopelessly in love with a big star of the stage (Dorothy Sebastian). His chance to get near his idol comes about when one of the players in the production is forced to flee the police and the pants-presser who knows every line in the play (he has seen it 67 times) is induced to take his place. Although the inept fan causes a near disaster on stage, the star takes him under her wing and then marries him to spite her leading man (Edward Earle), who is playing up with a socialite (Leila Hyams). The star soon regrets her hasty marriage, but becomes reconciled to living with her new husband when he pluckily rescues her from a gang of criminals on a seagoing yacht.
NOTES: Keaton's last silent. Although released with a continuous sound-on-film music score and sound effects (including a roar from Metro's trademark lion), there is no spoken dialogue.
COMMENT: Despite the fact that the most screamingly hilarious moments occur early on in the movie during a riotous performance of an old Civil War melodrama, this is one of my favorite Keaton comedies, enhanced by a strong plot line, stylish direction, some wonderfully comic, acrobatic routines from Buster, and a great support cast.
You owe it to your funnybone to see our Buster managing to inadvertently wreak havoc, both on stage and off. I'd rate Buster on the Civil War stage as one of the funniest routines of all time!