Tossed in as a desperate measure when the assistant to a jealous magician walks out on him. Buster makes mistake after mistake, humiliating the fraud and getting a ton of laughs. The note mistakes that Keaton makes, the funnier it gets, and it's not because of any surprises in the bad magic act. A conclusion involving the ex-assistant adds some tension, but doesn't play out in a way that makes that twist necessary. While there is little to the plot, it is pretty frenetic, with little time to stop or look away. The result is a short that might not have a lot when it comes to substance, but it's definitely one that will bring a smile to your face.
4 Reviews
Very Funny Silent Sound Film
frankebe20 March 2010
Why do I say that? Because this film is quite funny and full of Keaton pratfalls, but you have to turn off the sound to appreciate it. With sound, I find it embarrassing, even cringing to watch, but turn off the sound and, surprise! A good Keaton film! Or maybe more correctly, some good Keatonesque series of events: as a whole movie it obviously lacks the cohesive organization of a really good early Keaton silent, but it pops along at a good pace with one thing happening after another, and lots of good sight gags and physical comedy. The bit with the curtains is particularly interesting to watch when the sound is not distracting from the visuals. These Educational films really need to be restored and recirculated!
Funny Keaton Short
Michael_Elliott1 May 2011
Mixed Magic (1936)
** 1/2 (out of 4)
This here is certainly a bit step up from many of the Buster Keaton shorts that he did at Educational but just don't be expecting anything that rivals his golden days. In this film he plays Elmer, a broke man who happens upon a magician (Eddie Lambert) who is looking for an assistant to help with his tricks. Elmer gets the job but at the first show he manages to mess up just about every trick. Of all the Educational pictures up to this point, this film here closely resembles a silent picture. While there's all sorts of dialogue, the screenplay at least lets Buster do his magic in terms of using his body and going through a wide range of visual gags. There are some big laughs to be found here including a terrific bit where the female assistant (Marlyn Stuart) has a trick done where the magician stabs her in the head with a sword. Elmer thinks that this was real and faints only to wake up and cause more trouble. Another very funny scene happens when Elmer walks into a restaurant with money only for spaghetti but does a trick of his own to get some extra food. Keaton is in top-form here as he manages not only to make for a rather memorable character because he plays the part of an idiot so well and it comes so natural. Keaton was a brilliant mind so it's rather funny him playing someone so stupid but he does it without fault. I thought both Lambert and Stuart were good in their parts and mixed it up well with Keaton. This film was released by Kino as part of their "Lost Keaton" set and while the picture quality on all sixteen shorts were somewhat rough, this here features some jumps in the dialogue to where you can't here some of the talk. Not too distracting but it is there.
** 1/2 (out of 4)
This here is certainly a bit step up from many of the Buster Keaton shorts that he did at Educational but just don't be expecting anything that rivals his golden days. In this film he plays Elmer, a broke man who happens upon a magician (Eddie Lambert) who is looking for an assistant to help with his tricks. Elmer gets the job but at the first show he manages to mess up just about every trick. Of all the Educational pictures up to this point, this film here closely resembles a silent picture. While there's all sorts of dialogue, the screenplay at least lets Buster do his magic in terms of using his body and going through a wide range of visual gags. There are some big laughs to be found here including a terrific bit where the female assistant (Marlyn Stuart) has a trick done where the magician stabs her in the head with a sword. Elmer thinks that this was real and faints only to wake up and cause more trouble. Another very funny scene happens when Elmer walks into a restaurant with money only for spaghetti but does a trick of his own to get some extra food. Keaton is in top-form here as he manages not only to make for a rather memorable character because he plays the part of an idiot so well and it comes so natural. Keaton was a brilliant mind so it's rather funny him playing someone so stupid but he does it without fault. I thought both Lambert and Stuart were good in their parts and mixed it up well with Keaton. This film was released by Kino as part of their "Lost Keaton" set and while the picture quality on all sixteen shorts were somewhat rough, this here features some jumps in the dialogue to where you can't here some of the talk. Not too distracting but it is there.
Too bad they forgot to have a plot....
planktonrules9 July 2011
Warning: Spoilers
Kino recently brought out a two-DVD set of the comedy shorts Buster Keaton made at tiny Educational Pictures during the 1930s. While most of them are in great shape, "Mixed Magic" has a few condition problems---such as streaks and skips. While it's still watchable, you can't help but notice that the film could use some restoration.
"Mixed Magic" begins with Keaton hungry and out of work. He happens upon a magician and his lady assistant in a cafeteria and he is offered a job. However, being Buster, he manages to ruin the magician's act--due to his klutziness. The audience loves it, but I really didn't think these antics were particularly funny--just a bit forced--mostly because it went on for so long. It all ends with a maniac attacking the act and Buster saving the day.
I just didn't enjoy this film, as it was ALL stunts and really no plot. While I love Keaton's physicality, it alone does not make for a good film--as you can see with this limp effort.
"Mixed Magic" begins with Keaton hungry and out of work. He happens upon a magician and his lady assistant in a cafeteria and he is offered a job. However, being Buster, he manages to ruin the magician's act--due to his klutziness. The audience loves it, but I really didn't think these antics were particularly funny--just a bit forced--mostly because it went on for so long. It all ends with a maniac attacking the act and Buster saving the day.
I just didn't enjoy this film, as it was ALL stunts and really no plot. While I love Keaton's physicality, it alone does not make for a good film--as you can see with this limp effort.
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