Spite Marriage (1929) starring Buster Keaton
In Spite Marriage, a lovely actress marries her star-struck biggest fan to make her ex-boyfriend jealous. But then …
Review of Spite Marriage
Spite Marriage is a sweet, hilariously funny Buster Keaton silent film. In it, he plays a young man, Elmer, helplessly in love with a stage actress. Although he’s only a pants presser. He “borrows” customers’ tuxedos to watch her performance, night after night. One night, he has the chance to take over for one of the actors. After all, he’s seen it thirty-five times, and ha the lines memorized. But that doesn’t make him an actor! He unwittingly, and hilariously, destroys the play. Then everyone’s chasing him! So, he jumps out one window, back in another, removes his costume and walks out unbothered in his tuxedo!
Soon Trilby’s despondent. She’s in love with her co-star, who’s apparently about to be engaged to a blonde socialite. Acting out of pain, Trilby proposes … To Elmer! And he accepts — and faints!
Trilby’s still heartbroken, and tries to drown her sorrows. Which fails, and Elmer needs to help his drunken bride out of the restaurant, to their bridal suite. She’s totally intoxicated and limp. And the scene with Elmer trying to put her to bed is totally hilarious! One of the funniest things that Buster Keaton ever filmed.
The following day is absolutely heartbreaking. Elmer knows his wife is sad, and runs out to buy her a little lamb doll, to say he’s sorry, and that he cares. But her manager and co-star are in the hotel room. They tell him that Trilby wants a divorce. The manager’s willing to write him a blank check to go away, so Trilby can divorce on grounds of abandonment. Elmer refuses the money, and departs. Leaving the little lamb on the bed. A poignant moment.
Buster Keaton at sea in Spite Marriage
The second half of the film begins when Elmer punches out his romantic rival, who’s being a jerk. But, he does it in front of a cop! So he runs for cover, and jumps into a nearby taxi cab. Unfortunately, it’s already in use — by a criminal! Shooting at the police! Soon, Buster’s driving the taxi off a pier, and taken prisoner by the rumrunner and his criminal comrades.
He’s taken captive — so he can’t testify to the police what he’s seen! But soon, he escapes overboard, and he’s rescued by a luxury yacht. Unfortunately, they can’t return him to shore, but he’s allowed to work for his keep. One day while varnishing the mast, he sees …. his wife! And she’s talking to his rival!
But then, the ship’s engineer is drunken, and accidentally sets some rags on fire in the engine room! It’s a funny scene, as Buster tries to put out the fire! Eventually, the rest of the crew abandons ship. And, Trilby’s would-be suitor callously leaves her behind — every man for himself, apparently.
For a little while, it’s similar to The Navigator, with Elmer and Trilby being the only people on the yacht. There’s quite a few funny moments — Elmer promoting himself to captain, trying to roll up the sails, rescuing Trilby when she falls into the sails, etc. But eventually, another ship comes by — but its the rumrunner and his crew!
The rumrunner steals Elmer’s captain hat! And, Trilby’s in danger! So in a very funny bit, Elmer starts taking the crooks out, one by one. And Trilby does her part to entice rumrunners one at a time …. So Elmer can knock the out one by one!
The Big Fight
Finally, it’s down to Elmer and the chief rumrunner. Elmer’s outclassed, but the fight’s absolutely hilarious! Elmer’s the definition of “indomitable”, as he keeps coming back — even when he’s thrown off the boat!
Finally, Elmer stands triumphant — before he collapses. He’s injured, by replies with a line from the play: “It’s nothing to a Southern gentleman.” Later, the yacht is back in port, and alls well. Except Elmer’s expecting Trilby to leave him again. But she’s fallen in love her husband during the trip, and she tells him:
“You’re going to see a lot of me from now on!”
Trilby Drew (Dorothy Sebastian)
Trivia for Spite Marriage
- Buster Keaton wanted this film to be a full talkie, but MGM released it with only a musical score and sound effects.
- Buster Keaton’s final silent feature, as well as the final film in which MGM allowed him any creative control.
- The scene where Buster Keaton puts his inebriated bride to bed was later performed on stage by Buster and his third wife Eleanor Keaton. It is also re-enacted in The Buster Keaton Story (1957).
- Loosely remade by Red Skelton as I Dood It
Cast of characters
- Buster Keaton (Cops, Sherlock Jr.) … Elmer Edgemont
- Dorothy Sebastian (A Woman of Affairs) … Trilby Drew
- Edward Earle (The She-Creature) … Lionel Benmore
- Leila Hyams (Island of Lost Souls) … Ethyl Norcrosse
- William Bechtel (The Three Musketeers 1911) … Frederick Nussbaum
- Jack Byron … Giovanni Scarzi
Additional cast
- Joe Bordeaux (Coney Island, Mabel at the Wheel) … Rumrunner
- Ray Cooke … The Bellboy (uncredited)
- Mike Donlin (The General) … Man in Ship’s Engine Room
- Pat Harmon (Berth Marks) … Tugboat Captain
- Sydney Jarvis … Man in Audience Next to Elmer
- Theodore Lorch (If a Body Meets a Body) … Actor as ‘Union Officer’
- Hank Mann (The Great Dictator, City Lights) … Stage Manager
- Charles Sullivan (The Invisible Monster) … Tough Sailor