Three Buster Keaton shorts: THE BALLOONATIC, THE GOAT, and THE HIGH SIGN will screen April 10th at 2pm at the Walt Theater in New Haven, Missouri. The films will be accompanied by The Rats and People Motion Picture Orchestra.
There’s nothing better than silent films accompanied by the Rats and People Motion Picture Orchestra. The group is a treasure and St. Louis is lucky to have them here. The group has actively redefined both the local music and film cultures of the area. The ensemble – equal parts indie/punk-stalwart and academically trained composer and musicians – provide life performance of new film scores to classic silent films. The Rats are hitting the road this Sunday, April 2nd and will be playing at the Walt Theater in New Haven, Missouri (about 60 miles west of St. Louis). The show starts at 2pm.
This is part of the Riverside Film Festival 2017. The Facebook page with more details about the event can be found HERE.
Tickets are $12 in advance or at the door. Seating is limited. Concessions and Cash bar available.
Tickets can be purchased at this link
First up is THE BALLOONATIC (1923 – 22 minutes) Buster and Phyllis endure a number of outdoor adventures trying to prove to each other their survival skills. The balloon which lands Buster in the wilderness proves useful later on as their canoe is about go over a waterfall. Once again the Great Stone Face endures a quite a pounding as a bear, a waterfall, a runaway balloon and a corpulent young lady put his life in peril. Accessing both urban and rural stages Keaton squeezes into the short’s running time some tiny gems especially in the field and stream segment. Keaton’s gadgets (a three piece canoe) and methodology catching fish along with his narrow escape finale are calamitously hysterical and ever more so by the implacable response of the irrepressible Buster. Phyllis Haver like the love interests in other Keaton comedies endures some roughhousing well enough and shows the right amount of snobbish imperiousness to give as good as she gets. THE BALLOONATIC is one short, satisfying high.
Next is THE GOAT (23 minutes – 1921) – Buster is inadvertently identified as the notorious outlaw Dead Shot Dan. He is pursued throughout the city by the local police chief, using disguises and quick-thinking to elude the lawman. He encounters Virginia, a young lady friend, and goes to her home to visit and hide out, only to discover that Virginia’s father is the police chief.THE GOAT is an outrageously funny short, filled with good material and executed with perfect timing. It’s a fine display of Buster Keaton’s comic skill, and it’s also an enjoyable example of the way his characters stoically and resourcefully face the most bizarre and unexpected of developments.
Finally, THE HIGH SIGN (20 minutes – 1921) begins with Buster being a crook. First, he steals a newspaper from a man riding a merry-go-round. It turns out to be the biggest newspaper you have ever seen! He sees a “help wanted” ad for a worker in a shooting gallery. You must be “crack shot.” Buster isn’t, of course, but he cheats again and gets the job, thanks to a little (and very clever) scheme with a little dog. (Buster is not an honest man in this movie, but he sure is resourceful!). The arcade is run by a giant of a man (Charles Dorety?) who is a member of the Blinking Buzzards, a brutal secret group of extortionists and hit men. One of the men on their hit list is the town tightwad: “August Nickelnurser.” The latter, knowing his days are numbered, walks by the arcade, sees Buster, and hires him as his bodyguard. The big villain-arcade owner (no name was ever given him) comes back, takes Buster to the Buzzards hideout, makes him a member and gives him his first assignment: kill Nickelnurser. Holy cow – Buster is both the bodyguard and the hired assassin for the same man!!! What to do?
About The Walt:
The Walt Theatre is a fully restored Art Deco movie theater offering first run movies and special screenings
Operated and owned by Walter Buchholtz, the grand opening of The Walt was on November 14, 1940 with three showings at 2:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m., with the western film “Wyoming” staring Wallace Beery. Admission was 10 cents for kids and 25 cents for adults.
The Walt Theater’s site can be found HERE
