Buster KeatonEducational Pictures Shorts
TV-G
After being featured in several comedies with Fatty Arbuckle, Buster Keaton starred in a series of two reel comedies distributed by Metro between 1920 and 1923. After graduating to feature-length films, he returned to shorts with Educational Pictures and Columbia Pictures in the '30s and '40s.
Keaton's screen persona was in some ways a continuation of his stage persona, only more exaggerated: a handsome, dignified, and resourceful young man whose deadpan "stone face" depicted emotion with stunning and brilliant subtlety. Buster was lithe and extremely athletic at five feet, six inches tall, weighing only 140 pounds. He moved with the smoothness of a dancer but in a whirlwind style, whether he was caught in the clutches of a machine, running against a rain storm, or dogged by screen enemies. Buster was also eclectic: one never knew exactly what to expect from his next film project, which of course kept his audiences guessing and coming back to the theater again and again.
Keaton's screen persona was in some ways a continuation of his stage persona, only more exaggerated: a handsome, dignified, and resourceful young man whose deadpan "stone face" depicted emotion with stunning and brilliant subtlety. Buster was lithe and extremely athletic at five feet, six inches tall, weighing only 140 pounds. He moved with the smoothness of a dancer but in a whirlwind style, whether he was caught in the clutches of a machine, running against a rain storm, or dogged by screen enemies. Buster was also eclectic: one never knew exactly what to expect from his next film project, which of course kept his audiences guessing and coming back to the theater again and again.
Where to Watch Buster Keaton • Educational Pictures Shorts
16 Episodes
- One Run ElmerA4
One Run ElmerElmer owns a gas station out in the California desert. Soon he has a business rival in Jim, who opens up another station, and is also trying to steal Elmer's girlfriend. She plays both rivals against the other and, because she is a baseball fan, both Elmer and Jim try to show each other up in the big local baseball game. - Hayseed RomanceA5
Hayseed RomanceElmer Doolittle,a hired hand on a farm,encounters some complications in his romancing and believes he will have to marry the farm-owner aunt of Molly, the pretty girl he loves. Further complications arise when a heavy rainstorm keeps the household up all night as the water breaks through and drenches them in their beds. Comes the day of the "shotgun" wedding and Buster is surprised and delighted when he finds the old aunt is marrying him off to her niece and not to herself. - Tars and StripesA6
Tars and StripesNaval recruit Elmer (Buster Keaton) is seemingly unable to discharge any of his duties without making life miserable for his irascible commanding officer (Vernon Dent), who winds up getting doused with paint, splattered with muck, and repeatedly tossed into the water due to Elmer's ineptitude. To make matters worse, Elmer takes a shine to the CO's girlfriend (Dorothea Kent), which prompts her jealous boyfriend into several wrathful chases after Elmer. He eventually has Elmer locked into the brig -- but his girlfriend is in there too, so she can be together with her beloved Elmer. - The Timid Young ManA8
The Timid Young ManKeaton stars as Milton, a disappointed romantic who has sworn off women. He gives a lift to a female hitchhiker (Lona Andre), whom he happily discovers is also a hurt soul and has sworn off men. Their trip together runs into interference from an aggressive driver (Stanley J. Sandford) who later reappears after the two have set up camp. He starts putting the moves on the woman, but when Milton's ex-girlfriend (Kitty McHugh) shows up, she gets into a fight with the interloper and gives Milton and his new pal the chance to slip away. - Three on a LimbA9
Three on a LimbScoutmaster Elmer Brown (Buster Keaton) loses his heart to the pretty carhop (Lona Andre) who works in a drive-in diner. Complicating his romantic longings is her policeman fiancé (Harold Goodwin). When he tries to eliminate Elmer by giving him traffic tickets for every conceivable violation, the girl takes pity on the martyred Elmer and they drive off together. She informs him that she is also fending off another suitor, Oscar (Grant Withers); and to make matters worse, her father is backing the cop while her mother promotes Oscar. Eventually all three men wind up competing for her hand at a chaotic wedding ceremony that ends with Elmer winning his beloved. - Mixed MagicA13
Mixed MagicWhen Buster Keaton goes to work as an assistant to a carnival magician, the results turn out to be less than magical. Enthralled with the lovely assistant (Marlyn Stuart) of The Great Spumoni (Eddie Lambert), Buster takes a job as an off-stage helper to the prestidigitator. Alas, his inept efforts turn the magician's show into a shambles: Buster levitates the illusionist instead of the girl, tosses ducks on-stage at the wrong place, and lowers down inappropriate backdrops during their performance. But when he rescues the girl from the clutches of a disgruntled former helper, Buster earns the respect of all.