The Paleface (1922) Director: Buster Keaton & Edward F. Cline Studio: Buster Keaton Productions Starring: Buster Keaton, Virginia Fox, Joe Roberts Release Date: May 28, 1922 Runtime: ~20 minutes Format: Black & White | Silent | Comedy | Short Film Country: United States Language: Silent (English intertitles) Genres: Comedy | Western | Silent Film | Slapstick --- Summary: The Paleface (1922) is a silent short comedy starring Buster Keaton as a hapless butterfly collector who stumbles into conflict between a Native American tribe and unscrupulous oil men. Mistaken for an enemy, Keaton is nearly executed but earns the tribe’s trust through sheer accident and absurd good luck. Clad in war paint and buffalo horns, he becomes their unlikely champion and takes on the greedy oil barons with his signature deadpan style and slapstick inventiveness. Packed with visual gags, clever stunts, and Western parody, The Paleface is a fast-paced and wildly inventive short that showcases Keaton’s legendary physical comedy. --- Background: Co-directed by Keaton and Edward F. Cline, The Paleface was released at the height of Buster Keaton’s silent film career. Produced through his own company, the short reflects his creative freedom and mastery of visual storytelling. While using Native American characters in broad comic strokes reflective of the era’s insensitivity, the film primarily satirizes Western tropes and corporate exploitation. The film remains a classic of silent comedy and is widely studied for Keaton’s inventive stunt work and comedic timing. --- Trivia: Buster Keaton performed all of his own stunts, including sliding down ropes and riding runaway mine carts. The film was produced independently under Buster Keaton Productions and distributed by First National Pictures. Virginia Fox, Keaton’s frequent leading lady, also appeared in several of his other short comedies. The Paleface was later included in many silent film retrospectives and comedy anthologies. It is often cited for its inventive use of props and minimalist but effective storytelling. The film is in the public domain and widely available in silent film archives and collections. --- Hashtags: #ThePaleface1922 #BusterKeaton #SilentFilm #SlapstickComedy #ClassicComedy #WesternParody #SilentEra #VirginiaFox #PhysicalComedy #1920sCinema #ShortFilm #PublicDomainFilm #KeatonStunts #SilentLegend #OldHollywood