Somebody charged with making a travel film to advertise the beauties of Canada had a stroke of pure genius: Send Buster Keaton cruising silently across it on a motorized railcar.
Though the film isn't technically a silent film (there are both sound effects and a soundtrack), it's still a silent film in style and feel. Keaton, though far past the vigor of his youth (in fact dying of cancer), shows that he still has his same plucky, imperturbable aplomb.
Sitting by the Thames, Buster's unnamed character sees a full-page newspaper ad that commands him, "Visit Canada now!" Ever one to take up a challenge, Buster leaps into the river to emerge, sodden but undeterred, in Nova Scotia. There, he undertakes a mechanized magic carpet ride through the magnificent Canadian landscape, with all of his needs miraculously attended to by the bottomless toolbox.
Even those unfamiliar with Keaton's silent work will enjoy this charming little movie. Keaton aficionados, however, will be absolutely delighted, spotting one nod after the other to his independent masterpieces, each given a new life by the master himself. And Kudos to the NFB for doing what MGM didn't -- for letting Keaton be Keaton, and giving him the means to leave one more gift to his fans.
Though the film isn't technically a silent film (there are both sound effects and a soundtrack), it's still a silent film in style and feel. Keaton, though far past the vigor of his youth (in fact dying of cancer), shows that he still has his same plucky, imperturbable aplomb.
Sitting by the Thames, Buster's unnamed character sees a full-page newspaper ad that commands him, "Visit Canada now!" Ever one to take up a challenge, Buster leaps into the river to emerge, sodden but undeterred, in Nova Scotia. There, he undertakes a mechanized magic carpet ride through the magnificent Canadian landscape, with all of his needs miraculously attended to by the bottomless toolbox.
Even those unfamiliar with Keaton's silent work will enjoy this charming little movie. Keaton aficionados, however, will be absolutely delighted, spotting one nod after the other to his independent masterpieces, each given a new life by the master himself. And Kudos to the NFB for doing what MGM didn't -- for letting Keaton be Keaton, and giving him the means to leave one more gift to his fans.