This 22 minute short is obviously missing parts of the original film. Like another reviewer pointed out, pieces are missing and the jokes, though funny, are disconnected. The film is essentially in three parts, but the connection between the 1st and 2nd is missing--making the film jump from one plot to an entirely new plot.
The film begins on a very dark note--Buster is despondent and tries to kill himself. While this is in bad taste, it is also pretty funny, as time and again, his attempts fail. Then, he stumbles into a scene where some men are talking about their zoo needing one more creature to make it complete--the armadillo (an animal that is VERY common in the Southern US). Buster announces he'll get one, but then the scene cuts to a fishing trip. It's funny, but not directly related to the armadillo and nothing more is said about the armadillo! Instead, the film abruptly changes again to a fox hunt and a lot of rich folks who invite him along--and Buster does some very athletic and imaginative horse work. The part of this I appreciated most was that they used a REAL bear for a joke--not a guy in a cheap bear suit. The film ends on a funny note at the swimming pool, but once again the transition isn't clear.
Overall, the film is like a lot of funny outtakes all strung tenuously together. The gags are excellent but the continuity and context is missing. I would sure love to see the entire original film, as would other lovers of silent comedy. It sure would be terrific if it were one day discovered.
The film begins on a very dark note--Buster is despondent and tries to kill himself. While this is in bad taste, it is also pretty funny, as time and again, his attempts fail. Then, he stumbles into a scene where some men are talking about their zoo needing one more creature to make it complete--the armadillo (an animal that is VERY common in the Southern US). Buster announces he'll get one, but then the scene cuts to a fishing trip. It's funny, but not directly related to the armadillo and nothing more is said about the armadillo! Instead, the film abruptly changes again to a fox hunt and a lot of rich folks who invite him along--and Buster does some very athletic and imaginative horse work. The part of this I appreciated most was that they used a REAL bear for a joke--not a guy in a cheap bear suit. The film ends on a funny note at the swimming pool, but once again the transition isn't clear.
Overall, the film is like a lot of funny outtakes all strung tenuously together. The gags are excellent but the continuity and context is missing. I would sure love to see the entire original film, as would other lovers of silent comedy. It sure would be terrific if it were one day discovered.