Customer Reviews

Battling Butler [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

BATTLING BUTLER (1926): Buster plays Alfred Butler, a pampered rich kid who is sent out into the wilderness by his father in order to make a man out of him. This does no good, because Alfred takes along his valet who waits on him hand and foot, and provides him with the luxuries he's used to at home. However, he falls in love with a girl out there, and in order to reach the approval of her family, poses as a famous prize-fighter, also named Alfred Butler, to prove he's not the weakling he has shown himself to be. Much of the film takes place at the training grounds where the fighter Alfred Butler trains (and where Buster pretends to train, in front of the girl).

"Battling Butler" is a farce comedy - a plot involving a case of mistaken identity that could easily be cleared up if any person involved would just explain what's going on. Buster made other farce comedies ("Parlor, Bedroom and Bath", "The Passionate Plumber"). All were hits, but he didn't think farce comedy was best suited for his (sight gag) style, and never included those among his favorites. Ironically, "Battling Butler" made more money at the box office than any of his favorites.

The most exciting scene in "Battling Butler" is where Buster beats the fighter Alfred Butler to a pulp. He's ferocious and frightening, and looks as if he trained hard before he shot the scene. Buster was obviously a jack of all trades, master of all. In addition to boxing, he was highly competent as: silent film comedian with perfect timing, sound film comedian with perfect timing, actor, director editor, writer, stuntman, pratfaller, singer, dancer, acrobat, baseball player, and private in the US Army!

THE HAUNTED HOUSE (1921): "The Haunted House", a 2-reel short, should have been called The Sticky Bank because more time is spent in the first reel at a bank that Buster works at where he has idiotically spilled glue all over gobs of money, which becomes a basis for several gags that follow...Buster knocking his head senseless with a large hammer to modify the pain involved when he pours boiling water over his hand to loosen glue...glue getting stuck to other guys' butts, and Buster cutting their pants off. The action then moves to Buster running away from the cops (and almost crashing into the camera) who think he robbed the bank. They all end up at a haunted house, where several spook gags emerge, the best of which is Buster playing traffic cop to an abundance of ghosts on their way from room to room. This print of the film is in good condition, but there is a blue tint to some of the scenes that I also found on his 2-reeler "The Boat". However, it doesn't affect the quality, only makes the viewer curious as to what it is.

THE FROZEN NORTH (1922): In this 2-reel short, Buster encounters a sign that says "North Pole - 3 Miles South". That's where this film takes place. Lots of snow gags, one of which is Buster emerging from a subway stop in the middle of nowhere. Also, Buster travels on a sled that overheats (it has a radiator and grill similar to the front end of a 1920s car), and flags down a taxi, also in the middle of nowhere (later, Buster visits the taxi driver's igloo, and finds him using a carpet sweeper on an ice floor).

The overall theme of "The Frozen North" is to allow Buster to poke fun at William S. Hart, a cowboy actor from the silent era who was famous for sappy, overdramatic acting. Unless a modern audience has seen Hart's work, the gags don't always make sense. But I don't think in 1922 Buster was worrying if the audiences of the year 2000 would have trouble recognizing who he was trying to parody.

BATTLING BUTLER is a very funny movie (even though it's a farce). I guess I'm in the minority on Battling Butler. I've read many times where this is considered to be one of Buster's weakest silents. I don't think Battling Butler rates with Buster's best silent features. However, it just may be his funniest feature!!!! Several times I was brought to tears- I was laughing so hard. Once he meets the mountain girl and starts training things take off. His training in the ring is without a doubt one of the funniest moments I have ever seen. This tape also contains The Haunted House and The Frozen North.

THE HAUNTED HOUSE is one of Buster's best shorts. Some of the best scenes are of Buster as a bank clerk. It also includes some great stunts.

THE FROZEN NORTH is a parody of William Hart (a western star of the 1920's). I suppose it would be funny if I was familiar with William Hart's films. I am not, so The Frozen North is nothing special.