Pest from the West (1939)

A millionaire vacationing in Mexico falls for a local girl and sets out to win her.

Director:

Del Lord

Writer:

Clyde Bruckman

Stars:

Buster Keaton, Lorna Gray, Gino Corrado

Cast

Cast overview:
Buster Keaton	...	Sir
Lorna Gray	...	Senorita
Gino Corrado	...	Martino
Richard Fiske	...	Ferdinand the Bullfighter
Bud Jamison	...	Neighbor taking siesta
Eddie Laughton	...	Deckhand
Ned Glass	...	Deckhand
Forbes Murray	...	Butler

Storyline

A rich Yank docks his yacht in Mexico and steps ashore for adventure. Meanwhile, Conchita, the local beauty, accepts an engagement ring from the hot-headed Martino, who promises to kill any man who gains her favors. Conchita already has another boyfriend, Ferdinand the bull fighter. They conspire to find a gull, she'll pretend he is her new boyfriend, Martino will kill him and be arrested, and she'll be free to be with Ferdinand. Their mark is none other than our rich gringo who's already fallen for Conchita. He's an innocent abroad; what chance does he have?

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Plot Keywords:

mexico | millionaire | yacht | remake

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Genres:

Comedy | Short

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 June 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

La peste del West

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

20 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was Buster Keaton's first two-reeler for Columbia Pictures.

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Goofs

In the opening sequence with Keaton on his yacht, the reflection of the boom mic is visible on the glass window on the cabin door.

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Connections

Featured in Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story (2002)

User Reviews

One of Buster's best talkies

This is the first and indeed the best of Buster Keaton's ten Columbia shorts. Most of these suffer from Stooge-style slapstick and heavy-handed direction,

but this first effort is great fun to watch. (Buster himself liked this one best, according to the late Mrs. Keaton.) In this reworking of his 1936 feature "An Old Spanish Custom," Buster plays an international tourist who falls for a pretty senorita. But he has several run-ins with belligerent locals, each resulting in a hasty retreat, a quick change of costume, and Buster coming back for more.

Exhibitors and audiences loved this film in 1939, and it was the first Columbia two-reeler selected for re-release (in 1948). It's still a crowd-pleaser today; this writer attended a screening where the audience members didn't just applaud -- they cheered!