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Nothing But Pleasure was hardly any pleasure at all. The third of Buster Keaton's ten two-reel comedies for Columbia went absolutely nowhere fast despite a good set-up. Keaton and wife (Dorothy Appleby) combine a car-buying spree in Detroit with what they assume will be a pleasant drive home. Naturally, the trip turns into a nightmare. Veteran Keaton collaborator Clyde Bruckman borrowed pieces of business from his distant past, including W.C. Fields' The Man in the Flying Trapeze and Keaton's own Spite Marriage (1929). From the latter Bruckman lifted a famous gag where Buster carries a drunken woman to bed. Hysterically funny back in 1929, perhaps, less so ten years and a long struggle with alcoholism later. Former B-Western star Addison Randall (aka Jack Randall) and future MGM lead Robert Sterling appeared in bit parts. Hans J. Wollstein
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The first, and best, of ten comedy two-reelers Buster Keaton was to make for the Columbia short subject department, Pest From the West featured Keaton as a millionaire vacationing in Mexico. He falls for a beautiful señorita (Lorna Gray, later known as Adrian Booth), who plays along in order to make her employer, Gino Corrado, jealous. In a scene reminiscent of Keaton's best work, he serenades an irascible Bud Jamison in the mistaken belief that he is Gray. Keaton strums his ukulele, oblivious to the flying crockery that punctuates every note, and blithely warbles "In a Little Spanish Town." Like most entries in the series, Pest From the West was penned by veteran Keaton collaborator Clyde Bruckman. Reportedly, Keaton was hired for his onscreen presence only and apparently didn't contribute any gags himself. Although dismissed by modern Keaton fans, the Columbia two-reelers were popular in their day. Hans J. Wollstein
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The Civil War comedy Mooching through Georgia, related in flashbacks, depicts the misadventures of Buster Keaton as he tries to avoid getting killed by both Confederate and Union soldiers. When news of the outbreak of war reaches his family, Keaton and his brother Cyrus (Monty Collins) go off to enlist. But when they return home, they're in different uniforms: Keaton has joined the Confederacy and Cyrus the Union. As opposing armies sweep through the land, the brothers keep changing uniforms to blend in. Ultimately, Keaton is able to warn the Confederate forces and rescue them from the Union army. Note that producer/director Jules White remade this script (written by longtime Keaton collaborator Clyde Bruckman) as the 1946 Columbia two-reeler Uncivil Warbirds starring the Three Stooges. ~ Nicole Gagne, All Movie Guide
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Whether in the newsroom or on board a speeding train, aspiring reporter Buster Keaton creates havoc in the funny short Pardon My Berth Marks. To get Keaton out of his hair, the city editor (Vernon Dent) assigns him to shadow a wealthy woman (Dorothy Appleby) who is taking the train to Reno to divorce her mobster husband (Richard Fiske). Keaton travels with his parrot Clarice, and because its cooing sounds like the wife, the jealous gangster attacks Keaton in his berth. A wild chase ensues which ends with Keaton trussing up the gangster in the train's emergency chord, thus winning himself a spot on the newspaper as a star reporter. Note that producer/director Jules White remade this script (written by longtime Keaton collaborator Clyde Bruckman) as the 1947 Columbia two-reeler Rolling down to Reno starring Harry Von Zell. ~ Nicole Gagne, All Movie Guide
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Buster Keaton invents a novel solution to paying alimony in the Columbia two-reeler His Ex Marks the Spot: He decides to let his obnoxious ex-wife (Elsie Ames) -- and her even more obnoxious boyfriend (Matt McHugh) -- move in with him and his second wife (Dorothy Appleby). The results are utter chaos, from the massive trunks the duo bring into his apartment to a four-way bedtime that results in a near fire and the couples throwing many buckets of water getting onto each other. Keaton eventually solves his woes with another bright idea: If his ex and her chum get married, he won't have to pay alimony anymore. Thanks to Mrs. Keaton's gun, the wedding is quickly performed. ~ Nicole Gagne, All Movie Guide
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In General Nuisance, millionaire Peter Hedley Lamar Jr. (Buster Keaton) is so smitten by the loveliness of an Army nurse (Dorothy Appleby) that he decides to enlist because the woman will pay attention only to soldiers. Once in the service, however, he spends most of his time cleaning spittoons and fending off the advances of another, more predatory nurse (Elsie Ames) -- although the two do engage in a show-stopping song-and-dance routine. He eventually manages to get himself sufficiently injured to be put in the hospital near his beloved and, despite the further efforts of the rival nurse, he is able to rescue his girl from a lunatic and win her affection. ~ Nicole Gagne, All Movie Guide
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