“Three Ages” is a silent comedy film released in 1923 and directed by Buster Keaton and Edward F. Cline. The movie is a parody of D.W. Griffith’s “Intolerance” and tells three parallel stories set in different historical eras, each depicting the trials and tribulations of a young man trying to win the heart of his love interest.

The first story takes place in prehistoric times and follows the adventures of a caveman, played by Buster Keaton, who competes for the love of a woman with a rival tribe. The caveman must use all his wit and strength to win the heart of the woman he loves and escape the dangers of the primitive world around him.

The second story takes place in ancient Rome and follows the exploits of a young gladiator, also played by Buster Keaton, who falls in love with a woman of high social status. He must navigate the dangerous world of the Roman aristocracy and fight off a rival suitor in order to win her heart.

The third and final story takes place in the modern era and follows the misadventures of a young man, played by Buster Keaton, who is trying to win the heart of a woman in the city. He must contend with modern technology and the fast pace of city life while trying to win her affections.

In the end, all three stories converge in a final scene that sees the three main characters of each era meet each other and embrace, symbolizing the timeless nature of love and the universality of human experience.

“Three Ages” was Buster Keaton’s first feature-length film as a director, and it showcased his trademark physical comedy and acrobatics. The film was well-received by critics and audiences alike and helped establish Keaton as one of the most talented and innovative filmmakers of his time.

Directors:
Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton

Writer:
Clyde Bruckman, Joseph A. Mitchell, Jean C. Havez

Stars:
Buster Keaton, Margaret Leahy, Wallace Beery

“The Love Nest” is a silent comedy film released in 1923, directed by Buster Keaton and Edward F. Cline, and starring Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox, and Joe Roberts.

The film follows the story of a newlywed couple, Buster and Virginia, who decide to build their dream home in the countryside. They purchase a piece of land and begin construction on their love nest, but soon discover that the site they’ve chosen is directly in the middle of a wild bird sanctuary.

As they attempt to build their home, the couple faces a series of obstacles and mishaps, including dealing with the hostile birds, battling inclement weather, and facing financial difficulties. Buster, a jack-of-all-trades, attempts to solve each problem that arises, often with hilarious consequences.

Eventually, Buster comes up with a plan to use the bird sanctuary to their advantage by turning their love nest into a birdhouse and charging visitors to see the rare birds. The plan works, and the couple is able to finish building their dream home.

In the end, Buster and Virginia enjoy their love nest, complete with a bird-filled backyard and a cozy interior. The film ends with Buster and Virginia sitting on their front porch swing, looking out at the beautiful scenery and each other, happy in their love nest.

Directors:
Buster Keaton, Edward F. Cline

Writer:
Buster Keaton, Jeffrey Vance

Stars:
Buster Keaton, Joe Roberts, Virginia Fox

“The Goat” is a silent short film released in 1921, starring and directed by Buster Keaton. The film follows Keaton as he is mistaken for an escaped criminal known as “The Goat,” and he must evade capture while trying to clear his name.

Throughout the film, Keaton faces a series of comedic challenges, including being pursued by the police, accidentally stealing a car, and getting caught up in a high-speed chase. Despite his best efforts, Keaton’s attempts to clear his name only lead to more trouble, and he becomes more and more entangled in the criminal underworld.

“The Goat” is a classic example of Keaton’s style of physical comedy, featuring his trademark deadpan expression and incredible stunts. The film is often cited as one of Keaton’s best works, and it remains a beloved classic of early film comedy.

“The Goat” is also notable for its innovative use of camera angles and editing techniques. The film features several long tracking shots and dynamic camera movements, which were unusual for the time, and it demonstrates Keaton’s innovative approach to filmmaking.

Directors:
Buster Keaton, Malcolm St. Clair

Writer:
Buster Keaton, Malcolm St. Clair

Stars:
Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox, Joe Roberts

“The Boat” is a silent short film released in 1921, directed by and starring Buster Keaton. The film follows Keaton as he attempts to take his newly purchased boat on a fishing trip with his family, but the boat turns out to be in poor condition and the trip quickly turns disastrous.

Throughout the film, Keaton faces a series of comedic challenges, including a leaky boat, a broken motor, and a runaway anchor. Despite his best efforts, Keaton’s attempts to fix the boat only make things worse, and the family’s fishing trip becomes a series of escalating disasters.

