I like ol' Stoneface. Probably more than Chaplin. There's always a more depressing note to Keaton's short films than to the Tramp's who probably would have gotten the girl here somehow or we would have seen her declare her love for him no matter how much wealth he (not) possesses. However, I felt that even under 20 minutes, this short film could have been improved by cutting out a couple shots. The letters sent by him to his girl describing the situation just the way it was (not) were easily the funniest part, especially the cleaning-up at the stock exchange, but the way these letters were depicted and elaborated in the particular scenes went almost on for too long. So did the chase scene towards the end. By the ending, when he returns back to his sweetheart, the situation should have been elaborated that you'd feel either sorry or schadenfreude for the character or that you include an ending on a positive note that the audience at least leaves the cinema with a smile on their lips. Unfortunately, I didn't fell anything really and I'd say that this is not a good choice to start getting into Keaton's work. He's done much better.
Review of Day Dreams
