Battling Butler (1926)
Average Rating: 5.8/10
Reviews Counted: 6
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 2
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 0 | Rotten: 1
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Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 643
My Rating
Movie Info
Battling Butler has to be the strangest of Buster Keaton's silent features. Based on the musical comedy of the same name, the film casts Keaton as wimpy millionaire Alfred Butler, who goes on a vacation in the mountains in the company of his faithful valet (Snitz Edwards). While communing with nature, Alfred falls in love with a beautiful young girl (Sally O'Neil), who barely acknowledges his existence. Without his master's knowledge, the valet tries to smooth the path of romance by telling the
Jan 1, 1926 Wide
Oct 26, 1999
Cast
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Buster Keaton
Alfred Butler -
Sally O'Neil
The Mountain Girl -
Snitz Edwards
Martin The Valet -
Francis McDonald
Alfred "Battling" Butle... -
Mary Crean O'Brien
His Wife -
Tom Wilson
His Trainer -
Eddie Borden
His Manager -
Walter James
The Mountain Girl's Fat... -
Budd Fine
The Mountain Girl's Bro... -
-
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All Critics (10) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (4) | Rotten (2) | DVD (1)
There's no room for Buster to stretch out; none of the rhythms are remotely like his own.
Top CriticFails to connect with any powerful punches.
Pugilism and Freud
Has one of the funniest fight scenes ever filmed
One of the Great Stone Face's lesser vehicles but still worth a look.
Below par, at least for the unrivaled master of silent comedy.
Audience Reviews for Battling Butler
Super Reviewer
The premise of this 71-minute silent is not so plausible, but it does supply plenty of laughs. Mansion-bound Alfred decides a hunting getaway is just what he needs, so he and his valet (amusing Snitz Edwards, who's even more petite than Keaton) take off for the woods. Keaton has lots of fun with sight gags as his character continues to indulge his need for luxury, even while camping.
Everything changes when Alfred meets a pretty, unnamed "mountain girl" (Sally O'Neill). He almost shoots her (oops), but they soon feel romantic sparks. However, her brawny father and brother sneer at wimpy Alfred and scorn the courtship. Noting that a current boxing champ also happens to be named Alfred Butler, the valet gets a spontaneous idea and bluffs that his boss is actually the boxer on retreat (yes, this story is pre-television and Internet). The girl's family is impressed, but now Keaton is stuck in a lie. This sets in motion an extended charade of him pretending to be a boxer in training (lots of physical humor with sparring partners and boxing-ring ropes), while the real champion (Francis McDonald) learns of the ruse and aims to teach him a harsh lesson. But we know our plucky hero will prove his mettle in the end, don't we?
The wiry star shows some legitimate punching power, but a comic scene where the boxer's "punished" wife sports a black eye reminds us of the film's age.
Super Reviewer
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Foreign Titles
- Battling Butler (DE)
- Battling Butler (1926) (UK)
