The Scarecrow (Buster Keaton, 1920) is an American slapstick silent film starring and directed by Buster Keaton. Being a ‘two-reeler’, the film was shot using two reels of film and thus has a relatively short duration of 19 minutes.
Keaton plays a worker on a farm who is in competition with his housemate (Joe Roberts) to win over the farmer’s daughter (Sybil Seely). After a number of humorous shenanigans, Keaton’s character borrows a scarecrow’s clothes, after which he trips into a kneeling position in front of the daughter. She believes he is proposing to him, and they are quickly whisked away on a motorbike on which they swiftly get married.
Once again, Keaton incorporates elements of expressive filmmaking into an otherwise realist film. For example, the sunrise exhibited at the start of the film is shot using fast motion in order to hyperbolise reality in a comedic manner. Keaton also utilises a variety of elaborate set designs, such as the intricate Rube Goldberg-like devices featured within the house. Additionally, Keaton and Roberts’ performances are extremely melodramatic throughout and a multitude of dangerous stunts demonstrate their daring athleticism. Realism can be seen throughout the film through the characters’ attire – typical 20s clothes – as well as the fact that the setting is authentically rural.
Personally, I enjoyed The Scarecrow a considerable amount. Although the set pieces did not match up to the scope of One Week, I enjoyed the slightly more realistic situations the characters found themselves in. The film was well-paced and managed to be consistently humorous throughout, with an especially satisfying ending.
Overall, I would rate The Scarecrow ★★★.
Otis Morley’s A-Level Film Studies Blog 