Day Dreams

Plot

Buster Keaton plays a young man who travels to the city to find employment in order to win the approval of his sweetheart's father. Through a series of disastrous job attempts, including working as a garbage collector, theater usher, and streetcar conductor, he writes letters home that dramatically exaggerate his success. His girlfriend reads these letters and imagines him in glamorous, high-status positions, creating a hilarious contrast between his actual humiliating experiences and her romanticized vision of his achievements. The film culminates in a series of comedic set pieces that showcase Keaton's legendary physical comedy and his character's increasingly desperate attempts to maintain his elaborate deception.

Historical Background

Day Dreams was produced in 1922, during the golden age of silent comedy and at the peak of Buster Keaton's creative powers. This period saw Hollywood transitioning from short two-reel comedies to feature-length films, with Keaton successfully navigating both formats. The early 1920s was also a time of rapid urbanization in America, and the film reflects contemporary themes of young people moving to cities for opportunity. The post-World War I era brought changes in social mores, including more relaxed attitudes about courtship and marriage, which is reflected in the film's premise of a young man seeking approval from his beloved's father. The film industry itself was consolidating, with studios like Metro Pictures (which would later become MGM) investing heavily in star comedians like Keaton. This was also before the Hays Code would impose stricter moral guidelines on films, allowing for more creative freedom in comedy storytelling.

Making Of

The production of 'Day Dreams' took place during what many consider Buster Keaton's creative peak, a period when he had near-complete creative control over his films. Director Edward F. Cline, who had experience with both comedy and drama, helped Keaton craft the film's unique narrative structure that alternated between reality and fantasy. The filming of various job sequences required multiple location shoots around Los Angeles, which was unusual for short comedies of the time that were typically studio-bound. The garbage collection scene reportedly caused difficulties as the production had to coordinate with actual city sanitation departments. Keaton performed his own stunts throughout, including dangerous falls and physical comedy sequences that would become his trademark. The film's editing, particularly the transitions between reality and the imagined scenarios described in the letters, was considered sophisticated for its time and required careful planning to maintain comedic timing while clearly distinguishing between the two narrative threads.

Visual Style

The cinematography in Day Dreams was handled by Elgin Lessley and William H. McGann, both frequent collaborators with Keaton. The film features clear, well-composed shots that effectively capture both the physical comedy and the emotional reactions of the characters. The cinematography employs a variety of techniques to distinguish between reality and fantasy sequences, including different camera angles and lighting styles. The urban location shooting provides authentic period detail of 1920s Los Angeles, with street scenes, theaters, and residential areas captured in natural lighting that adds to the film's realism. The camera work during the physical comedy sequences is particularly noteworthy, maintaining clear visibility of Keaton's actions while building comedic tension. The film also makes effective use of close-ups, especially for Renée Adorée's reactions as she reads the letters, creating a visual contrast between her romantic imagination and Keaton's grim reality. The cinematography demonstrates the sophistication that had developed in silent film technique by 1922, moving beyond the static camera work of earlier cinema.

Innovations

Day Dreams demonstrates several technical achievements typical of Keaton's sophisticated approach to filmmaking. The film's innovative use of parallel narrative structure, cutting between reality and fantasy sequences, required careful editing to maintain clarity and comedic timing. The location shooting in various urban environments presented logistical challenges that the production overcame through careful planning and coordination. The physical comedy sequences, particularly those involving props and machinery, required precise timing between actors and technical elements. The film also makes effective use of special effects for the fantasy sequences described in the letters, using techniques such as superimposition and creative set design to visualize the imagined scenarios. The editing techniques used to transition between the different narrative threads were considered advanced for the time, helping to establish a clear distinction between reality and fantasy while maintaining narrative flow. The film's technical sophistication reflects Keaton's reputation as a meticulous filmmaker who understood both the artistic and technical aspects of cinema production.

Music

As a silent film, Day Dreams would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its original theatrical run. The typical accompaniment would have included a pianist or small orchestra in larger theaters, with music selected to match the mood of each scene. Comedic sequences would have been scored with light, playful music, while the romantic elements would have featured more sentimental themes. The contrast between reality and fantasy sequences would have been emphasized through different musical styles. Modern restorations and screenings of the film typically feature newly composed scores by silent film accompanists like Ben Model or Robert Israel, who create period-appropriate music that enhances the film's comedy and emotional moments. Some contemporary screenings feature improvised accompaniment that responds directly to the on-screen action, maintaining the tradition of live musical performance that was essential to the silent film experience. The absence of recorded dialogue makes the visual comedy and physical timing even more crucial, with the music serving to guide audience emotions and highlight the film's narrative structure.

Memorable Scenes

• The garbage collection sequence where Keaton struggles with overflowing trash cans while his letter describes him as a 'sanitary engineer'
• The theater usher scene where Keaton accidentally creates chaos during a performance
• The streetcar conductor sequence featuring Keaton's attempts to manage passengers and collect fares
• The final revelation scene where the truth about Keaton's employment is exposed

What Critics Said

Contemporary reviews of Day Dreams were generally positive, with critics praising Keaton's inventive approach to comedy and the film's clever narrative structure. The Motion Picture News noted the film's 'originality and humor' while Variety highlighted Keaton's 'remarkable ability to find comedy in the most mundane situations.' Modern film historians and critics have come to regard Day Dreams as an important transitional work in Keaton's filmography, showing his development toward more narrative-driven comedy. The film is often cited in scholarly discussions of silent comedy techniques and narrative innovation in early cinema. Critics particularly praise the film's editing techniques and the seamless way it transitions between reality and fantasy. Today, Day Dreams is considered a minor classic within Keaton's body of work, appreciated for its clever premise and execution, though it's often overshadowed by his more famous features like 'The General' and 'Sherlock Jr.'

What Audiences Thought

Audiences in 1922 responded positively to Day Dreams, which was successful enough to warrant wide distribution through Metro Pictures' network. The film's relatable premise of trying to impress a love interest's family resonated with contemporary viewers, while Keaton's physical comedy provided the entertainment value expected from his films. The contrast between the character's actual humiliating jobs and his exaggerated letters home created a comedic dynamic that audiences found particularly amusing. Modern audiences rediscovering the film through revivals and home video have appreciated its cleverness and Keaton's masterful physical comedy. The film's relatively short runtime and clear visual storytelling make it accessible to modern viewers who might be less familiar with silent cinema conventions. The film continues to be featured in Keaton retrospectives and silent comedy festivals, where it consistently receives positive responses from both longtime fans and newcomers to silent film.

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