MovieChat Forums > Spite Marriage (1929) Discussion > Some good moments, but...

Some good moments, but...

posted 15 years ago by theinnerlight87
3 replies | jump to latest

To me it foreshadowed the roles that MGM would constantly write for him. He was used like he was in The Passionate Plumber and Parlor, Bedroom and Bath, he made mistakes on stage like in Speak Easily and similar to Free and Easy... there doesn't seem to be any originality in the films they cast him in. The Cameraman was an exception, and I really think he had a lot more control over The Cameraman compared to the others.

That's not to say there aren't some funny moments in these films, this one especially! I liked the drunk bride routine, the cute little dog toy, the action at the end, the beard, his reactions while sitting in the audience. But throughout I got the uncomfortable feeling that his troubles began here..and I also got the feeling he was possibly thinking the same thing.

[–] SnorrSm1989 13 years ago

I understand what you mean, and, of course, I agree to a large degree. Keaton's talkies at MGM were VERY much below his talents, to put it mildly. "Spite Marriage," however, I find to be overall a very satisfying film. I just rewatched it (for the first time in years) and was surprised to discover that I'd forgotten that there are so many good gags in it. It does have more of a "studio feel" to it than his independent work, and one can sense that some of the ideas (and titles...) in the film would not have emerged had it been made at Keaton's studio. Then again, what we Keaton-fans often forget is that even in his "independent" years, Keaton was forced to appear in productions that he didn't totally believe in himself, such as "Seven Chances" (which incidentally turned out to be a good film, but still) and "College." Keaton never enjoyed the kind of creative freedom that Chaplin and Lloyd did. In my opinion, "Spite Marriage" is generally as enjoyable as, or even more so than "College," for instance.

[–] novastar_6 13 years ago

I loved Spite Marriage, two best parts, when Buster is trying to get his facial hair on for his role in the play, and when he's trying to get his drunk wife in bed, both of those had me sick from laughing.

[–] judith-mcgee1025 12 years ago

I like a lot of this film, even the funny handshake that reoccurs throughout the movie.