Buster Keaton always makes me smile. A lot of action here involves chase sequences, e.g. Buster running away from a dog he believes is mad (it just ate a cream pie), and Buster running away from his rival. There is a great set piece early on with a mechanized dining room - salt shakers and various bottles hanging from ropes, a little car on tracks holding breading and butter which can be directed to one side of the table or the other via cranks, waste automatically ejecting into the pigpen outside, and all dishes fixed to a board, making washing a matter of slapping it up on the wall and hosing it down. If it looks familiar, that may be because Keaton re-used the setup four years later in 'The Navigator.' Sybil Seely is charming as the love interest, and the ceremony on the road is cute. Along the way, Keaton is buff in his underwear, shows off his athleticism, and as always, has such perfect timing. It's not a masterpiece, but sure is a nice way to spend 18 minutes.
Review of The Scarecrow
