Customer Reviews

The Villain Still Pursued Her

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

 

 

The villians are evil doers that you will hiss at, the goodies you will root for and along the way you will enjoy this over the top comedy. Buster Keaton plays the role to William, he is one of the heroes of the storyline. This is great fun to watch as the characters whisper to the camera and you are encouraged to hiss and clap along. If you like panto you are going to really enjoy this movie. It is certainly not your average film.

THE VILLAIN STILL PURSUED HER is one of the little gems hidden in MCE's COMEDY KINGS 50 Movie Pack. This one's so good I actually just watched it two nights in a row-- something I *never* do.

The film's style and era are reminiscent of the WARNER BROS. cartoon "The Dover Boys at Pimento University or The Rivals of Roquefort Hall" (1942)-- a one-of-a-kind Chuck Jones classic that introduced the world to the Dover Boys (Tom, Dick and Larry), their sweetheart (Dora dear) and the evil villain (Dan Backslide).

The plot of "The Villain..." is basic: pure-hearted girl marries a naïve college boy who is then victimized by a mustachioed villain (hisss!) when he's tricked into tasting the Demon Rum that leads him to dissipation, and the young couple to ruin. Also in the mix is a humorously diminutive hero (yay!) deftly played by Buster Keaton in his last great screen role. Other outstanding cast members are Alan Mowbray as the unctuous black caped villain, Margaret Hamilton sweetly delivering her lines as the heroine's precious mother, Richard Cromwell as the wide-eyed youth led astray, lovely Joyce Compton in her patented blonde airhead persona (with a touch of dementia thrown in) and bubbly Hugh Herbert as the scatterbrained doctor who cures men of alcoholism.

This is the sort of movie that gets better with each viewing. Slapstick, throwaway jokes (like the buttercup reference of this review's title), sight gags, cheesy overacting and insanity abound. Watch for the Three Stooges' favorite foil, Vernon Dent, as the cop whose face is buried under several creamy pies.

Directed by Edward F. Cline, co-creator of some of Buster Keaton's greatest silent films, along with Buster himself.

Highly recommended for all fans of good clean silly FUN!

For those who watched this movie and are confused, it must be stated that this is a parody of the Melodramas of the 19th and early 20th century. The acting is overblown, as it would have been in these plays. That said, this movie is hilarious and Buster Keaton (who from his vaudeville days, knew this genre well and spoofed it in his own films) is marvelous. If nothing else, it's the only talkie of his that I fully enjoy. Keaton's character of his Silent Films returns, he has the wit and dry humor that makes us love his Silent Work. Edward Cline directed this film and was Keaton's Asst Director on all his Independent films. He knew and appreciated Keaton's talent and intelligence and lets it shine through. We also get to see the more earthy Keaton, with his Kansas accent and colloquialisms that gives balance to the elegant, ethereal character of his own works. Bravo, also to Keaton to allow a decent amount of self-deprecating humor even on the recent issues of his past life. Sit back, enjoy, and think, what would Keaton's film history have been like if he was allowed to create and work in films like this.

It took me several starts to finally watch this movie, the acting is so outlandish. But it has such good character actors I finally pushed myself into it. The histrionic style is totally overblown and silly. But its interesting to find what the actors do with this riff-raff. There is even a pie in the cops faces sequence. Cromwell is the most over the top.....pure dumb guy done in by drink. Next is Mobray as the obvious villian. Hugh Herbert is his usual silly self drying out drunks. And my favorite is Betty Compton as the dizzy, ditsy sister. I always love her and she is the one actually believable character.

This is an unusual film in that all of the actors are performing as if amateurs, spouting their lines in silly voices and waving their hands as they emote. The formula is amusing for about 20 minutes and then becomes exceedingly tiresome. Buster Keaton was inserted into the film, no doubt, to generate sales, but he has little to do. I laughed twice throughout the movie and spent the rest of the time trying to stay awake. At one point, the film descended to pies in the face humor (one recipient being Vernon Dent, the Three Stooges' foil for many years).

Some highlites: Alan Mowbray was perfectly cast as the villain; Anita Louise was lovely; and Margaret Hamilton sings! Beyond that, there is nothing positive to say about this dud. The quality of the DVD was acceptable, if just barely.

I really enjoyed The Villain Still Pursued Her.It's like a live version of the old Perils of Pauline.There are hilarious bits probably from the Mack Sennett comedy heyday.There are delightful surprises of slapstick comedy ala Laurel and Hardy.This is a movie that must be watched to be enjoyed.There is not a slam-bang moment in every scene but inserts of funny business that will tickle your innards.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

RLJ

Obviously I've missed the point. Yes, there are some excellent actors in this, but I had to force myself to sit through the entire film to see if something would happen to make sense out of it. Yes, it's a parody of old time melodrama -- but it's a terrible parody and much too long. What is its purpose? What was the studio thinking?

I'm old enough to remember a lot of grade B movies -- our mothers gave us a quarter for the movies every Saturday, and that quarter got us not only our admission to the theatre but popcorn and candy as well. We got a movie, newsreel, cartoon and a short. Over the years I saw some pretty lame films, but nothing this bad.

Keaton, Mowbray and a few others are good -- but it's sad to see them in such a loser.