STRAND

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 47, 18 May 1927, Page 15

STRAND

BUSTER KEATON Buster Keaton’s latest comedy. “Go West,” which comes to the Strand Theatre on Friday, is his western picture and the most elaborate laugh - provoker he has ever made. The frozen-faced star spent several months filming the fun spectacle of the great open spaces, which was produced byJoseph M. Schenck for Metro-Gold-wyn - Mayer release. Thousands of cattle and scores of real cowboys take part in the big comedy feature. Keaton and his company lived on the Arizona Desert for a month to insure realism in the ranch scenes Special trains were chartered to transport the steers from Texas to Kingman. Arizona, from where they were driven 60 miles across country to the rancho.

A Jersey cow that was insured for 100,000 dollars during the making of the comedy has an important part in the development of the plot in Buster’s newest laugh riot.

“Go West” is a scream from start to finish. As a drifter whose lack of personality prevents him from landing jobs in the southern cotton fields, the Canadian timber country, the teaming cities of the eastern seaboard and other sections of the United States, the youth finally lands in the proverbial region where men are men.

During his migrations via the boxcar route Buster always is just one jump ahead of the train crews’ shoes. His wanderings are crammed with hilarious adventures. When oe is kicked off his side-door Pullman on the desert he tries conclusions with a wild mustang, but finds that kind of transportation is even riskier than rough-riding freight trains. So finding a pair of discarded chaps and spurs he walks to a nearby ranch —and is hired as cowboy!

The plot then beg::. thicken with a succession of screamingly funny situations.

The able supporting cast in “Go West” includes Howard Truesdale, Kathleen Myers, Buster’s new leading lady, and Ray Thumps Keaton personally directed and wrote the picture.