Our Hospitality

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Continuing on with the ‘1001 countdown’, this afternoon’s film was a Buster Keaton classic, Our Hospitality.

A delightfully witty and hilariously suspenseful satire, the film begins with a dramatic prologue that establishes an age-old feud between two families that transcends generations. Twenty years later, the protagonist, Willie McKay (Buster Keaton) who has been innocently raised in New York returns to his family home, only to run right into the family that wants to spill his blood: the Canfields. Having fallen in love with Canfield’s daughter whom he met on the train, Willie endeavours to become a permanent resident in the Canfield house, as Southern hospitality dictates that they can’t shoot him as long as he’s a guest under their roof.

Delightfully taking the piss out of Southern manners, Our Hospitality proves to be another cinematic triumph for Keaton. Blended between uproariously funny sequences including an unbelievable train ride, Willie’s escape in drag, and his heroically saving his beloved from plunging over a waterfall, and glorious suspense, the film sits in that wonderful place between drama and comedy. One could even go as far as to call this an epic love story… or at least a farce of one.

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Keaton, as ever, delights and entrances with a performance that is understated during the quieter scenes and hilariously active during the exciting ones. Having also directed the film, alongside John G. Blystone, he uses everything at his disposal including his perfect understanding and grasp on camera framing, character, mise en scene, and period. His sense of timing is impeccable, which (coupled with his wit) is what makes the film both so funny and so beautiful.

Our Hospitality is an absolute gem that stands the test of time. The satire, sight gags, and perfectly timed comedic sequences continue to delight and enchant almost a century later!

Director, John G. Blystone & Buster Keaton, 1923

Cast: Buster Keaton, Joe Roberts, Ralph Bushman, Craig Ward, Monte Collins, Joe Keaton, Kitty Bradbury, Natalie Talmadge, & Buster Keaton Jr.