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The Goat

Director: Buster Keaton and Malcolm St. Clair
Year: 1921
Run-time: 22 min
Source: Youtube

I won't turn down two Buster Keaton films in a row.  While One Week was all physical slapstick and set-based humor, the comedy in this film is more situational, although it also dives heavily into surreal farce.  The classic persona he shows in his films feels a little more developed, with that stone face barely hiding flashes of distress.

I couldn't possibly be the first to notice this, but Keaton shares a spiritual bond with Jackie Chan.  Certainly both performers were physical comedians of the highest order, and both suffered repeated injuries on set.  There are stunts in this film that boggle my mind, considering how little trickery filmmakers of the period had access to.

I didn't care much for what plot there was in The Goat, but it has a manic energy and pacing to it that's kind of infectious.  One thing that impresses me about the silent age is the high production value that is frequently put into a short twenty-minute film.  This film gives you your money's worth.  It's certainly a refreshing change from the modern cinema.



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