“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

“The Balloonatic” is a silent comedy short film released in 1923, directed by and starring Buster Keaton. The film follows the story of Buster, who plays a young man that gets on a hot air balloon after a young woman, played by Phyllis Haver, he has just met does so as well. The balloon takes off with them both aboard, and the two of them have various misadventures as they try to land safely.

As they soar through the air, the pair encounters a series of obstacles including a group of aggressive eagles, a turbulent storm, and a waterfall. They also land in a remote area where they encounter a group of indigenous people who are initially hostile towards them, but eventually become their allies.

In the end, Buster and the young woman finally land the balloon safely and are relieved to be back on solid ground. However, as Buster tries to show off his bravery, he accidentally knocks himself out, leaving the young woman to revive him and walk off with another man.

“The Balloonatic” is a classic example of Keaton’s mastery of physical comedy and innovative use of visual gags. The film’s stunning visuals and thrilling action sequences made it a major success at the time of its release and have ensured its enduring popularity with audiences over the years.

Directors:
Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton

Writer:
Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton

Stars:
Buster Keaton, John Brown, Phyllis Haver

“The Rodeo” is a silent Western film released in 1929 and directed by Ralph Ince. The film stars Hoot Gibson as a rodeo performer named Hoot who becomes embroiled in a conflict between ranchers and a gang of cattle rustlers.

As Hoot performs in a rodeo, he becomes acquainted with a young woman named Mary, who works for the local ranchers. Mary is being harassed by the cattle rustlers, who are trying to force the ranchers to sell their land. Hoot takes it upon himself to help Mary and the ranchers, leading to a series of action-packed confrontations with the rustlers.

The film is notable for its thrilling rodeo scenes and its portrayal of the Wild West during the early 20th century. It was generally well-received upon its initial release and is now considered a classic of the Western genre.

Overall, “The Rodeo” is an exciting and entertaining film that showcases Hoot Gibson’s talents as a rodeo performer and actor, as well as the rugged beauty of the American West.

Directors:
Alfred J. Goulding

Writer:
Carl Harbaugh, Jefferson Moffitt, Earle Rodney

Stars:
Raymond McKee, Ruth Hiatt, Mary Ann Jackson

“The Campus Vamp” is a silent comedy film released in 1928 and directed by Harry Edwards. The film stars Joan Crawford in one of her early roles as a flirtatious college student named co-ed Betty who tries to win the affections of a shy, nerdy student named Bob.

Betty uses her feminine wiles to manipulate Bob into doing her bidding, such as completing her schoolwork and taking her on dates. However, as Bob becomes more confident and popular with his peers, he begins to see through Betty’s manipulations and turns the tables on her.

The film is known for its witty humor and fast-paced physical comedy, as well as its portrayal of college life in the 1920s. It was generally well-received upon its initial release and is now considered a classic of early Hollywood cinema.

Overall, “The Campus Vamp” is a charming and entertaining comedy that showcases Joan Crawford’s early talent and charisma on screen.

Directors:
Harry Edwards

Writer:
Ewart Adamson, Carl Harbaugh, Jefferson Moffitt

Stars:
Daphne Pollard, Johnny Burke, Sally Eilers

“Steamboat Bill, Jr.” is a silent comedy film from 1928, directed by Charles Reisner and starring Buster Keaton. The story takes place in a small Mississippi town, where William “Steamboat Bill” Canfield (Ernest Torrence), a gruff and tough riverboat captain, runs a struggling business. He hopes that his son, also named William (Buster Keaton), will come and help him out.

When William Jr. arrives, his father is disappointed to find that he is a weak and effeminate young man who dresses in the latest fashion and plays the ukulele. Despite his father’s disapproval, William Jr. falls in love with Kitty (Marion Byron), the daughter of Steamboat Bill’s rival, the wealthy and successful J.J. King (Tom McGuire).

As a hurricane approaches, the tension between the two families escalates. William Jr. and Kitty get caught in the middle of the chaos, and William Jr. must prove his worth and courage to both his father and Kitty’s father. The film culminates in a thrilling and iconic sequence in which Keaton’s character, caught in the middle of the hurricane, survives by narrowly avoiding a falling building facade, which he passes through a window frame.

Overall, “Steamboat Bill, Jr.” is a classic comedy film that showcases Buster Keaton’s talent for physical humor and his ability to create hilarious and inventive gags. The film is also notable for its impressive stunt work and special effects, which were groundbreaking for their time.

Directors:
Charles Reisner, Buster Keaton

Writer:
Carl Harbaugh

Stars:
Buster Keaton, Tom McGuire, Ernest Torrence

“One Week” is a 1920 silent comedy film directed by and starring Buster Keaton, and co-directed by Edward F. Cline. The film follows the story of a newlywed couple, Buster and Sybil (Sybil Seely), who receive a build-it-yourself house as a wedding gift.

Excited to start their new life together, the couple sets out to build the house, but everything goes wrong from the very beginning. They struggle to assemble the house, and the instructions that come with it are confusing and mixed up. As a result, their house ends up being a disaster, with windows and doors in the wrong places and the whole structure tilted at an angle.

As they try to make the best of their new home, they face a series of mishaps and challenges, including a runaway automobile, a lost cow, and a group of thieves who try to steal their home.

Despite all the setbacks, Buster and Sybil remain determined to make their house a home, and they ultimately find a way to turn their disastrous start into a happy ending.

“One Week” is considered a classic of silent comedy and is known for its creative use of physical humor and innovative camera techniques. It was one of Buster Keaton’s earliest and most successful films, helping to establish him as a major star of the silent era.

Directors:
Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton

Writer:
Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton

Stars:
Buster Keaton, Sybil Seely, Joe Roberts