Screening with Sherlock Jr.
Director: Buster Keaton, Eddie Cline
Keaton gets married and attempts to build a new home with his wife, but everything goes wrong. Due to the sabotage of a rival, the couple mishandle the pre-fabricated construction kit, their dream home becomes a bizarre and dysfunctional house. The chaos culminates in a housewarming party on a stormy Friday the 13th, where the house becomes a spinning, out-of-control ride, tossing guests out of the windows and facing off against oncoming trains. Keaton’s comedic genius shines through in this film as it escalates from cold humour to a climax and features a clever ending. He explores the challenges of modern life, and infuses the film with a sense of fantasy and self-deprecating humour. This film remains one of Keaton’s best short films.
Images Courtesy of Park Circus / The Cohen Film Collection LLC.