Early Comedy With Train Stunt

[clivepp]

Many years ago I remember seeing an early comedy possibly a silent featuring a very clever train stunt. The only bit I can remember is the train running along the track about to hit an obstruction when someone grabs the track and pulls it sideways preventing an accident. It may have been an early Buster Keaton but I can find no info on the Internet.

Any help appreciated.



Clive

[Sgt Sunshine]

Could it be "The General" with Buster Keaton...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_General_(1927_film)

Sgt S

[Big Figure]

Yes, that would be my guess too.

[clivepp]

No, it's not "The General" although it does have some very good stunts in it.



Clive

[will.15]

Are you thinking of this? It occurs at the end starting with 8:00.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9v8P3k_aYo





But what you describe exactly does not sound like a Keaton gag because he didn't do cartoon like gags. It sounds like something from Mack Sennett, but what comic would have been involved I have no idea.

[Steve Crook]

name='will.15' timestamp='1282759899' post='468026']

Are you thinking of this? It occurs at the end starting with 8:00.





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9v8P3k_aYo

Keaton was The Master



Steve

[Tonch]

A bit of a long shot Clive, and not a silent (the dialogue and original soundtrack have been removed and replaced with inappropriate mood music on this clip) but my immediate thought was The Marx Brothers "Go West" (1940) - check out Harpo laying/altering the track at 2:55. I think the clip is an edited excerpt from the film, I'm sure I recall a longer scene with the locomotive smashing through a house and Harpo laying a whole section of railtrack in a circle to re-route the train back in the right direction!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRUrWTP82PY

[will.15]

The Marx Brothers' Go West had a Buster Keaton connection. He went back to MGM in the late thirties as a comedy consultant and uncredited provided gags for MGM comedies and is known to have worked on Go West. To make it really confusing, a Keaton silent feature is also called Go West, but it is unrelated.

[jonpsych]

Probably not Wallace and Grommit in The Wrong Trousers

[Sgt Dudfoot]

"Many years ago I remember seeing an early comedy possibly a silent featuring a very clever train stunt. The only bit I can remember is the train running along the track about to hit an obstruction when someone grabs the track and pulls it sideways preventing an accident. It may have been an early Buster Keaton but I can find no info on the Internet.

Any help appreciated.



Clive"



This is almost certainly Buster Keaton's 'Our Hospitality' where at the beginning he takes a cross country trip at the time of the first railways. The train Keaton copied is a exact copy of Stevenson's Rocket (although I'm no expert). The scene in question, if my memory serves well, happens when they can't move a particulalalry stubborn donkey!

[Tonch]

Brilliantly remembered and identified Sgt Dudfoot. I welcome any excuse to locate and post up a helping of Buster ....



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ensnxNMgHyc



All we need now is for Clive to confirm whether you have indeed nailed it. 8:30 onwards is the bit to check out

[clivepp]

That was it!!



Thanks everyone for your suggestions



Clive