Neighbors
Brief Synopsis
A young man falls for his neighbor despite the feud between their families in this silent short comedy.
Cast & Crew
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Buster Keaton
Director
Joe Keaton
Buster Keaton
Jack Duffy
Joe Roberts
Virginia Fox
Film Details
Genre
Silent
Comedy
Romance
Short
Release Date
1921
Production Company
Joseph M. Schenck Productions; The Flying Escalantes
Distribution Company
Metro Pictures Corporation
Technical Specs
Duration
17m
Synopsis
A young man falls for his neighbor despite the feud between their families in this silent short comedy.
Director
Buster Keaton
Director
Film Details
Genre
Silent
Comedy
Romance
Short
Release Date
1921
Production Company
Joseph M. Schenck Productions; The Flying Escalantes
Distribution Company
Metro Pictures Corporation
Technical Specs
Duration
17m
Articles
Neighbors (1920)
Joe Roberts (1871-1923), who plays the girl's hulking father, was a longtime Keaton family friend and appeared in a number of Keaton's shorts, as well as the features Three Ages (1923) and Our Hospitality (1923). Joe Keaton plays his father in the film. Although the real-life father and son had strained relations due to Joe Keaton's alcoholism and abusive behavior, Keaton cast him in several of his shorts and features over the years.
When Neighbors was released, one critic noted that the film "is so laugh provoking that the Board of Reviews and other 'professionals' in the Metro projection room voiced their appreciation in one long continuous yell."
Producer: Joseph M. Schenck
Director: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton
Screenplay: Edward F. Cline (writer); Buster Keaton (screenplay and story)
Cinematography: Elgin Lessley
Music: Robert Israel (1995)
Cast: Buster Keaton (The Boy), Virginia Fox (The Girl), Joe Roberts (Her Father), Joe Keaton (His Father), Edward F. Cline (The Cop), James Duffy (The Judge), The Flying Escalantes (Themselves).
BW-18m.
by James Steffen
Neighbors (1920)
Filmed in November and December 1920, Neighbors was originally entitled Mailbox. Keaton's love interest in the film, the diminutive Virginia Fox (1902-1982), started out as one of Mack Sennett's Bathing Beauties. After the success of Neighbors, Keaton cast Fox in several more of his shorts, including his personal favorite Hard Luck (1921). In 1924 she married Darryl F. Zanuck and retired from the screen shortly afterwards.
Joe Roberts (1871-1923), who plays the girl's hulking father, was a longtime Keaton family friend and appeared in a number of Keaton's shorts, as well as the features Three Ages (1923) and Our Hospitality (1923). Joe Keaton plays his father in the film. Although the real-life father and son had strained relations due to Joe Keaton's alcoholism and abusive behavior, Keaton cast him in several of his shorts and features over the years.
When Neighbors was released, one critic noted that the film "is so laugh provoking that the Board of Reviews and other 'professionals' in the Metro projection room voiced their appreciation in one long continuous yell."
Producer: Joseph M. Schenck
Director: Edward F. Cline, Buster Keaton
Screenplay: Edward F. Cline (writer); Buster Keaton (screenplay and story)
Cinematography: Elgin Lessley
Music: Robert Israel (1995)
Cast: Buster Keaton (The Boy), Virginia Fox (The Girl), Joe Roberts (Her Father), Joe Keaton (His Father), Edward F. Cline (The Cop), James Duffy (The Judge), The Flying Escalantes (Themselves).
BW-18m.
by James Steffen