After acting in fifteen short films, most of them with Fatty Arbuckle, Buster Keaton was finally given a break into the feature-film business, thanks to the personal recommendation of Douglas Fairbanks. In The Saphead, he plays the young, pampered son of the wealthy William H. Crane. This is an ensemble piece, with everyone in the family getting pretty equal screen time. And while it's technically a comedy, the major part of the plot is actually a very interesting drama. There's death, infidelity, deceit, family disinheritance, and scandal-but there's also funny banter and great situational comedy in the final scene. If you don't really understand the New York Stock Exchange, brush up on your buying and selling knowledge before you rent it, though.
I couldn't help but marvel at this movie, since it's the oldest movie I've ever seen. Technically, I've seen Birth of a Nation, but when I saw it, it was only 92 years old. The Saphead, since I just watched it only days ago, is 99 years old. Almost a century ago, people were walking and talking, laughing, falling in love, buying stocks, having affairs, and creating relatable stories to entertain audiences. Sure, the men in the movie wore heavy lipstick and shiny top hats, and the women used clothing to actually cover their bodies, but not much has really changed.
I couldn't help but marvel at this movie, since it's the oldest movie I've ever seen. Technically, I've seen Birth of a Nation, but when I saw it, it was only 92 years old. The Saphead, since I just watched it only days ago, is 99 years old. Almost a century ago, people were walking and talking, laughing, falling in love, buying stocks, having affairs, and creating relatable stories to entertain audiences. Sure, the men in the movie wore heavy lipstick and shiny top hats, and the women used clothing to actually cover their bodies, but not much has really changed.