Movie spotlight
Barbershop owners Stan and Ollie answer an ad in the newspaper from a wealthy widow looking for a husband. Ollie only mails in his response and is invited to the widow's mansion. Stan discovers his unmailed letter and insists on tagging along. At the mansion, the widow's creepy butler informs them that the woman is crazy. She was once jilted by an Oliver and now her hobby is marrying Olivers and then slitting their throats. Now the boys must figure out how to escape.
Oliver is a struggling writer who dreams of marrying his beloved, but he has one major obstacle: his domineering mother, who seems to have an endless supply of potential suitors for him. When Oliver finally attempts to escape his mother's clutches and elope, he finds himself in a series of increasingly absurd and chaotic situations, all while trying to avoid his mother's watchful eye.
As a short film from Buster Keaton's later career, 'Oliver the Eighth' is often overlooked but showcases his enduring comedic timing and physical humor. While not as critically lauded as his silent masterpieces, it is appreciated by fans for its charmingly surreal premise and Keaton's ability to elicit laughs through visual gags and his signature deadpan delivery.
Showcases Buster Keaton's continued mastery of physical comedy.
Offers a charmingly bizarre and humorous premise.
Appreciated by fans for its surreal qualities and Keaton's deadpan performance.
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This short film was part of a series of comedies Keaton made for Educational Pictures after his MGM contract ended, marking a period where his work was less widely distributed and recognized than his earlier features.
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This was hilarious. It makes you understand, in an instant, why children reflexively scream when they're taken to get their hair cut for the first time, as well as why all the really smart people, like Pink Floyd in their heyday, always gre...