The Goat (1921)

A series of adventures begins when an accident during photographing causes Buster to be mistaken for Dead Shot Dan, the evil badguy.

Directors:

Buster Keaton, Malcolm St. Clair

Writers:

Buster Keaton, Malcolm St. Clair

Stars:

Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox, Joe Roberts

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Buster Keaton	...	The Goat
Virginia Fox	...	The Police Chief's Daughter
Joe Roberts	...	Police Chief
Malcolm St. Clair	...	Dead Shot Dan (as Mal St. Clair)

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

elevator | written and directed by cast member | mistaken identity | food line

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Genres:

Comedy | Short

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 May 1921 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Cabra

Filming Locations:

914 S. Alvarado Street, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Joseph M. Schenck Productions, Buster Keaton Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

27 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in L'Art de Buster Keaton (2001)

User Reviews

Shakespeare, Mozart, Picasso, Keaton

A simple contrivance--the Great Stone Face is mistaken for an escaped mass murderer--gives Buster Keaton room for changes rung on a theme that will make your jaw hang. The amazing thing here is the protean story invention--Keaton uses an offhand set-up to generate every kind of reversed-expectation gag. He shortens, elongates, and crash-dives out of left field every expected joke. The astonishment here is the surrealist freeness with storytelling, not just the masterly composition and choreography. THE GOAT feels as gaily, cartwheelingly modern as UN CHIEN ANDALOU. And more than even some revered Keaton features, it's a masterpiece of invention.