“The Boat” is a classic example of Keaton’s style of physical comedy, featuring his trademark deadpan expression and ingenious use of props and gags. The film is often cited as one of Keaton’s best works, and it remains a beloved classic of early film comedy.

“The Boat” is also notable for its innovative use of special effects, particularly a scene where Keaton’s boat is washed away by a tidal wave. The scene was achieved through the use of a large water tank and careful choreography, and it remains a striking example of early film special effects.

Directors:
Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton

Writer:
Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton

Stars:
Buster Keaton, Edward F. Cline, Sybil Seely

“The Cook” is a silent film released in 1918, starring Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle as a chef working in a restaurant. The film follows the chef as he tries to prepare a meal while dealing with various mishaps and distractions, including a difficult customer and a mischievous kitchen hand.

The film is notable for its physical comedy and slapstick humor, which were hallmarks of Arbuckle’s style. Despite its age, “The Cook” is still regarded as a classic example of early film comedy, and it influenced many future filmmakers.

However, the film’s legacy has been marred by the scandal that surrounded Arbuckle’s career in the years that followed. In 1921, he was accused of rape and manslaughter in the death of actress Virginia Rappe, which led to a highly publicized trial and Arbuckle’s eventual acquittal. The scandal had a lasting impact on his career and reputation, and it is often cited as an example of the destructive power of media sensationalism.

Directors:
Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle

Writer:
Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle

Stars:
Roscoe ‘Fatty’ Arbuckle, Buster Keaton, Al St. John

“The Electric House” is a silent comedy short film released in 1922 and directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline. The film stars Buster Keaton as a young man who dreams of having an electrically-powered home that will make his life easier.

In the beginning, Keaton is a botany student who has just inherited a large sum of money. He decides to use the money to build his dream home, complete with all sorts of automated gadgets and appliances. He hires a group of electricians to wire the house, but they are all lazy and incompetent.

Despite their shoddy workmanship, Keaton continues to have faith in his electric house, and he invites a group of friends over for a housewarming party. Chaos ensues as the electrical system malfunctions, causing all sorts of unexpected and hilarious mishaps.

In one scene, Keaton’s automatic shaving machine goes haywire and leaves him with a completely shaved head. In another scene, the electric lights in the house start flashing on and off, making it seem like the house is possessed by ghosts.

Eventually, Keaton and his friends are able to get the electrical system under control, but not before the house is completely destroyed. In the end, Keaton realizes that his dream of an electric house was not worth the trouble, and he decides to return to a simpler way of life.

Overall, “The Electric House” is a classic Buster Keaton film that showcases his physical comedy and innovative filmmaking techniques. It also provides a humorous commentary on the increasing reliance on technology during the early 20th century.

Directors:
Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton

Writer:
Buster Keaton, Edward F. Cline, Jeffrey Vance

Stars:
Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox, Joe Keaton

“The Blacksmith” is a silent comedy short film released in 1922, directed by and starring Buster Keaton. The film follows the story of a blacksmith, played by Keaton, who works in a small town with his assistant, played by Joe Roberts.

The film begins with the blacksmith attempting to fix a car, but he only ends up damaging it further. A wealthy man then arrives with his fancy car, which breaks down right in front of the blacksmith’s shop. The blacksmith attempts to repair the car, but chaos ensues as he accidentally destroys various parts of the car in the process.

As the wealthy man becomes increasingly frustrated with the blacksmith’s antics, the blacksmith and his assistant come up with various hilarious schemes to fix the car, including using a horse to pull it and trying to glue it back together.

Despite their best efforts, the car ends up completely destroyed, and the blacksmith and his assistant are left to deal with the angry owner. However, in a twist ending, the blacksmith discovers that the car was actually stolen, and he and his assistant are hailed as heroes for their unwitting role in its destruction.

“The Blacksmith” is a classic example of Keaton’s talent for physical comedy and his use of sight gags. The film’s setting allowed Keaton to play with the contrast between the rural, rough-and-tumble world of the blacksmith and the sophistication of the wealthy car owner. The film remains a beloved and influential comedy short today.

Directors:
Buster Keaton, Malcolm St. Clair

Writer:
Buster Keaton, Malcolm St. Clair

Stars:
Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox, Joe Roberts