IMDb > Battling Butler (1926)

Battling Butler (1926) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.3/10   717 votes
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Director:
Buster Keaton
Writers:
Al Boasberg (writer)
Lex Neal (writer)
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Contact:
View company contact information for Battling Butler on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
19 September 1926 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy more
Plot:
Alfred's father wants him to make of a man of himself so sends him off on a hunting and fishing trip... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
User Comments:
A Cut Below His Best Films, But Still Good Comedy more (15 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)

Buster Keaton ... Alfred Butler
Sally O'Neil ... The mountain girl
Walter James ... Her father
Budd Fine ... Her brother (as Bud Fine)
Francis McDonald ... Alfred Battling Butler
Mary O'Brien ... His wife
Tom Wilson ... His trainer
Eddie Borden ... His manager
Snitz Edwards ... Alfred's valet
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
Spain:61 min | USA:71 min
Country:
USA
Color:
Black and White
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Silent
Certification:
Portugal:M/6 | Argentina:Atp | USA:Passed | UK:U | Spain:T
Filming Locations:
Bakersfield, California, USA more
Company:
Buster Keaton Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The close-up of Alfred Butler's hands as he opens the box with the wedding ring inside was shot with a hand double, since Buster Keaton was missing the tip of his right index finger. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Sports on the Silver Screen (1997) (TV) more

FAQ

List: Wacky boxing
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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
5 out of 6 people found the following comment useful.
A Cut Below His Best Films, But Still Good Comedy, 1 October 2001
Author: Snow Leopard from Ohio

While it's a cut below Keaton's best features, "Battling Butler" has some good comic material and an amusing, if lightweight, story. There are some good performances from the supporting cast, a wide enough assortment of gags, and the story-line also gives Buster a chance to demonstrate a few of his many acrobatic talents.

The first few minutes contain lots of good visual gags as we are introduced to Keaton's hapless character. Then, when his identity gets tangled up with that of a prize-fighter, "Battling Butler", from there on in Buster finds himself in some increasingly complicated and tricky situations. As his character's physical ineptness is emphasized, Keaton's own agility and versatility are displayed in various antics. (The same is true to some degree of his character in "College".) Most of the specific stunts, though, are relatively routine compared to those in his best work.

In lesser hands, the fragile premise would run out of steam quickly, but here things keep moving along steadily, and there are some very good moments. It doesn't ever really hit high gear, though, and it's missing the kind of top-notch climactic sequence that distinguishes Keaton's best films. Thus it will probably be of interest primarily to those who are already fans of Keaton, but most such fans should find it worth a look. While there's nothing spectacular, there is more than enough good material to make it worthwhile as light entertainment.

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