"The Balloonatic" opens with what I believe is the most beautiful shots of all Keaton's films. The short opens at "The House of Trouble" a fun house which I find amusing, among other things, at telling how less litigious early 20th century America was. Despite the rather death-defying drop as the exit, there are no mile-long warning signs, (which we in 21st America would recognize) and it apparently hasn't been closed down, or, I bet, the owner sued for incurred injuries. I also found it refreshing that for once, Buster set his romantic eye on a curvy girl instead of the svelte jazz babies he usually longs for. The rest of the story deals with Buster vs the outdoors and the heart of a fair maid and ends with a lushly, surreal romantic image.
Review of The Balloonatic
