Go West (1925)
Not to be confused with a 1923 short also by Buster Keaton having the same title, "Go West" is a comedy, western and romance. It is a change of pace from the usual Keaton feature, as it is his only 'western', and his love interest is played by a cow named Brown Eyes. Brown Eyes not only received fourth billing, very unusual for a cow even in those days, but she got better reviews than did Keaton.
"Go West" begins much like other Keaton comedies. Buster plays a 'down on his luck' fellow named Friendless. His life in the city has been a failure, so he decides to take the old advice by Horace Greeley. He hitches a ride on a train (trains are prominent in many Keaton silents, including his last, "The Railrodder" from 1965) to the old west. He somehow gets a job at a ranch as a cowboy, where his incompetence provides much humor. For example, he tries to milk a cow through persuasion, and has to use a makeshift ladder to saddle a horse. He learns quickly, but never replaces his trademark porkpie hat with western garb. The gruff ranch owner (Howard Truesdale) has a pretty daughter (Kathleen Myers). But Friendless' true love is Brown Eyes, who saves his life from a rampaging bull.
One entertaining scene has Keaton catching a bad guy cheating at cards. The gambler pulls a gun on Friendless, telling him 'to smile when he says that'. Keaton, whose nickname was The Great Stoneface, only manages a smile by pushing up the corners of his mouth with his fingers!
Plot contrivances result in a herd of cattle rampaging through city streets. These scenes are the most spectacular of the film, with Keaton's usually dangerous stunts kept on a modest scale here. Keaton's father Joe has a cameo as a barber. Keaton mentor 'Fatty' Arbuckle, a Hollywood pariah at the time due to acquitted murder/rape charges, appears uncredited as a man in drag. In keeping with silent tradition, Keaton is both the fool responsible, and the hero that salvages the situation. When the grateful owner asks Friendless what he wants as a reward, Friendless points behind him and says, "Her". The owner is visible upset, thinking Friendless is indicating his daughter. But no, it's Brown Eyes that Friendless wants, and the four ride off into the sunset together.
"Go West" is both charming and entertaining, and deserves better than its obscure status. It is nearly the equal of the much lauded "Sherlock, Jr.", although it doesn't approach the depth of Keaton's best film, "The General". (72/100)
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