Our Hospitality – I could watch this silent movie just for the fascinating old timey train but it is a decent story too with jaw-dropping stunts.
Go West –While the story of a man’s love for a cow and the lengths he will go to to save her life is lovely, it is overshadowed by the mixed messaging in this silent movie.
College – the dullest Buster Keaton silent film I’ve seen, because there is almost no plot.
Diverting, though ultimately unexceptional silent comedy which lacks the inspiration we usually expect from Buster Keaton. Most obviously, it is two years after Harold Lloyd in The Freshman and this is a bit of a rip off. Only it’s not as good, and did much worse at the box office.
Which was a problem as Keaton made a huge loss the previous year on The General. He has lost his credit as director. And he's still cast as a boy, even though now 31. There is an impression of his star beginning to fade, especially as College arrived at the same time as sound in The Jazz Singer.
Buster plays an unpopular bookworm who graduates from high school and follows his girl (Anne Cornwall) to college*. They break up because she desires a more athletic guy, so the swot seeks to prove himself on the track while bullied by the arrogant jock (Harold Goodwin) who wants to date his ex.
Most of the action is Buster performing athletic events badly, which looks improvised and lacklustre. Put a group of sport shy kids on a playing field, and they will come up with this stuff. It recovers for a decent climax and there are a couple of big laughs. But this is a misfire.
*There is a scene in blackface.