1922 - THE FROZEN NORTH, Buster Keaton's spoof of Western films

Western films have been around since almost the beginning of narrative cinema.  John Ford and Raoul Walsh started their careers directing silent westerns.  The silent movie days fostered some big stars, Tom Mix, George O'Brien and William S. Hart actors who have faded in time except to the rabid silent film scholars I guess.

The background on this film is very interesting.  Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle a silent comedian had been accused of the rape and death of an actress at a Hollywood party.  Although Arbuckle had been acquitted for her death not one but three times he was convicted in the press which finished off his career.  One of the chief accusers of Arbuckle was actor William S. Hart who had never meet Arbuckle or was even familiar with the Arbuckle trials.  This angered Buster Keaton, he owed his start in film to Arbuckle.  Keaton decided to go after Hart.  What better way than to ridicule him in a movie. Thus we have the genesis for The Frozen North.

This is another amusing short film from Keaton who is at the peak of his talents.  Even in the early days of silent film western films had already settled into a series of cliches.  Keaton took these cliches and used them for some amusing gags.  Keaton plays a western character who frequently shoots first and asks questions later if at all.  The Frozen North is up to Keaton's usual high standards with his famous deadpan humor.

What is kind of fascinating about this film is Keaton's spoof of William S. Hart.  I've seen a couple of Hart's films (Hell's Hinges was actually quite a good one) and can say that Keaton's mockery of Hart is right on the mark.  Keaton wears a shrunken version of Hart's famous cowboy hat.  Keaton even has a cut out of Hart from a poster that figures into a very funny bit in a saloon.  Apparently William S. Haft was not amused.  Of course these insider jokes don't really mean much anymore but overall The Frozen North has some very funny stuff in it.  The Frozen North is available on YouTube.

The film was written by Buster Keaton and Edward Cline, the running time is 18 minutes.