The Saphead (Buster Keaton, 1920)
74 minutes
Instrumentation
violin, clarinet/bass clarinet, trombone, piano, percussion
Premiere
AFI Silver, Theatre, November 2022
Synopsis
Buster Keaton's first feature film shows him as Bertie van Alstyne, the pudding-headed scion of his father's financial empire. In love with his adopted sister Agnes (Buelah Booker), Bertie gets rounded up in a police bust as part of his ill-conceived campaign to appeal to Agnes by acting like a "bad boy." And, to make things worse, he is framed by his brother-in-law as having another woman on the side. The situation deteriorates when Bertie's father disowns him and Bertie has to go to work - at the NY Stock Exchange. A warm, delightful comedy of manners with some dark touches. Keaton performs some admirable stunts, as usual.
SAPHEAD Trombone Tune as love theme
SAPHEAD Stock Exchange
SAPHEAD Closing Ensemble