The Invader

Old Spanish Custom, An (1935)

BOMB (out of 4)

Extremely cheap British film about a stupid American (Buster Keaton) who flirts with another man's wife and then must do a Spanish custom by challenging him to a duel. This is an extremely bad film on all levels from the cheap production to the horrid direction to the screenplay, which really only allows Keaton to have water thrown on him. There's not a single laugh to be found but there's plenty of tears having to see Keaton doing stuff like this.

You can find this film on the Buster Keaton Laughsmith set.

Of all the items culled for the "Industrial Strength Keaton" DVD collection, this was not only the worst looking one because of a bad print but, quality-wise, there's hardly any comedy even with The Great Stone Face's presence, and the music numbers just show how padded this feature called An Old Spanish Custom (at least here in the U.S.) is. It's not that there aren't any good gags here-like when Buster sings "In An Old Spanish Town" while some fruit drops on his head-it's just they come at arbitrary points and you have to wade through a lot of plot-related dialogue that is just performed monotonously to get to them. Also, Buster doesn't have too much motivation for his character so I don't find myself feeling for him here. Still, anything featuring the legendary comic is at least worth a look at least once so there you are...

Very poor effort from Buster Keaton, who looks like he'd rather be anywhere else. The premise does offer some comic possibilities (Buster used as a patsy by a pair of lovers in a plan to get rid of the woman's husband), but there is more music than comedy (barely any comedy, really), and the production values / sound / image are atrocious. The only redeeming element is that Lupita Tovar (who lived to be 106!) is pretty hot, especially in some shots with wet hair and her bare back exposed. *1/2 out of 4.

Sound is sometimes mostly just a flavor, as Buster Keaton proves by making another splendid film defined chiefly by his reliable penchant for sight gags and physical comedy. Clearly neither Keaton nor the filmmaker were quite done with silent sensibilities, for dialogue could generally be substituted here with intertitles without missing anything. It should be said that 'The invader,' also known as 'An old Spanish custom,' perhaps lags at times, with less robust or consistent humor than the star at his best; simply put, not every bit lands. There's a reason the man's career tapered off after the advent of talkies. (Well, okay, multiple reasons.) Yet even if the result falls short of the utmost heights we assume of the actor, still I think overall this is rather enjoyable, and a fine diversion for a mere hour.

Yes, it's distinctly uneven, and light in content even by the standards of the era. For such faults, one can hardly miss the fact that the plot development, climax, and ending feel abrupt and even forced. The stunts that the star is known for are also less noteworthy here. But even for all that still the picture earns plenty of laughs, and the plot is suitably smart. Between Keaton's comedic timing and aloof, nervous disposition in-character, Adrian Brunel's practiced direction, and the writing, all the necessary ingredients are present for a duly entertaining farce. All those behind the scenes put in good work in terms of costumes, sets, and the like. For a Keaton vehicle to not totally land still means it's no worse off than being "average" by the standards of other contemporary fare, and indeed, there are a lot worse movies from the 1930s that one could spend time with.

This is hardly essential in the same way as 'Go west,' 'The general,' or any of Keaton's many other silent classics. This may not be especially memorable in the grand scheme of things, at least not by comparison. But the feature only wants to have fun, and despite any weaknesses, I believe it handily achieves that goal. Sure, there are other films that should claim priority for any viewer, but if you're looking for something light and frivolous, 'The invader' neatly fits the bill. Don't go out of your way for it, but this is quite nice for a quick view.

Keaton had a nervous breakdown about two months before this British made movie had a release in a few theaters in the U. S. as "As Old Spanish Custom." Nobody even bothered to review it.

Keaton sparkles in the film's many gags, but the film, at least the 50 minute version on the Internet Archive and Youtube, does not have enough time to develop thematically.

Lupitar Tovar (Dracula - Spanish Version - 1931) gives a nice performance as the object of Buster's affection/desire.

Even at this low point in his life, Keaton still had all his acrobatic skills and continued to be a master of slap-stick gag construction. Definitely worth seeing for Keaton fans.