Our Hospitality & Sherlock Jr. (1923/1924) (Not Rated)

Our Hospitality & Sherlock Jr. (1923/1924) (Not Rated)

Directed by Buster Keaton & John G. Blystone

Starring: Buster Keaton, Joe Roberts, Ralph Bushman, Craig Ward

Daddy Says:

Our Hospitality is the first feature-length movie from silent film comedian Buster Keaton. It's the story of a generation's long feud between the McKay's and the Canfields. Keaton stars as Willie McKay, who was raised by an aunt far away from his feuding relatives, and only finds out that the feud even exists right before his trip home to claim a home left to him by his deceased relatives.

On a very funny train ride there (where it's easier to move the train tracks than it is to move a donkey blocking them), Keaton meets a very nice girl and is smitten by her. I'll give you three guesses as to who his new girlfriend's relatives turn out to be. Will true love win over a family feud? And does it really matter when the visual gags are coming fast and furious?

While Our Hospitality is very good for his first feature, I actually prefer the shorter Sherlock Jr. over it.  In it Keaton plays a movie projectionist who dreams of someday becoming a detective. When he is framed as a thief, he attempts to follow his instruction book to uncover the real criminal. When things don't go exactly as planned, and he returns to his day job at the theater, he dreams of jumping into the detective movie on the screen and solving the crime there.

This film, more than the other, really allows Keaton to work in some of his best gags and visual effects. When he jumps into the movie screen, the film keeps changing around him, constantly throwing him off-balance. Later we are shown that one of the balls on a pool table is rigged to explode. Keaton manages multiple trick shots to hit every ball on the table except the exploding one, although he comes within a fraction almost every time. It's great suspense and humor rolled into one.

Other gags I won't give away. They deserve to be experienced for the first time as you watch them. For anyone who's never seen a Buster Keaton movie, I'd probably start off with his best: The General. But this double feature makes for a wonderful follow-up.

Rating for Our Hospitality & Sherlock Jr.: *****.

Daughter Says:

There’s only two ways to enjoy a black and white/silent movie. One: It has Charlie Chaplin and two: it has Buster Keaton. Our Hospitality and Sherlock Jr. had the second part. I’ve always enjoyed watching Buster Keaton in all his movies. I find him amazing for quite a few things. For one, he does his own stunts, which is really cool. I love that he doesn’t have to depend on anyone else to make him look good. Another thing I like about Keaton is that he has such great facial expressions. I can always tell what mood he is in when handling certain situations.

Keaton certainly made these movies something else. I really enjoyed both of them. Our Hospitality was hilarious in many ways. The situations that Keaton was put through were funny, but at the same time ironic. The only way to survive was to stay inside the other family’s house. Keaton found the most creative ways to remain inside the house. I really enjoyed watching it a lot.

Sherlock Jr. was just as funny, but with more action. Everything that Keaton went through was interesting and creative. In one scene, he had to escape quickly so Keaton jumped through a window and appeared out the other end in disguise as an old lady. How in the world did he do that? I mean after all, he does all his own stunts. Keaton is just so creative and brilliant. (I know, I know. I’m a fan, but who wouldn’t be?) The one problem I had with this movie was the relationship between Keaton and the girl he was “in love with”. They didn’t seem to be together at all. The chemistry between the two just didn’t seem to connect with each other. But it is just a black and white movie and a comedy, so who really cares.

Even with the one flaw both of these movies were wonderful. The comedy was perfectly spaced out and the whole thing seemed to flow so well. So if you’re looking for a great comedy and a good laugh these are the movies for you.

Rating for Our Hospitality and Sherlock Jr. : ****1/2.