Neighbors

About the production

The film featured innovative use of real tenement sets built specifically for the production, allowing for complex vertical gags and stunts. Keaton performed his own stunts, including dangerous falls and acrobatics between the two buildings. The fence separating the buildings became a central prop for physical comedy and was engineered to support Keaton's weight during various gags.

Themes

Themes & topics

Historical background

Neighbors (1920) was among Keaton's early solo shorts after leaving Arbuckle's unit at Joseph M. Schenck Productions.

Why this film matters

Keaton's physical problem-solving here defines his engineering-comedy brand distinct from Chaplin's pathos.

Making of

Neighbors was produced during a prolific period in Buster Keaton's career when he was establishing his independence as a filmmaker. The collaboration between Keaton and director Edward F. Cline was particularly fruitful, with Cline understanding how to capture Keaton's unique physical comedy style. The tenement setting allowed Keaton to explore vertical space in his gags, something that would become a signature element of his work. The production team built elaborate two-story sets that could withstand Keaton's athletic performances. The fence between the buildings became a central comedic device, with Keaton and the stunt team engineering various ways to use it for physical comedy. Virginia Fox, who played the female lead, was not only a talented actress but also capable of performing her own light stunts, which added to the film's authenticity.

What critics said

Critics admired the wall gags; the short remains a staple of Keaton retrospectives.

Did you know?

• This was one of the first films Buster Keaton made after establishing his own production company, Comique Film Corporation.
• The film's Romeo and Juliet theme was a popular subject for early comedies, with Keaton adding his unique physical comedy style to the classic story.
• Joe Roberts, who played Virginia Fox's father, was a frequent collaborator with Keaton and appeared in 15 of his films.
• The fence gag was so successful that Keaton reused similar fence-based comedy in later films.
• The tenement sets were designed to be slightly unstable to enhance the comedic effect of Keaton's movements.
• Virginia Fox was a regular Keaton leading lady, appearing in five of his films during this period.
• The film features one of Keaton's earliest examples of his famous 'stone face' expression during chaotic situations.
• Director Edward F. Cline was a frequent collaborator with Keaton, co-directing many of his early classics.
• The movie was shot in just a few days, typical of Keaton's efficient production methods.
• The film's success helped establish Keaton's reputation as a major comedy star independent of his earlier work with Fatty Arbuckle.

Visual style

The cinematography by Elgin Lessley featured innovative camera angles to capture the vertical comedy between the two tenement buildings. The film used wide shots to establish the physical space and allow audiences to appreciate the full scope of Keaton's stunts. The camera work emphasized the architectural elements of the sets, using the fence and building facades as framing devices. The photography maintained clarity during fast-paced action sequences, a technical achievement for the period. The lighting was naturalistic, suggesting the authentic feel of urban tenement life.

Innovations

Neighbors featured innovative set design that allowed for complex vertical comedy, with the two tenement buildings constructed to facilitate Keaton's acrobatic stunts. The fence mechanism was engineered to support various gags while maintaining the illusion of a simple barrier. The film demonstrated Keaton's mastery of spatial comedy, using depth and height to create visual humor. The production employed innovative camera techniques to capture the action across multiple levels of the sets. The stunts performed were technically demanding and required precise timing between Keaton, the supporting actors, and the camera.

Music

As a silent film, Neighbors would have been accompanied by live musical performance during its theatrical run. The typical score would have included popular songs of the era, classical pieces adapted for comedic effect, and original improvisation by the theater's pianist or organist. Modern restorations often feature newly composed scores by silent film specialists who create music that enhances the film's comedic timing and emotional beats. The rhythm of Keaton's physical comedy lends itself particularly well to musical accompaniment.

Famous quotes

(As a silent film, dialogue was conveyed through intertitles: 'Their families were not on speaking terms... across the fence!')

(Intertitle: 'The Boy and The Girl - but their families hated each other!')

(Intertitle: 'Love knows no fences... but this one was pretty high!')

Memorable scenes

• The fence sequence where Keaton attempts to cross between buildings using various comedic methods, including walking along the top and using it as a tightrope.
• The climactic chase scene where characters move between windows, fire escapes, and rooftops in a perfectly synchronized ballet of chaos.
• Keaton's innovative use of a clothesline as a means of transportation between the two buildings.
• The opening sequence establishing the feud between the two families through increasingly elaborate acts of vandalism across the fence.

What audiences thought

Neighbors was well-received by audiences upon its release, who appreciated Keaton's increasingly sophisticated approach to physical comedy. The film's relatable setting of feuding neighbors resonated with urban audiences of the time. The Romeo and Juliet elements provided a familiar framework that helped audiences follow the story despite the lack of dialogue. Modern audiences continue to enjoy the film, with its timeless themes of young love overcoming parental opposition and its spectacular physical comedy that requires no translation across decades.

Film connections

Influenced by

• Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
• Earlier Mack Sennett comedies
• Commedia dell'arte traditions

This film influenced

• The General (1926)
• The Cameraman (1928)
• City Lights (1931)
• Modern physical comedies

Film restoration

Neighbors survives in complete form and has been preserved by major film archives including the Library of Congress and the Museum of Modern Art. The film has undergone digital restoration as part of various Buster Keaton collections, ensuring its availability for future generations. The restored versions maintain the original aspect ratio and frame rate, with improved image clarity and stability compared to earlier prints.

Where to watch

• The Criterion Channel
• Kino Lorber's Buster Keaton Collection Blu-ray
• YouTube (public domain versions)
• Various streaming services specializing in classic cinema
• Film archives and museum screenings