The Paleface (1922)

Buster helps a Native American tribe save their land from greedy oil barons.

Directors:

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

Writers:

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

Stars:

Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox, Joe Roberts

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Buster Keaton	...	Little Chief Paleface

Storyline

Evil oil barons have given the Indians one day to vacate their land. The Indian chief tells his braves to kill the first white man they see. Buster shows up chasing a butterfly. Later he keeps moving the stake to which he is tied and at which he is to be burned. He becomes one of the tribe and helps them with their fight.

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Plot Keywords:

butterfly net | tied to a pole | impersonation | falling from height | falling off a cliff | 

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Genres:

Short | Comedy | Western

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Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 1922 (USA)

Also Known As:

Blekansiktet

Filming Locations:

Iverson Ranch - 1 Iverson Lane, Chatsworth, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Buster Keaton Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

20 min 25 min (TV) (2016)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film was restored in 2015 through Lobster Films, a process partially funded through a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.

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Goofs

On the handwritten note, the land shark's name is "J.C. Hunt" but on the office door, it's "D.J. Hunt".

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Quotes

Little Chief Paleface: Me like Indian squab.

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Alternate Versions

The version shown on the American Movie Classics channel was copyrighted in 1968 by Leopold Friedman and Raymond Rohauer. It had an uncredited music soundtrack and ran 21 minutes.

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Connections

Referenced in Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

User Reviews

Nice Keaton short

I have not seen many Buster Keaton shorts yet, but I think I really like this guy. Where Chaplin makes me smile a lot, Keaton really makes me laugh. With 'The Paleface' I kept laughing from start to finish, a little less in the middle though. In the middle part no one tries to catch Keaton, and that is exactly when he is at his best.

At first he is chased by Indians. They are mad because they are cheated and have to leave their land. They swear to kill the first white man that enters their property and of course Keaton enters, trying to catch a butterfly. When the Indians have caught him the best moments of this short arrive. They tie him to a pole and he lifts the pole from the ground and changes his position from time to time. It's hilarious. Then he befriends the same Indians and he is not chased. I have to admit the short becomes a little less funny here. But soon enough he finds himself into trouble again when they all go to the authorities to claim their land. A new chase, that also includes another Indian tribe, is what follows.

Like I said, the chases and the parts where he is caught are hilarious. Maybe the middle part less funny, that does not make it boring. Overall this short is terrific with a Buster Keaton who makes sure his shorts still work today.