Battling Butler

Released Sep 19, 1926

1 hr. 15 min.

Comedy

Romance

List

83%

12 Reviews

Tomatometer

74%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Meek millionaire Alfred Butler (Buster Keaton) goes on a camping excursion with his faithful servant (Snitz Edwards). Once in the wilderness, Alfred ignores outdoor activities in favor of trying to woo a charming mountain girl (Sally O'Neil), who wants nothing to do with her spoiled suitor. Trying to impress the girl, Alfred masquerades as boxing star "Battling" Butler (Francis McDonald). Unfortunately, when the real fighter finds out puny Alfred has been impersonating him, the brawl is on.

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Alexander B

This was a very funny and lovable boxing film. A must for boxing fans.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/29/22

Full Review

Audience Member

For His Friend, The Butler. Battling Butler Keaton's exploration on the sport genre has a formula so effective and moving, that it still is applied to win over millions of heart even after a century; almost! This journey from a no one to someone speaks the most with a common man that has ever aspired to make it big. The only weak aspect of the film is the storytelling in its second act, that gets way too hefty for it to surf above the level fluently. It goes deep with multiple characters coming in and out, where before you know you are in the final round where Keaton knocks you out with a sweet satisfying punch. The gags come in handy in a Buster Keaton film, but what's surprising is that the obvious physical comic sequences like him training or boxing isn't his major asset. The smooth smart gigs that are kept to help put the audience at ease while the story advances, is real gold. Like the table that sinks under the ground or a couple fighting over a window pane or bickering sweetly with no bars held. And as far as gags that are weaved to draw in chuckles are concerned, behold Keaton when he is trying to hunt in a boat or getting tangled in a rope or worrying to death when he is told to fix a bulb. His awareness of the characters and the plot can be derived from the scale of brattiness he exposes when he is out with the nature and his butler still provides him the luxuries like a king living in a palace- even a cigarettes is smoked with the help of the butler while his mother talks sweet with him. Battling Butler is a one big fight that starts off energetically and gets tired in its middle act only to end up on a high pitched dramatic note.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/20/23

Full Review

Audience Member

human cartoon buster keaton brings it.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/14/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A case of mistaken identity and coincidence, "Battling Butler" is some great irony but with not as much of the Keaton stunts that are usually in his films.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/20/23

Full Review

bill t

Amusing Buster Keaton movie that sort of loses it towards the end, but oh well. Keaton stars as a spoiled rich brat being confused for a boxer and, yes, must learn to fight to win the hand of the girl he loves! Not his best, but by no means his worst either.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Keaton enters the boxing ring as an imposter of the lightweight champion of the world to impress a girl. Needless to say he is in a tight spot.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

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Buster Keaton

Director

Buster Keaton

Alfred Butler

Sally O'Neil

The Mountain Girl

Snitz Edwards

Alfred's Valet

Francis McDonald

Alfred Battling Butler

Mary O'Brien

His Wife

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

There's no room for Buster to stretch out; none of the rhythms are remotely like his own.

Jan 1, 2000

Full Review

Morris Kinzler

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The first half of the picture drags with an awkwardness and weariness that should never be there. Mr. Keaton evidently prefers a whirlwind finish, and his aim. it seems, is to leave a last impression. He accomplishes his aim, and admirably, too.

Aug 26, 2022

Full Review

Robert E. Sherwood

LIFE

The fondness of this reviewer for the works of Buster Keaton is a matter of record, and I can only say of Battling Butler that it is just as funny as it ought to be.

Oct 6, 2021

Full Review

Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

It's the classic mistaken identity ploy mixed with the notion of going to extremes to win the girl - taken a step further and generously served with helpings of absurdity.

Rated: 10/10

Jul 24, 2020

Full Review

James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

The fight sequence is a curious anomaly in Keaton's career, which typically found him escaping violence through pluck and creativity and sheer luck, rather than aggression and violence.

Rated: 3/4

Sep 26, 2019

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Battling Butler isn't nearly as uproarious as other Keaton classics, although it's sturdy enough to qualify as a good time.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 31, 2019

Full Review

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Synopsis

Meek millionaire Alfred Butler (Buster Keaton) goes on a camping excursion with his faithful servant (Snitz Edwards). Once in the wilderness, Alfred ignores outdoor activities in favor of trying to woo a charming mountain girl (Sally O'Neil), who wants nothing to do with her spoiled suitor. Trying to impress the girl, Alfred masquerades as boxing star "Battling" Butler (Francis McDonald). Unfortunately, when the real fighter finds out puny Alfred has been impersonating him, the brawl is on.

Director: Buster Keaton
Executive Producer: Joseph M. Schenck
Screenwriter: Al Boasberg, Lex Neal, Charles Smith, Paul Smith
Distributor: Image Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Buster Keaton Productions Inc. [us]
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Release Date (Theaters): Sep 19, 1926, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 20, 2019

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