The Boat (1921)

Buster and his family go on a voyage on his homemade boat that proves to be one disaster after another.

Directors:

Edward F. Cline (as Eddie Cline), Buster Keaton (as 'Buster' Keaton)

Writers:

Buster Keaton (as 'Buster' Keaton), Edward F. Cline (as Eddie Cline)

Stars:

Buster Keaton, Edward F. Cline, Sybil Seely

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Buster Keaton	...	The Boat Builder (as 'Buster' Keaton)

Storyline

Buster's handmade boat, The Damfino, is finished and is, of course, too large to get through the basement door. When he drives off with it in tow, the side of his house, then the whole thing, collapses. At the harbor he rides the boat out only to have it sink beneath him. The rest is a series of adventures he and his family have with the restored boat.

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Plot Keywords:

boat | leaking water | leaking from hole | leakage | s.o.s. | 

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Genres:

Short | Comedy | Family

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Release Date:

10 November 1921 (USA)

Also Known As:

La barca

Filming Locations:

Balboa Island, Newport Beach, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

First National Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

23 min

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White Color (tinted)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Buster Keaton's technical effects man, Fred Gabourie, constructed two boats for the filming. One was designed to sink, for the famous launching scene; the other was a fully working boat for the rest of the filming. Unfortunately, the boat that was designed to sink refused to do so; even when loaded with scrap iron, the bottom simply fell out of it and the shell bobbed on the surface. Conversely, the boat which was intended to float also refused to fulfill its obligations, constantly taking on water and threatening to sink. Gabourie finally solved the problem of the boats by attaching the launching scene boat to steel cables holding it to tracks below the water line, thus forcing it underwater; the second boat only floated by virtue of a crew manning hand pumps, concealed in the hull.

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Goofs

The radio mast that Keaton erects on the boat is missing in the shots of the boat model.

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Quotes

His Wife: Where are we?
The Boat Builder: Damfino.

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Connections

Spoofed in College (1927)

User Reviews

Nice, but does not belong to Keaton's greatest

'The Boat' shows Buster Keaton as a boat builder, taking his wife and two children to the launch of his boat. As the four hit the ocean they learn there are quite some surprises to this boat. That things will not happen as planned is an understatement. Although there are quite some nice gags in this short film, it is only mildly funny.

The first half is so much more entertaining than the second, which seems a little boring. It uses more of the same gags and the new ones play too long. Keaton is able to show his physical a couple of time, using the entire boat as a prop, making this short a nice part in his oeuvre. On the other hand, he could have done without 'The Boat'.