The Boat

This one might not be the best one of Keaton, but the adventures of one family on the self made boat is entertaining enough that it is worth your time. To understand the joke where Buster sends out S.O.S signal is good to know that the name of of the boat 'Damfino' means damned is I know. Also, International Buster Keaton Society (yes, there is such a cool organization) is called 'The Damfinos'.

Films starts with the scene, where Buster tries to get the boat out of the house and from there, one thing after another goes hilariously wrong that you finally start feel for the heroes. Fantastic scene is where the boat capsizes repeatedly and Buster runs like a hamster in a wheel while trying to send S.O.S. message.

The Boat (1921) : Brief Review -

The Boat of Buster Keaton's Comedy sails on adventurous voyage. Looking at this film from contemporary point of view one must have enjoyed it a lot, that includes me. But Keaton's raising graph wasn't affected by it. That's good and bad both. Good because it didn't fall and bad because it didn't rise when people were expecting him to deliver sensational stuff with every film. Practically it wasn't possible because all the innovative ideas were used and anyhow some of films were meant to be hurt by it. From this point of view, The Boat is one of those hurt films but keeping Keaton's high standard aside, this one is as good as any other good comedy of that time. His 'One Week' was such an astonishing experience that the impact has stayed with me and will stay with me forever. The Boat is nothing like that but a fair, actually very good one. It has different adventures, different proportions so it shouldn't be judged by comparison with One Week. If one has to compare it then compare it with 'The Playhouse' which released in the same year and to me this comparison looks fine. Buster and his family go on a voyage on his homemade boat that proves to be one disaster after another. This has some great shots, i mean some real great. That boat flipping scene is shot so brilliantly. An impressive piece of cinematic genius. One must know how to shoot it, how to flip camera and how to make movements according to that and Keaton as a director (along with Edward F. Cline) and as an actor knew exactly what to. That one scene takes this film so High even though it doesn't have too many gags. It's more like an adventurous and genuinely funny ride than a hysterical, out-an-out comedy. Keaton and Cline make sure that they don't produce an underwhelming product. Yes, this one is Nice and extremely watchable.

RATING - 7/10*

By - #samthebestest.

This was a short that had no long term goals. If not from dumb luck, this movie could have been lost forever. This was found among a series of other shorts that Keaton had kept at home. In many ways, this is a rip off of Chaplin. Nothing seems to go right for this little "Tramp" as he is pushed around and put into one situation after another. Not as funny as many other Keaton classics, it is worth keeping on tape for future generations to enjoy. In many ways, this and The Love Nest are often found with Keaton's classic the Navigator. Both have to do with Keaton on the Ocean. This alone keep them together in a category. If you like Keaton, you'll enjoy this one. If not, you'll agree that this is a dime a dozen for Keaton.

This funny short comedy has some good subtle gags, in addition to Buster Keaton's usual assortment of slapstick gags and gadgets. For having such a closely-confined setting, there is a rather impressive variety of material, and the story and the cast make good use of every possibility.

The movie starts with a clever opening shot, the kind of misdirection joke that Keaton was so good at carrying out in an offhand way. The opening scene also sets up the rest of the action very nicely. The comedy that follows on "The Boat" is at times unrefined, but it has some very amusing moments.

Buster gets pretty good mileage out of the props and also from the family relationships. Sybil Seely (who was in some of Keaton's best short features) portrays his patient wife, and the reactions of her and the children to some of Keaton's antics add to the comedy.

'The Boat' shows Buster Keaton as a boat builder, taking his wife and two children to the launch of his boat. As the four hit the ocean they learn there are quite some surprises to this boat. That things will not happen as planned is an understatement. Although there are quite some nice gags in this short film, it is only mildly funny.

The first half is so much more entertaining than the second, which seems a little boring. It uses more of the same gags and the new ones play too long. Keaton is able to show his physical a couple of time, using the entire boat as a prop, making this short a nice part in his oeuvre. On the other hand, he could have done without 'The Boat'.