The Passionate Plumber (1932) starring Buster Keaton, Jimmy Durante
Buster Keaton is The Passionate Plumber who falls in love with a socialite, and becomes part of a romantic triangle. Jimmy Durante assists him.
The Passionate Plumber is a very funny romantic comedy. Although it’s billed as a Buster Keaton / Jimmy Durante film, it’s clearly Buster’s film, with Jimmy in a supporting role. And they’re both hilarious! The basic story has Buster as a plumber, working in Paris. A lovely socialite needs her shower fixed, and sends her chauffeur Jimmy to find a plumber. The plumber’s invented a hand gun, with a night scope. Pretty inventive for the 1930’s, and an important plot point for later.
Buster not only fixes the lady’s shower head, he tests it — by taking a shower! And surprises her “boyfriend” by being in her bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist! The annoyed boyfriend challenges him to a duel — with a hilarious “slapping” routine between the two, ending with Buster slapping him with his towel!
The Duel
The duel is absolutely hilarious! Buster has Jimmy as his second, and neither understand the rules of the duel correctly. At the end, the socialite Patricia runs to her boyfriend Tony, thinking he’s injured. But he’s not, so she runs to Buster instead! And Buster’s now infatuated with her.
Patricia hires Buster
Buster follows her to a casino, where he tries to sell his invention to a military general. But its mistaken for an assassination attempt! After a comic chase, Buster escapes — in Patricia’s car! Which he wrecks! How can he possibly pay her back?
Patricia decides to hire Buster. Why? To keep her away from Tony! She’s broken up with him, but she’s weak. But she doesn’t realize how hard it will be to fire Buster! He determines to do his job, even after she fires him — repeatedly. But she slowly starts to fall for him, as he keeps fumbling while trying to take car of her.
Patricia is both exasperated by and touched by Elmer. She tries dodging him by going to a beauty salon — which doesn’t work. Later, infuriated by his getting between herself and Tony, she tricks Elmer into getting locked into her room. Doesn’t work. Later, Patricia’s aunt shows up, and Elmer has to pretend to be to her doctor — using his plumbing tools!
Finally, Elmer sets a trap for Tony. Elmer has him come over, while the two girls listen in. And Tony admits he has no intention of marrying either of them! And the ladies come out! Nina hits Tony with an vase, and then holds the semi-conscious man in her lap, asking, “Can’t you see how much I love you?”
Patricia takes inspiration, and throws a shoe at Elmer! It knocks him into a chair. She curls on his lap, cooing “Can’t you see how much I love you?” Finally, not to be left out, Jimmy Durante’s character professes his love to the maid — and once she can make it past his nose, they kiss, ending the film:
“Can’t you see how much I love you?”
Product Description
THE PASSIONATE PLUMBER — Keaton plays a Parisian plumber who is summoned by a socialite to fix her shower and ends up falling in love. Costarring with Keaton in this madcap comedy is Jimmy Durante.
Cast of characters
- Buster Keaton (Sherlock Jr., Cops) … Elmer E. Tuttle.
- Jimmy Durante (Speak Easily) … Julius J. McCracken
- Polly Moran (Show People, The Yellow Cab Man) … Albine
- Irene Purcell (The Man in Possession) … Patricia Jardine. The lovely .young American woman living in Paris. She’s deeply in love with Tony …. isn’t she? She thinks that Tony’s unhappily married to Nina,, but she won’t give him a divorce.
- Gilbert Roland (The Big Circus, Captain Kidd) … Tony Lagorce. Patricia’s boyfriend. He’s offended at seeing the plumber Buster in her bathroom, and challenges him to a duel! He’s very possessive, but also dating Nina!
- Mona Maris (The Falcon in Mexico) … Nina Estrados. The lovely, hot-blooded Spanish lady, who thinks that Tony is married to Patricia, who won’t give him a divorce. But she loves him …
- Maude Eburne (The Vampire Bat) … Aunt Charlotte. Patricia’s aunt, who truly cares about her. She’d disapprove of her romance with the “married” Tony …. If she ever finds out!
- Henry Armetta (The Devil’s Brother) … Bouncer
- Paul Porcasi (Svengali) … Paul Le Maire
- Jean Del Val (The Flying Deuces) … Chauffeur
- August Tollaire (Plastered in Paris) … General Bouschay
Additional Cast
- Edward Brophy (You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man) … Man Outside Beauty Parlor (uncredited)
- Heinie Conklin (Three Pests in a Mess) … Hunter with Rifle at Duel (uncredited)
- Carl M. Leviness (The Nutty Professor) … Casino Patron (uncredited)
- Fred Malatesta (Modern Times) … Tony’s Second (uncredited)
- Rolfe Sedan (Ninotchka) … Tony’s Second (uncredited)
- Stanhope Wheatcroft (City Lights) … Casino Patron (uncredited)
- Florence Wix … Casino Patron (uncredited)