Overall, I thought this film was good, and Keaton fans will see several things that hint of bigger things that came in his feature films! I liked the variety of each of his jobs, which included a couple of ribs on Chaplin along the way (with one reminiscent of "City Lights" nine years later). This was one of his later short films, right when he was on the cusp of screen immortality through his full-length features.
Most reviews and comments I've seen so far talk about the famous paddle wheel sequence - but I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned the scene where he runs and catches the back of the moving streetcar!! My jaw drops every time I see it! If it was as real as it looked, then Buster Keaton was one very STRONG man - this showed what we didn't see in a similar escape he makes on a moving car amidst his big chase in "Cops"!
However, as top-notch of a stuntman and athlete that Keaton was, this streetcar-catching bit (and the car-catching bit in "Cops") may have HAD to be "tricked"; that it was beyond even Keaton's great abilities. Thoughts, anyone?
Keaton strove for realism and believability in all things in his feature films, but I'm sure he didn't hold hard and fast to that rule in his short films. No fan should be surprised by absurdities in silent comedy shorts - just about anything could happen as long as it got a laugh.
Anyway - this film still showcases many of his talents and I enjoyed it very much. I think after this, though, Buster finally learned to not let himself be chased by an army of cops - it never ended well for him! ;-) lol
Most reviews and comments I've seen so far talk about the famous paddle wheel sequence - but I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned the scene where he runs and catches the back of the moving streetcar!! My jaw drops every time I see it! If it was as real as it looked, then Buster Keaton was one very STRONG man - this showed what we didn't see in a similar escape he makes on a moving car amidst his big chase in "Cops"!
However, as top-notch of a stuntman and athlete that Keaton was, this streetcar-catching bit (and the car-catching bit in "Cops") may have HAD to be "tricked"; that it was beyond even Keaton's great abilities. Thoughts, anyone?
Keaton strove for realism and believability in all things in his feature films, but I'm sure he didn't hold hard and fast to that rule in his short films. No fan should be surprised by absurdities in silent comedy shorts - just about anything could happen as long as it got a laugh.
Anyway - this film still showcases many of his talents and I enjoyed it very much. I think after this, though, Buster finally learned to not let himself be chased by an army of cops - it never ended well for him! ;-) lol