Silent Comedy

From Directors: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton, Sybil Seely, Joe Roberts
Rated TV-G

One Week is a 1920 comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline and Buster Keaton. The film follows newlyweds Sybil (Keaton) and Sammy (Keaton) who must struggle to build a house and their marriage after receiving a do-it-yourself house-building kit as a wedding gift. After being given the kit, the couple promptly set off to build their dream home in the country, only to find themselves running into one disaster after another. From a raging tornado to a house-moving scam, Sybil and Sammy must use their wits and ingenuity to get their house built within the seven days allotted. The film is full of slapstick comedy and physical gags, and Keaton is at the top of his game as both an actor and a director.

From Directors: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton, Edward F. Cline, Luke the Dog, Joe Keaton
Rated Not Rated

The Scarecrow is a 1920 silent comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline and Buster Keaton. The film follows a young farmhand, Sylvester (Keaton), as he courts his sweetheart, Mary (Keaton's future wife, Natalie Talmadge). After a series of misadventures, Sylvester inherits a scarecrow from his uncle and quickly falls in love with it. Sylvester goes to extremes to protect his beloved scarecrow, but eventually learns that it is not enough to win Mary's heart. The film features various stunts, physical comedy, and gags, many of which involve the scarecrow itself. The film is a light-hearted comedy that showcases Keaton's unique talent for physical comedy.

From Directors: Buster Keaton, Malcolm St. Clair, starring Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox, Joe Roberts, Malcolm St. Clair
Rated Not Rated

The Goat is a classic 1921 silent comedy directed by Buster Keaton and Malcolm St. Clair. The film centers around an unlucky man, Elmer (Buster Keaton), who is the victim of a series of slapstick misfortunes. In the opening scene, Elmer is arrested and sentenced to a year in prison for a crime he did not commit. He escapes, however, and runs into a goat that is causing a commotion in the street. Elmer is mistaken for the goat's owner and is arrested again, this time for causing a public disturbance. The film follows Elmer as he attempts to evade capture and thus clear his name, all while being chased by a mob and the police. Along the way, Elmer faces a series of increasingly absurd obstacles, including being chased by a bear, but eventually manages to outsmart all his pursuers and prove his innocence.

From Charles Chaplin, starring Charles Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Dave Anderson, Bert Appling
Rated Not Rated

A Dog's Life is a silent comedy film directed by Charles Chaplin. The film follows the life of a stray dog named Scraps, who is adopted by Charlie Chaplin's character, The Tramp. Through a series of comedic events, The Tramp and Scraps become best friends and embark on a series of adventures. Along their journey, they meet and help a young, homeless girl named Sue, who has been abandoned by her father. Together, they try to find her father and reunite her with her family. In the end, The Tramp and Scraps come to the rescue, reuniting Sue with her father and restoring order to her life. The film ends on a happy note, showing the three of them walking off together into the sunset.

From Directors: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton, Edward F. Cline, Virginia Fox, Steve Murphy
Rated Unrated

Cops is a 1922 silent film directed by Edward F. Cline and Buster Keaton. The movie tells the story of a poor man named Joe, who is trying to impress his sweetheart Mary. In order to do so, he decides to join the police force, but his inexperience leads to plenty of chaotic misadventures. Joe finds himself pursued by a large group of policemen who are trying to arrest him for his various mishaps. Along the way, Joe finds himself in a number of dangerous situations, which he manages to escape from with the help of his ingenuity. In the end, Joe and Mary are reunited and the two are able to enjoy a happy ending.

From Directors: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton, Edward F. Cline, Jack Duffy, The Flying Escalantes

Neighbors is a 1920 silent comedy film starring Buster Keaton and directed by Edward F. Cline. It tells the story of two neighbors who are constantly at odds with each other until they both become subject to a bizarre love potion. The rival neighbors, both men, fall madly in love with each other's wives, and hilarity ensues as they try to hide their newly acquired affections from their unsuspecting spouses. The film is noted for its unique visual style, with Keaton's character often depicted from high angles or from the point of view of a window pane. It also features some of the ingenious gags and sight gags for which Keaton was known.

