This film marks the only time Buster Keaton and Mack Sennett worked together. The results are less than sparkling. We start with a very low budget, a director who is way past his prime, and a comic premise that could have been used in the earliest, pre-Chaplin Keystone films. Basically, Buster escapes his dominant fiancée, meets another girl, and gets into a battle with a larger man who also fancies Buster's new girl friend. Buster plays his spoiled wealthy boy character here; he is called "Milton" instead of the usual "Elmer". Why not "Buster"? I guess Keaton may have been embarrassed by these cheap Educational comedies. Thank goodness the dialogue is minimal and the focus is on slapstick action. However, both Sennett and Keaton seem to be quite tired and burnt out. I believe that this is the last film Sennett ever directed, and what a sad way for him to go out. Most of the Keaton Educationals are better than this one. The usual director is Charles Lamont, who had a strong background in comedy and got along well with Buster. These Educational shorts, along with the later Columbia shorts, are definitely worth seeing. Keaton did not have a high opinion of these films, but it is fascinating to see him working with sound and showing his comic-athletic prowess.
Review of The Timid Young Man
