Only existing in a fragmentary condition, this early Buster Keaton short is an episodic comedy, Keaton's character put in a variety of different situations, each ending badly for the poor fellow.
Keaton plays a young man who heads to the city to make success of himself so that he can marry his sweetheart (Renée Adorée) back home. While away, he sends postcards to his girl telling her of the employment that he has found. She imagines only the best, but the reality is quite different.
The first postcard says that he has found work in a hospital; the truth is that he is working in a dog and cat hospital, where his confusion between a cat and a skunk leads to his dismissal (the cat/skunk mix-up being inspiration for Pepe le Pew perhaps?).
Next, the young man writes that he is cleaning up on Wall Street, but instead of making a fortune on the stock market, he is sweeping up manure from the road.
The third postcard informs the girl that he is exploring the arts by making his theatrical debut. However, all he can find is a role as an extra in an opera, and he doesn't do that very well. Kicked out of the theatre wearing a Roman guard costume, he attracts the attention of a suspicious policeman and makes a run for it, which leads to some crazy chase scenes.
While not an essential Keaton short, there's still plenty of fun to be had, including one particularly iconic gag, where the star becomes a human gerbil, running around the inside of a turning paddleboat wheel; that scene alone makes this one worth a go.
6.5/10, rounded up to 7 for the downbeat finalé, which makes a change from the usual happy ending.
Keaton plays a young man who heads to the city to make success of himself so that he can marry his sweetheart (Renée Adorée) back home. While away, he sends postcards to his girl telling her of the employment that he has found. She imagines only the best, but the reality is quite different.
The first postcard says that he has found work in a hospital; the truth is that he is working in a dog and cat hospital, where his confusion between a cat and a skunk leads to his dismissal (the cat/skunk mix-up being inspiration for Pepe le Pew perhaps?).
Next, the young man writes that he is cleaning up on Wall Street, but instead of making a fortune on the stock market, he is sweeping up manure from the road.
The third postcard informs the girl that he is exploring the arts by making his theatrical debut. However, all he can find is a role as an extra in an opera, and he doesn't do that very well. Kicked out of the theatre wearing a Roman guard costume, he attracts the attention of a suspicious policeman and makes a run for it, which leads to some crazy chase scenes.
While not an essential Keaton short, there's still plenty of fun to be had, including one particularly iconic gag, where the star becomes a human gerbil, running around the inside of a turning paddleboat wheel; that scene alone makes this one worth a go.
6.5/10, rounded up to 7 for the downbeat finalé, which makes a change from the usual happy ending.