The Home Owner (1961) User Reviews

The Home Owner and The Devil to Pay are worth a look for Buster Keaton's presence in them

[tavm · 27 July 2009]

Just discovered this rarity-The Home Owner-on the Buster Keaton DVD collection "Industrial Strength Keaton". It has Buster being shown various houses of the John F. Long Company of Maryvale, Arizona, by one Bob Hawk, who also narrates, while many Keaton gags abound. I loved many of Buster's reactions whenever a statuesque blonde walks by. Also hilarious was when he fell into a swimming pool while carrying a shopping cart of groceries and when he caused a waiter to fall after rolling a bowling ball backwards. Incidentally, Long cameos in the last sequence. In summary, The Home Owner was entertaining and informative. Oh, and producer Jack Skirball is probably best known for his involvement in Alfred Hitchcock's Saboteur and Shadow of a Doubt. The Devil to Pay, on the other hand, while amusing whenever Buster plays the devil, first in costume then in his usual suit with porkpie hat though his tail is still visible initially, is marred a bit whenever the serious stuff about how the wholesaler, which Buster helps get rid of, is important to retailers when dealing with the manufacturers as well as the customers. Still, The Devil to Pay (which isn't listed on IMDb) is worth a look for Buster alone. Ratings: The Home Owner-********, The Devil to Pay-****.

Using comedy to sell real estate.

[mark.waltz · 4/10 · 6 November 2016]

Buster Keaton communicates through title cards in this industrial film probably shown to perspective home buyers in the community where Bob Pawk sold houses, all modern and fully equipped. Today, this just seems like self promotional nonsense, but eliminating the obvious commercial aspects of the film, is somewhat entertaining strictly for the presence of the great stone face who seemed to enjoy the freedom he got in these to show off what he had been doing since he was a child. Otherwise, it only has mild historical interest for a trip down history lane as to the trends of a long gone era. Keaton is timeless in his approach to what is funny and what isn't, making even the most simple of situations. I could care less about the house for sale outside the historical interest, but Keaton did manage a smile to come off my very stoic face and even a few genuine laughs as well.

An industrial film mostly of interest to the most fanatical of Buster Keaton fans.

[planktonrules · 3/10 · 27 August 2021]

"The Home Owner" is an industrial film made to promote a planned community in Arizona. As Buster Keaton needed work, he was paid to appear in the film and provide his name and a bit of humor. It essentially plays like an infomerical and is really NOT a film I strongly recommend. In fact, unless you are a rabid Buster Keaton fan, you'd do better to watch something else or re-watch some of his great 1920s films.