Buster Keaton - The Haunted House (1921) Silent film

A bank clerk ends up in a seemingly haunted house that is actually a thieves' hideout.
Directors: Edward F. Cline , Buster Keaton
Writers: Edward F. Cline , Buster Keaton
Stars: Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox, Joe Roberts

#silentfilms
Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton was an American actor, comedian, film director, producer, screenwriter, and stunt performer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face."
In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him the 21st greatest male star of classic Hollywood cinema.
The films Keaton pay homage to his earlier work while exploring the possibilities of “Elmer,” his new comic persona.

[garyfrancis]

We finally get to see it 102 years later. Thank goodness I wasn’t waiting in-line outside for tickets.

[shereesmazik]

One of the best physical comedians ever. People steal his gags to this day .

[rika]

He was such a natural actor. His facial expressions and body movements were just so natural to look at in contrast to other actors of his time

[sundus]

I can see a lot of inspiration taken from Buster Keaton films. Chase scenes, Animatic fluid movements of Bustor, feels like a real life Loony tunes cartoon.

[WalkerFilmsOfficial]

Happy 100th anniversary to this short film!

[AlexFromOsaka]

Very great talent. He did all the stunts himself. Amazing speed and brilliant humor.

[m.st.]

The way he falls out of the taxi but climbs totally athletically through the counter window...

[darcybrummett]

Buster was a silent film genius! I thoroughly enjoyed this!

[JB-jus]

Imagine 1922 sitting in a cinema with friends or family or a date and watching this. Laughing at all the crazy ways Buster gets himself into all sorts trouble.

[em.the.awful.waffle]

This is incredible. I wish silent films were more common nowadays 🤕

[larryaldrich]

Mr. Keaton among the most original and daring of early Hollywood.

[jameskovic]

One of the best silent films I’ve ever seen. I was laughing, no almost choking from the merriment and mirth I was hitherto experiencing compliant with the recommended dosage of giggling allowed by the American Medical Association.

Hip hip hooray for the AMA.

[alyssajones]

Not going to lie but during his younger years, Mr. Keaton was a very handsome man. My father introduced me to silent films and the Gold Age of Cinema when I was growing up. Thank you daddy, because of you I enjoy watching slapstick comedy of Charlie Chaplin, Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle, Laurel and Hardy, W.C. Fields, The Marx Brothers, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd.

[hammerbeam]

They didn’t mess around with glue back then

[frenchfriar]

The theatre that was "executing Faust. And he deserved it".


That line actually made me chuckle out loud.

[Mr.Stizblee]

The running gag of the stairs culminating in them being used to send him to hell was too funny!

They never did explain the mannequin ghost and the skeletons and the man with the rotating floor didn't show up when everyone was arrested. Maybe there really was some paranormal stuff going on?

[GonkDroid]

Fun fact: I watch silent films if I forget my headphones at home so that I can still understand what's going on without audio

[labyfan]

I just love all the gags. Just pure genius. I'm not sure if it was intentional but when the gentleman were all trying to shake the money off their hands it remined me of cheerleaders with pompoms. lol And it took a minute for me to catch on but the "execution of Faust" joke was hilarious. And that whole knocking the guy out to use the boiling water on him then he tried doing the same to himself. Then the dream with the stairs to Heaven and Hell. I could go on forever. Love this man.

[jgsmile]

Buster is handsome, talented and funny.

[ScaramouchedaVinci]

Genius. And it is universal. Everybody can understand it.🙂