The Hayseed

The Hayseed
Advertisement featuring Roscoe Arbuckle
and Luke the dog
Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle
Written by Jean C. Havez
Starring Roscoe Arbuckle
Buster Keaton
Cinematography Elgin Lessley
Distributed by Paramount Pictures
Release date
  • October 26, 1919 (1919-10-26)
[1]
Running time
 27 minutes
Country United States
Language Silent

The Hayseed is a 1919 American two-reel silent comedy film directed by and starring Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle and featuring Buster Keaton.[2]

Plot

Buster is the manager of a post office and general store in a provincial town where Fatty works as the mailman. While delivering his letters for the day, Fatty stops to see his girlfriend Fanny (Mahone) on her farm. There they play a game of hide-and-seek. While Fanny searches for Fatty he falls asleep; meanwhile, the town's constable arrives at the house and begins flirting with her.

Later in the day Fatty is busy sending out deliveries to the townsfolk when the constable sneaks into the building and steals a letter hidden by Fatty after hearing it is insured for $300. The constable presents Fanny with a ring bought with the money gained from Fatty's insured letter but is outraged when Fatty presents her with an even more expensive one. That night at the store, which has been converted into a dance hall, Fatty and Fanny dance while Buster entertains the crowd with magic tricks. Fatty is due to sing to the crowd; however, his voice gives out, so Buster persuades him to eat some onions to strengthen his voice. The onions have the desired effect, but they also make his breath so pungent that it causes the entire audience to cry.

Next the constable tries to frame Fatty by insinuating it was he who stole the money from the insured letter. As Fatty tries to deny the charges to his friends, they all (including his dog (Luke) turn their backs on him in disgust. Fatty believes their reaction is due to their not believing him, but it is actually due to his repugnant onion breath. Keaton then informs them that it was the constable, not Fatty, who stole the money. As a scuffle ensues, Fatty sics Luke on the crooked official; and the constable runs out of town with the dog in hot pursuit. In the film's closing scene, Fatty and Fanny prepare to celebrate their relationship with a kiss, but she initially refuses to kiss him due to his lingering bad breath. He suggests that she eat some onions too in order to cancel out the effect.

Cast

See also

References

  1. ↑ Knopf, Robert (August 2, 1999). The Theater and Cinema of Buster Keaton. Princeton University Press. p. 181. ISBN 978-0-691-00442-6. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
  2. ↑ "Progressive Silent Film List: The Hayseed". Silent Era. Retrieved February 26, 2008.
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