Convict 13 (1920)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Directors:

Edward F. Cline
Buster Keaton

Writers:

Edward F. Cline (writer)
Buster Keaton (writer)

Release Date:

27 October 1920 (USA)

Genre:

Short | Comedy

Plot:

A young golfer is mugged by an escaped convict and finds himself in a prison where he foils a jailbreak.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Prisoner | Golf | Jailbreak | Escaped Convict

Cast

Buster Keaton	...	Golfer Turned Prisoner, Guard
Sybil Seely	...	Socialite, Warden's Daughter
Joe Roberts	...	The Crazed Prisoner
Edward F. Cline	...	Hangman
Joe Keaton	...	Prisoner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Louise Keaton

Runtime:

20 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

UK:PG | Argentina:Atp | Spain:T

Company:

Joseph M. Schenck Productions

Quotes:

[first title card]
Title card: Golf - the game that brings out the beast in men.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow (1987) (TV)

Black gallows humor the subject for an odd Keaton short

Although this is not one of Keaton's best shorts, it does have a few very funny moments. The exchange of exercise stretchers for the hanging rope and the resultant "bounce," the run-in with the berserk prisoner. The one gag that runs throughout is that clothes make the man. Once his street garb is changed for a prisoner's stripes, the girlfriend and her father immediately assume the Buster they knew is now a criminal. Buster later exchanges the prison garb for that of a warden - at just the wrong moment. Kino's video print is quite poor and fuzzy- odd for a Metro film. The music is supplied by a player piano with music effects and sound effects (whistles, doors slamming). There are dropouts. Not his best but an amusing twenty minutes.