From Directors: James W. Horne, Leo McCarey, starring Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, James Finlayson, Charlie Hall

Big Business is a 1929 comedy film directed by James W. Horne and Leo McCarey. The film stars Laurel and Hardy as two traveling salesmen who get caught up in a feud between two feuding families in the small town of Calverton. The two salesmen accidentally break a window belonging to one family, leading to a series of misunderstandings and escalating pranks between the two sides. The film culminates in a wild, knockdown, drag-out fight between Laurel and Hardy and the two families. The film is a classic example of the Laurel and Hardy comedy style and is widely considered one of their best films.

From Leo McCarey, starring Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Tom Kennedy, Sam Lufkin
Rated Passed

Liberty is a 1929 comedy film directed by Leo McCarey. Starring Edward Everett Horton, Charlotte Greenwood, and Cary Grant, the movie follows the misadventures of a young couple as they try to find the answer to the riddle, “What is liberty?” As they search, they find themselves in a series of hilarious and often dangerous situations as they attempt to uncover the truth behind the riddle’s answer. Along the way, they get help from a comical group of characters, including a band of Mexican revolutionaries and an eccentric inventor. Liberty is a fast-paced comedy that offers plenty of laughs and a thoughtful look at the meaning of liberty.

From Directors: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton, Bartine Burkett, Charles Dorety, Ingram B. Pickett
Rated Not Rated

The 'High Sign' is a 1921 silent comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline and Buster Keaton. The film follows a young man named Douglass (Buster Keaton) who is hired as a sharpshooter in a sideshow. When he learns that the owner of the sideshow is planning a heist, he sets out to stop him. In the process, he gets embroiled in a chaotic chase involving criminals, detectives, and a rival sharpshooter. The film is full of slapstick humor and outlandish stunts, including a memorable scene where Douglass uses a bull to help him escape. In the end, Douglass is able to foil the heist and capture the criminals.

From Charles Chaplin, starring Charles Chaplin, Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell, Albert Austin
Rated Unrated

The Immigrant, a silent film directed by Charles Chaplin, tells the story of an immigrant couple who arrive in America by boat. The couple face various hardships and difficulties as they try to build a new life in the United States. Chaplin's character, the Tramp, helps the couple find employment, but is arrested for his efforts. He is eventually released and reunited with the couple, and they enjoy a happy ending together. The film is an emotional and humorous exploration of the struggles and triumphs of the immigrant experience.

From Directors: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox, Joe Keaton, Louise Keaton
Rated TV-G

From Directors: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton, Sybil Seely, Joe Roberts, Edward F. Cline
Rated Not Rated

From Directors: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton, Edward F. Cline, Sybil Seely
Rated Not Rated

From Leo McCarey, starring Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Harry Bernard, Josephine Crowell
Rated Passed

From Directors: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox, Joe Roberts, Edward F. Cline
Rated Unrated

From Directors: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox, Joe Roberts, Bull Montana

From Directors: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox, Joe Roberts
Rated Not Rated

From Directors: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton, Renée Adorée, Edward F. Cline, Joe Keaton
Rated Not Rated

From Directors: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton, John Brown, Phyllis Haver, Babe London
Rated Not Rated

From Directors: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton, Wallace Beery, Monte Collins, Wheezer Dell

From Alfred J. Goulding, starring Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels, 'Snub' Pollard, William Blaisdell

From Directors: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton, starring Buster Keaton, Edward F. Cline, Bonnie Hill, Joe Roberts
Rated Unrated

From Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, starring Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, Buster Keaton, Joe Bordeaux, Jimmy Bryant
Rated TV-G

From Hal Roach, starring Harold Lloyd, Mildred Davis, 'Snub' Pollard, Gus Leonard
Rated Passed

From Alfred J. Goulding, starring Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels, 'Snub' Pollard, Sammy Brooks