The Navigatordirected by Donald Crisp and Buster Keaton | |
| Category: |
"Comedy" |
|---|---|
| Year of Release: | 1924 |
| Date Added: | 04/25/2008 |
| Date Watched: | 01/22/2005 |
| Description: | Rollo, a spoiled rich boy proposes to Betsy, a spoiled rich girl. She turns him down, so he decides to go on his honeymoon alone. Rollo boards a steamship and goes to bed. Betsy goes to the pier with her father. Unbeknownst to all of them, a group of spies have determined to set the ship adrift rather than allow it to fall into the hands of their enemies. Betsy goes aboard to look for her father just as the boat leaves the dock. Rollo and Betsy wake to find the ship on the high seas. They each think they’re alone, and there’s a long comic scene where they keep missing each other until the finally meet. Being spoiled, they have no idea how to cook or tend for themselves, but they eventually work things out. They are afraid of the ship’s noises in the night and end up sleeping in adjoining boilers. The ship drifts toward a cannibal island. When it hits the bottom, it springs a leak. Rollo dons a scuba suit and goes underwater and fixes the leak. Meanwhile, the natives attack the boat and grab Betsy. Rollo walks ashore in his suit and scares them off. Betsy rows back to the ship on Rollo, who is floating in his suit. The natives overrun the ship. Betsy and Rollow swim off and determine to die in each other’s arms when a submarine surfaces under than and saves them. • The idea for this film began when Buster Keaton learned of a large passenger ship that was due to be scrapped. Seeing an opportunity, he purchased the ship for a low price and proceeded to build a story around this massive prop. Again, the plot isn’t the point. Keaton’s humor, understated but often laugh-out-loud funny, is the reason for watching. At times, it’s dated, but, for me, that adds to the charm. The film lasted an hour. |
| My Rating: | 7 |