La guigne de Malec

Slight correction for the previous review (though admittedly it came before the actual discovery). The long-lost missing scenes (Keaton walloping the cement in the pool-dive sequence, his return with Chinese wife and child, both cute BTW) WERE found in a French archive (will have to check which one), albeit in terrible-but-watchable shape, and were restored on a special compilation DVD of Keaton rarities (home movies, TV appearances, cameos, and some restored films, including the missing scenes from "Daydreams").

The title is "Keaton Plus"...I found it circulating in the Buffalo Public Library. Not sure of the date, but would probably be between 2001 to 2004. And yes, it's released by Kino Video (in association with the Rohauer and Keaton estates, etc.) It's gratifying to know that the cherry on the top of Keaton's fantastic cinema career in the 20s has survived (barely, but serviceable), and it's a short, sweet coda for such a majestic American comedy talent.

Far from it in my view. Buster Keaton did many short films, while not all of them entirely worked (yet still with recommendable aspects) the best of them are up there, or at least close to being, with the best of his feature films. Keaton himself was a genius, often hilarious, extremely bold (back then and even now) and his deadpan delivery is near-unrivalled. As others have said, he considered the for a long time lost 'Hard Luck' his favourite of his short films.

Personally do not agree with him there. While preferring it over 'The Balloonatic', 'The Frozen North' and 'The Love Nest', there is a vast preference for 'The Scarecrow', 'The Goat', 'The Playhouse' and 'The Boat' ('Neighbors' and 'Cops' too if not quite as much). 'Hard Luck' is good fun and above average, and Keaton himself does not disappoint, but it is not one of Keaton's overall funniest, most imaginative or boldest and the story is severely flawed.

Due to it feeling very disjointed, muddled and almost incomplete-feeling, some of it coming over as quite cobbled together as well. Humour-wise, it's all executed very well and there is nothing unfunny here actually.

Just not much that is peak Keaton, hilarious or daring (well other than the subject by today's standards regarding the latter). When one thinks of iconic moments from Keaton's short and feature films, there is not much here in 'Hard Luck' that would be on that list for me. Though the ending comes close.

'Hard Luck' looks good though with nice photography and the physical comedy never looks haphazard captured on film. The supporting cast do well, with a charming Virginia Fox (though her role is underwritten and plot-device-like) and menacing Joe Roberts, regular Keaton co-stars, supporting Keaton typically solidly. Keaton's performance is both full of life and moving and what there is of his physical comedy amazes.

While not as hilarious or inventive as other Keaton works, 'Hard Luck' still amuses and the lauded final gag is great. The now quite controversial subject of suicide and doing it through comedy is handled tastefully and the pacing didn't feel dull (though inevitably there was some jumpiness).

In conclusion, above average but not one of Keaton's best. 7/10

This short comedy only exists now in a fragmented form, which is too bad, but it's still fun to watch. The restoration on Kino video pieces together almost the entire film, with notes to explain the parts that could no longer be found. It has Buster as a despondent victim of "Hard Luck", and combines some good morbid gags with a series of silly adventures. Because what's left is quite choppy, it will best be enjoyed by those who are used to very old films, but it has some good material and a couple of very funny scenes. Most Keaton fans should enjoy it.

This was an odd Buster Keaton in that the story totally changed directions multiple times, out of nowhere. The strange 22-minute movie begins with Buster trying to kill himself in various forms. Obviously, he doesn't succeed and the reasons why are funny. It may morbid to some but I found this part very clever and the best part of the film.

All of sudden, he's obtained the job of hunting for an armadillo for a local zoo and while he's doing that, he winds up in a country club where they are having a fox hunt. There are numerous sight gags involving Buster trying to mount the horse, many times while the horse is moving.

Later, some gigantic outlaw, "Lizard Lip Luke," and his gang appear and are robbing this place where Keaton and a girl he likes are located, and our hero, thanks to some inventive thinking, gets rid of the gang. He thinks that entitles him to marry the girl but she tells him, "I'm already married." Huh?

Then the movie ends on a really bizarre note as Buster ambles over to a nearby swimming pool and climbs the ladder to perform a high dive. Unfortunately we don't see much of this scene because most of the footage has been lost forever. However, Kino Video, which put this long-lost film on DVD, is nice to explain in advance - and during that last scene - what we missed.

I can see where some people might label this an "unven" Keaton short, since the story is so disjointed, but that's part of the charm: you never know what's coming next. There are some really unique sight gags in here - strange even for silent comedies. This film is pure insanity!

Buster Keaton often cited Hard Luck (1921) as his favorite among his independent short film work, the reason being that the twist ending gave him the biggest laugh of his career, with people still laughing over it on their way out of the movie house. In hindsight, the film is not that wonderful, including the ending, but it is not without merits. The first part is a classic example of "suicide comedy," a controversial subject for us nowadays, but back then, an inept fellow trying to rub himself out in humorous ways was rather common in short subjects. Harold Lloyd and even Mickey Mouse indulged in this sort of gallows humor too. The rest of the film is funny, but not as imaginative or clever as Keaton's best short film work.