The Scarecrow

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Nick M Another absolutely hysterical short by Buster Keaton - The Scarecrow had me laughing out loud, particularly at the beginning of the picture. The work that went into the opening scene is astonishing, and is probably my favorite part. Designers of tiny homes could learn a thing or two! Keaton and Roberts are so in synch that watching them eat breakfast is more like a highly choreographed dance than anything else - just tremendous. It was also amusing to see topical references to the 18th and 19th Amendments, which had recently gone into effect: "Hurry up! My stomach is as empty as a saloon," and "I don't care how she votes--I'm going to marry her," respectively. I am so sad to read that this is the final film performance of the extremely handsome and talented Luke the Dog. His canine career has been such a joy to watch, and he will be missed. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 12/07/24 Full Review Dani G Classic Keaton and his crew Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/13/24 Full Review sean l A pair of dirt-poor farmhands make the best of a dire living situation, cooperating to make their single-room home feel a bit more welcoming, then competing for the affections of the farmer's lovely young daughter. The opening scenes, at least, are must-see material. There we find the starring duo at home, coolly operating an absurdly complicated series of strings, levers and hinges to transform their living space from bedroom to dining room, kitchen to parlor and back again. It's a ruse worthy of Rube Goldberg, an ingenious series of delightful inventions and space-saving techniques, and these guys operate the room like a pair of well-versed mechanics. The scene soon shifts, however, and when the leads cease their partnership in favor of romantic rivalry, everything starts to feel just a bit too familiar. Not to mince words: it becomes a Keaton and Arbuckle film with a lesser act standing in for the departed bigger man. These scenes are effectively light and entertaining, but they feel like a step back for Keaton; a brief yearning for familiar territory when he'd already transcended the two-man act as a viable solo artist. Arbuckle's famous dog Luke even pops in for a few scenes, climbing ladders and chasing Buster over rooftops like the good old days, but it all rings rather hollow now. The old adage is true in many senses: you really can never go home again. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Isaiah Y A good Buster Keaton film near the beginning of his great run in the 1920s that showed some creativity Rated 2.5/5 Stars •  Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 06/01/20 Full Review Audience Member very good and still pretty funny Keaton at his best Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Audience Member The incredible multi-functional house. This is a short about two roommates in a cramped (but efficient) house, competing for the same girl. If you've been monitoring my reviews, you may notice I have been on a bit of a Buster Keaton kick as of late. I don't think I am ever going to get tired of him, to be honest, and just watching these shorts never fails to put a smile on my face. You have plenty of visual gags, and there are a number of feats to behold. For example, there are complex physical jokes where the timing has to be perfect, and you know that they had to shoot it about 80 times to get right. The bit with the "rabid" dog works really well, and there was never a point that I wasn't having a good time. It's only 20 minutes long, so there is only so much I can comment on, but this is once again another winner from Keaton. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Read all reviews

The Scarecrow

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