1922 Cops (98th)

What else happened this year? I think this was the year that Ulysses was published, and the year that Ireland got independence. I should know, it was 100 years ago, and they always mention shite like this in the news… [Ulysses is 100, the Irish parliament elected its first president (though it had been around for a bit longer) and… if I’d said teapot dome scandal, that would be correct. Scandals used to last a lot longer around those days).

What is the plot - in one sentence? We follow Buster Keaton who wants to become a businessman to impress his love interest

I don't have time, just spoil it for me? After some shenanigans, he’s chased by cops after they think he’s an anarchist. He manages to outrun and trick them, but his girlfriend isn’t impressed, so he throws himself to the police like a gazelle to a pack of lions.

What is the meaning of the title? A shit load of cops chase him. Just like a shitload of horny women chase him in Seven Chances, or a tonne of cattle chase him in that movie where he falls in love with a cow (seriously).

He's press-ganged into moving house for someone, but I think the most interesting thing is that spring mattress that is on the cart

Anything that's not aged well? Does a woman get slapped around? There's a pretty miserable horse that doesn't look like it's enjoying its time, especially as it is offered... goat spleen from a chemist. The most notable contemporary thing might be the anarchist, who throws a bomb (which lands in Buster's hands, leading to the chase).

Any thoughts? Throughout the movie, he’s trying to help – he finds some money and looks to start a business, but he’s taken advantage of by various people before a wrongful police chase. In truth, it’s a story to hang some jokes and physical skits on. However, a darker view can be taken: the nihilistic view might be explained by the fact that this was the first movie made after Fatty Arbuckle’s arrest, so the whole thing is a bit… Kafka-esque.

Would you recommend this? It’s a short movie, there are a couple of iconic scenes at least, one where he balances a ladder on a fence and forces furious hordes of police to use him as a see-saw. The other: Buster grabbing the handle of a moving car, which whisks him away. Say what you want about the story, he was a hell of an athlete. It’s also the first ever sighting of the boxing glove on the end of an extendable wooden stick thing, he uses it here as an indicator / police puncher. From the sake of history, that's worth watching, right?

Final thoughts? After buying a horse, he’s suckered into moving house for someone, unsure that he’s actually doing that. Some shenanigans with the horse, and the annoyed homeowners, goes on for too long in a short movie. The titular cops don’t start the chase until well after the half way point of an 18 minute movie, and the one woman character, the love interest, doesn’t actually ever speak to our man outside of the first few seconds. 

I was going to say ‘I wish they made shorts like this now, those shorts are called TV shows.

Here we go, we're VERY nearly finished now, and I am happy to admit that... yeah, it's been a drag. If you'd like to see what led to this mess, kindly click right ... here