Behind the Front
During World War I a young man joins the army and winds up befriending another young recruit, not knowing that it's the same pickpocket who stole his watch. After finishing basic training, the two are sent to the front lines in France, where they wind up in trouble with the MPs, getting involved with some cute French girls and "volunteering" for a dangerous front-line mission, and their antics result in their endangering the armistice.
Insights
Plot Summary
Two timid and over-protected young men, one a hypochondriac, decide to enlist in the army after being mocked by a group of girls. Despite their fears and physical frailties, they find themselves thrust into the trenches of World War I, where their naivete and unusual methods lead to unexpected heroism.
Critical Reception
This early silent comedy from Buster Keaton is a charming, albeit less sophisticated, example of his early work. While not as groundbreaking as some of his later masterpieces, it showcases his signature physical comedy and innovative visual gags, earning a generally positive reception for its lighthearted take on the war.
What Reviewers Say
- Features classic Buster Keaton physical comedy and slapstick.
- A light and amusing, if somewhat simplistic, war-time comedy.
- Showcases Keaton's early talent for inventive gags.
Google audience: Audience reception for this film is not readily available through common aggregate platforms.
Fun Fact
The film was Buster Keaton's first feature film produced independently by his own production company.
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