Our Hospitality (1923) An early Buster Keaton classic that excels as a narrative and a silent comedy (Review)

The silent era of comedy is one of the few genres that holds up rather well on the whole. Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, and Buster Keaton are the big names everyone associates this period with, and rightly so. The trio provided us with some of the most memorable and engaging pieces of film from this early period, where Hollywood was still finding their footing. Keaton’s work in Our Hospitality showcases a superb understanding of how films should construct and blend drama and comedy, an exceptional accomplishment considering the genre and feature filmmaking, on the whole, was still in its teething stages.  

Our Hospitality tells a tale of generational warfare. Grudges held between families, in this instance the McKay’s and Canfield families, who have warred and grudged with one another for years. Why isn’t all that important, but it strikes as a narrative worthy of Keaton’s abilities as a comedic leading man. It’s far more serious in tone than the likes of Sherlock Jr., with Our Hospitality opening with a man set on revenge, wishing to kill the man that wronged his family. Seeking to reclaim his families land, William McKay (Keaton) sets off on a journey home. 

The technical merits of the film shine through with surprising grace. Innovative techniques that see the characters on-screen interact with the lighting, the camera, and the shocking effects of the drama. Without the dialogue cues, we’re left with strong performances to dictate emotion, and it works with charming confidence throughout. It’s a film that muses on the relative uniqueness and eccentricities of a feuding family. With the prologue dancing around ideas of death, rivalry and jealousy in only a few short minutes, it’s impressive to see just how far Keaton and John G. Blystone’s directed efforts take them. It far excels the bounds of the silent comedy and solidifies Keaton as a man that could bring more to the screen than physical humour.  

Our Hospitality demands a more emotive, personal touch from Keaton, and delivers this rather well. Rising to the challenge, the comedy feels less-focused, but in its place is an expanded world for Keaten and his crew to play in. In that regard, it does pale in comparison to Safety Last, the Harold Lloyd silent comedy that released the same year as Keaton’s tale of family grudges. If sheer comedy is something you require from this era, then Lloyd’s work is far superior, but by merely attempting to add a larger story to the proceeding comedy, Keaton manages to excel as a narrative piece, rather than a series of jokes without a deeper story. Keaton’s blend of sight gags and dramatic prose is exceptional, and it allows Our Hospitality to engage on a level beyond laughter. 

Some of the humour throughout may be a bit stagnant, stale, and pedestrian by the standards of today, but with that being said, there are more than a handful of chuckle-worthy moments. A train shaped hole in the side of a mountain out of all things made me laugh the hardest. Again, though, comedy takes a backseat here, as Keaton tries to tell the tale of a man looking to win the affections of a family that loathe his ancestors. A final third that pieces together the death-defying stunts Keaton would use to take his art to new heights, Our Hospitality marks the beginnings of a successful period for Keaton.  

A tremendous effort has been spent in scrubbing out the grain, making the film look incredibly sleek and clean. As expected, Eureka offers a whole host of extra features with its startlingly brilliant touch-up of Keaton’s classic comedy, including a commentary track with silent film historian Rob Farr, an early edition of the film and a video essay from Patricia Eliot Tobias. The film, presented with a score from Carl Davis, is a superb addition to the Eureka series, one that will appeal to those of us who may not be wholly familiar with the wonders of the silent comedy era. Our Hospitality is a great starting point, a thoroughly engaging piece from Keaton that doesn’t outstay its welcome, telling its story in a concise, enjoyably light fashion. 

Thanks for reading our review of Our Hospitality

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