Die unvollkommene Ehe (1929)
59KDie unvollkommene Ehe: Directed by Edward Sedgwick, Buster Keaton. With Buster Keaton, Dorothy Sebastian, Edward Earle, Leila Hyams. An unimpressive but well intending man is given the chance to marry a popular actress, of whom he has been a hopeless fan. But what he doesn’t realize is that he is being used to make the actress’ old flame jealous.
“The story isnu0026#39;t much, but Buster packs every scene with so many gags that you donu0026#39;t mind. Itu0026#39;s easy to see why he was so successful, until MGM stuck him with stories that were totally unsuitable. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe original score is fantastic, here – it includes a great deal of popular music and makes commentary on the situations, but the meaning will be lost on most modern viewers (I collect records from that period, so I recognize most all of it); even so, it moves the action right along and gives us a rare chance to experience a silent film just as it was presented to contemporary audiences. No cheesy piano accompaniment, here! The sound effects are well done, and used sparingly. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe shipboard scenes could have been trimmed a bit; they seem to drag. Otherwise, time flies during this movie – you wonu0026#39;t regret watching it! Just compare it with the average sound u0026#39;comedyu0026#39; which Hollywood produced until 1932 or so, and youu0026#39;ll realize how they lost the art of making good films for a while. Itu0026#39;s a crime that Keaton wasnu0026#39;t given the chance to produce his own talkies, because he might have changed the whole concept of what made a good SOUND comedy! Itu0026#39;s a wonder that audiences didnu0026#39;t rebel against the boring, static, yawnful talk-fests that early sound comedies became; maybe the novelty of Talkies really WAS enough to bring them into the theaters.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIu0026#39;d haven given this a 10, except for the draggy ship scenes – but the ending is satisfyingly Keatonesque!”
