Pleasant and undemanding entertainment...but look at the cast!
This is a highly unusual Buster Keaton film in that his family (mother, father and sister) co-star with him! I can't think of another film like this and it's like a reunion of the old act that the family did on stage. In addition, Dewey Robinson (a VERY familiar face to old film buffs like myself) and Bull Montana (a professional wrestler in real life) are along for the fun.
The Diltz family lives in the hills and are a lot like the type of very stereotypical folks you'd see in a L'il Abner comic. And, like you'd expect from such folks, they are moonshiners. However, they finally got around to learning that Prohibition was repealed a year ago and they need to find another way to make money. So, Buster's big brother (Robinson) decides to become a pro wrestler--and considering his looks, he appears that he'll be a great one! The problem is that he needs to practice--and guess who his sparring partner will be? Yep, poor little Buster.
When they arrive in the city for the big match, Buster somehow enters the ring with his brother and is the ref. The match degenerates to a crazy free for all and eventually the entire Diltz clan enters the fracas. It's all mildly entertaining but not laugh out loud funny...or even close. The bottom line is that if you expect the brilliance of Keaton in the 1920s, you'll be disappointed. However, when you consider just how awful his films had become with MGM, you'll appreciate just how good this film for Educational Pictures actually is, as at least it is entertaining.
By the way, two years later, Keaton's family returned for "Love Nest on Wheels"--Keaton's last film for Educational.
The Diltz family lives in the hills and are a lot like the type of very stereotypical folks you'd see in a L'il Abner comic. And, like you'd expect from such folks, they are moonshiners. However, they finally got around to learning that Prohibition was repealed a year ago and they need to find another way to make money. So, Buster's big brother (Robinson) decides to become a pro wrestler--and considering his looks, he appears that he'll be a great one! The problem is that he needs to practice--and guess who his sparring partner will be? Yep, poor little Buster.
When they arrive in the city for the big match, Buster somehow enters the ring with his brother and is the ref. The match degenerates to a crazy free for all and eventually the entire Diltz clan enters the fracas. It's all mildly entertaining but not laugh out loud funny...or even close. The bottom line is that if you expect the brilliance of Keaton in the 1920s, you'll be disappointed. However, when you consider just how awful his films had become with MGM, you'll appreciate just how good this film for Educational Pictures actually is, as at least it is entertaining.
By the way, two years later, Keaton's family returned for "Love Nest on Wheels"--Keaton's last film for Educational.
- planktonrules
- Jun 27, 2011