The Play House (1921) starring Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox, Joe Roberts – a HILARIOUS silent film, with Buster playing multiple roles!
The Play House (1921) starring Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox, Joe Roberts
Buster Keaton playing all the roles in the play!
The orchestra …
The performers …
And even the audience!
Buster Keaton impersonates the monkey
Stagehand Buster Keaton was supposed to dress a monkey in a tuxedo for the next act. But, the monkey escapes! What to do? In a hilarious moment, Buster applies makeup, and impersonates the monkey!
Zouaves Act
And another hilariously funny bit is the Zouaves Act. I have to admit, I had to look up what a “Zouaves” was. Apparently, they were a class of light infantry regiments of the French Army. But here, it’ just an act, using military men, to do a very funny “human pyramid” bit.
Flooding the stage
Something goes wrong with the mermaid act — and the actress is drowning! So it’s Buster to the rescue! First, it’s a funny clown moment as he tries emptying the water tank with a tea cup. But then, he uses a fire axe to break the glass. And an insane amount of water flows out! A small flood that fills the orchestra pit, and then floods out the audience!
Happy ending
Throughout The Play House, there’s been a running joke of Buster falling in love with a lovely girl (Virginia Fox). But initially unknown to him, she has an identical twin sister, leading to several comedy mix ups. Then at the conclusion, having rescued her from the mermaid tank, he takes her to the justice of the peace to get married. But he grabs the wrong twin one last time, before correcting that and marrying the right girl.
Product Description
Buster Keaton, named the seventh greatest director of all time by Entertainment Weekly, was one of the most innovative cinematic artists in history. Here in The Playhouse, the genius of Keaton is fully demonstrated in this entrancing silent film. Keaton plays virtually all the characters, but the kicker is that he’s often on screen multiple times in one shot! The cinematic techniques were revolutionary, and still fascinating today as a look back. But beyond appreciating the movie making approaches, Keaton lights up the screen with nonstop gags. The Playhouse is all Buster Keaton, in more ways than one, and that’s a good thing.
Cast of characters
- Buster Keaton (Cops; Seven Chances) … Audience / Orchestra / Mr. Brown – First Minstrel / Second Minstrel / Stagehand
- Edward F. Cline (The Haunted House) … Orangutan Trainer (uncredited)
- Monte Collins … Civil War Veteran (uncredited)
- Virginia Fox (The Haunted House) … Twin (uncredited)
- Joe Murphy … One of the Zouaves (uncredited)
- Joe Roberts (One Week) … Actor-Stage Manager (uncredited)
- Jess Weldon … One of the Zouaves (uncredited)
- Ford West (Sherlock Jr.) … Stage Hand (uncredited)