Elmer (Buster Keaton) answers a marriage ad and finds out his bride to
be is a resolute, middle-aged farmwoman who doesn't even make an attempt
to make him like her. Buster stays on board anyhow because he has fallen
in love with Molly (Dorothea Kent), the farmwoman's niece who lives with
her, and he creates massive havoc on the farm in the process. Ultimately
though, Elmer figures he's in a lose-lose situation, and he makes a hasty
escape - which doesn't go unnoticed though, and eventually he finds
himself the groom in a shotgun wedding - the bride though is going to be
Molly after all. Compared to Buster Keaton's silent shorts (let
alone his silent features), this movie stinks, as it lacks stringent
storytelling, sophisticated gags and elaborate slapstick stunts - yet
taken by its own, Hayseed Romance isn't too bad, Buster might not
be at the height of his game anymore, but he still shows hints of genius,
some of the gags are pretty funny, and considering the tight budget,
director Charles Lamont gets the most out of his limited sets. So no, of
course Hayseed Romance is no masterpiece, but at least ok
entertainment.
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