The Electric House (1922)

The film originally began shooting in 1920, but during production Buster Keaton broke his ankle while filming a scene involving the electric staircase. This injury caused the entire project to be put on hold.

Eventually, Keaton and his team started over from scratch and made a new version of the film. The version that exists today and is widely known was actually the second attempt. Unfortunately, no copies or footage remain from the original 1920 production shoot that was cut short due to Keaton’s broken ankle.

In 1995, a 24-minute version of the film was released by Film Preservation Associates. It featured new title cards written by Jeffrey Vance and a musical soundtrack compiled by Robert Israel. Then in 2015, the film underwent restoration spearheaded by Lobster Films. The process of digitally enhancing and preserving the footage was paid for in part through a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise the necessary funds. This 2015 restored version is the most pristine and complete print of the film available today thanks to the work of Lobster Films and crowdfunding support.

Watch the full movie by clicking the play button below;

The Electric House (1922) Cast

• Buster Keaton as Buster Keaton (himself)
• Girl (uncredited): Virginia Fox
• Extras (uncredited): Joe Keaton, Louise Keaton, Myra Keaton
• Homeowner (uncredited): Joe Roberts

The Electric House (1922) Storyline

At a graduation ceremony, three students accidentally drop their degree certificates on the floor. In the scramble to retrieve them, each student grabs the wrong one. Buster Keaton’s character, a botany major, ends up with a degree in electrical engineering. He is then hired to wire a new house using inventive gadgets based on his assumed engineering expertise. Meanwhile, the student who actually completed the electrical engineering program seeks revenge.

He secretly reconfigures all of the unconventional devices that Keaton’s character had installed so that they malfunction and cause chaos in comical ways. Through a case of mistaken identity and switched diplomas, the botany student finds himself turning the house into a disaster zone despite thinking his wiring skills were up to code.