The Blacksmith (1922)

Buster Keaton causes chaos in a blacksmith’s shop, eventually getting into a brawl with the blacksmith that lands the blacksmith in jail. Buster then attempts to help customers with their horses but ends up wrecking a Rolls Royce while trying to fix the car next to it.

“The Blacksmith” is a 1922 American short comedy film co-written, co-directed, and starring Buster Keaton. In the film, Buster plays an assistant blacksmith to the large worker portrayed by Joe Roberts, resulting in the usual hilarious mishaps.

Many thought the car destroyed in “The Blacksmith” was a Rolls-Royce. The shiny car, which looks like a Rolls-Royce, was reportedly a wedding gift from Buster Keaton’s in-laws. However, by the time the film was made, his relationship with them had significantly worsened. The car actually wrecked in the film was a Pierce-Arrow Model 49 Vestibule Suburban, not a Rolls-Royce.

Image Source: pierce-arrow.org

In June 2013, Argentine film historian Fernando Martín Peña found a remarkably different version of the film in the collection of his colleague, collector Fabio Manes. This version, printed on 9.5mm film, featured French intertitles. The discovery was announced in “Variety” on July 16, 2013. The film was restored in 2015 by Lobster Films, with partial funding from a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign.

Watch the full move by hitting the play button below.

The Blacksmith (1922) Cast

• Buster Keaton as the Blacksmith’s assistant
• Joe Roberts as the Blacksmith
• Virginia Fox as the Horsewoman

The Blacksmith (1922) Storyline

The film begins with Buster Keaton, playing the role of an assistant blacksmith, working alongside the main blacksmith, Joe Roberts. Buster is depicted as a clumsy and accident-prone individual, constantly getting into humorous situations due to his ineptitude.

The story takes a turn when a horsewoman, played by Virginia Fox, rides into the blacksmith shop, seeking to have her horse’s shoes repaired. Buster, eager to impress her, decides to take on the task himself, despite his lack of experience. This decision leads to a series of mishaps and comedic events as Buster struggles to complete the task.

Meanwhile, Joe Roberts, the main blacksmith, is shown to be a more skilled and competent worker, but his efforts are constantly thwarted by Buster’s antics. The tension between the two characters is played for comedic effect, with Buster’s mistakes causing chaos and destruction in the shop.

As the story progresses, Buster’s attempts to impress the horsewoman only lead to further embarrassment and humiliation. Despite his best efforts, he is unable to complete the task and ultimately ends up causing more problems than he solves.

The film ends with Buster being chased out of the shop by Joe Roberts, who is fed up with his incompetence. The horsewoman, who has been watching the events unfold, rides off, seemingly unimpressed by Buster’s attempts to impress her.

Throughout the film, Buster Keaton’s signature deadpan expression and physical comedy skills are showcased, making “The Blacksmith” a classic example of his unique brand of humor.