Taking inspiration from the infamous family feud between the Hatfields and the McCoys, Buster Keaton creates a hilarious Romeo & Juliet scenario filled with his brilliant character-based gags. With so many so called comedies throwing in slapstick for cheap laughs, it's so refreshing to watch the work of Keaton who knew that falling down wasn't the main component to making a gag funny. It's the context.
In a moody dramatic prologue, the film sets up the blood feud that Keaton's 21-year-old Willie McKay will find himself stuck in the middle of. Having been raised far away from his Appalachian homestead, he knows very little of the death wish out on him. After receiving notice that he has inherited his father's estate, he hops on a train to visit his birthplace. On the trip, he meets and falls for the pretty Virginia, who turns out to be the daughter of the McKay's archenemy Joseph Canfield (Joe Roberts, COPS). However, due to the code of Southern hospitality, Joseph and his sons Clayton (Ralph Bushman, WAY OUT WEST) and Lee (Craig Ward) are bound to give Willie respect as long as he is a guest in their home. Willie finds various ways to extend his stay.
Most of Keaton's films were contemporary set, but two of his best — this film and THE GENERAL — were period pieces. Taking place mainly in 1830, Keaton meticulously recreates the period not only in the sets and costumes, but also built replicas of a vintage train and bicycle. These period details seem to have inspired Keaton greatly, because many of the funniest bits come at the expense of the dated machinery. The arduous trip not only provides laughs, but a host of bonding moments between Willie and Virginia.
As all Keaton films, laughs are always accompanied by amazing death-defying stunts. The most daring stunts here involved water. At one point Willie is swept down a raging river and Virginia heads out after him in a boat, which capsizes. To highlight the risks Keaton took, during the production, the wire that was guiding Keaton down the river broke and a lucky grab of a branch saved him from being whisked away. The shot is in the picture. Additionally, a waterfall plays a key role in two segments. The first is when the waterfall starts flowing and the timing of the sequence is perfectly ingenious. The second encounter with the waterfall comes at the end of Willie's river run. As Willie dangles over the falls on a rope attached to a slipping log as Virginia approaches the precipice, there is a great deal of tension. Willie's solution is not only heroic, but also hilarious. It's a perfect testament to how close the elements of good action and good comedy are.
Keaton was a brave genius, who not only understood comedy and action, but filmmaking. Pay attention to his skill at framing shots. Along with his co-director John G. Blystone and cinematographers Gordon Jennings and Elgin Lessley, he crafts shots that add to the complexity of the gags. The humor seems so simple, but it's actually an accumulation of impeccable timing, perfect scenarios, impressive early subtle acting, well-crafted shots and well-developed characters. Keaton just makes so many who have followed seem so inferior.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
