Very Cool!!!

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

"Neighbors" is a 18-minute short film from 95 years ago. The star here is silent film legend Buster Keaton and his co-stars are people he regularly worked with like Virginia Fox and Joe Roberts. These two are prime examples of people who did not make the transition to the sound era. Fox was only 17 when this was made and her career was over by when she was 20. Also on board is Keaton's father, who also plays his father in this movie. And finally we have Edward F. Cline who wrote and directed this film together with Stoneface and plays a police officer in here. It's a black-and-white film and a silent movie of course still. It has intertitles, however, for example the funny one about marriage. It's a bit of a comedic approach to the famous Romeo & Juliet idea, but unfortunately none of the comedy was really funny I must say. Certainly not among Buster's best works. Watch something else from him instead.

Neighbors (1920) *** (out of 4) Buster Keaton does the Romeo and Juliet storyline as he falls in love with his neighbor but it'll be hard to get married since the families hate one another. There are plenty of good gags here including the human fly swatter gag and the stuff dealing with Keaton trying to avoid the police. Keaton also delivers one of his best stunts and three people on one another's shoulders try and walk from house to house with Keaton being three stories up.Available on Kino's The Art of Buster Keaton Collection, which is one of the greatest box sets out there.

Buster is in love with his next door neighbor, but her father hates Buster and won't allow them to see each other. As a result, again and again, Buster does a lot of crazy stunts in order to see her--as well as eventually kidnap her so they can elope. The stunts are amazing and this is a very good movie. However, if it weren't for all his better brilliant films, I might have scored this a bit higher. But films such as STEAMBOAT BILL, JR., COPS, OUR HOSPITALITY and THE PLAY HOUSE (among others) are simply better than NEIGHBORS. So, I would recommend you try watching these other films and then come back to it. Still, it's enjoyable and fun.

Buster Keaton rarely played low lifes. He played naive or boyish aristocrats who were loners, friendless and lost in modern society with social malaise sewn into the seams. Here, he plays a mischievous imp, a character Chaplin perfected as the tramp and all hell lets loose. Obviously, he is in love with his neighbor, but the family is feuding though they share the same backyard. A billet-a-doux gets everything moving as mistaken identity and information leads to some yelling and scolding before the real truth is figured. "Old Stone face" himself as he was known unleashes some very nifty and nimble acrobatic moves as he slides up and down the electric lines and clothes hanger lines like a jabberwocky. A three man stunt is ridiculous to watch and leaves you applauding and marveling at his genius.