Keaton’s tribute to detective fiction also pioneered taking films about movie love to a higher plane. Mild-mannered film projectionist Keaton shakes off mix-ups with girlfriend Kathryn McGuire and her father Joe Keaton (Buster’s own dad) by dreaming himself into onscreen action as the titular suave sleuth, with those in his orbit also transferred into the narrative. The ingenuity of the gags beautifully enhances the reliability of the “what if I could” fantasy motif.

New 4K DCP restoration done in conjunction with Cineteca di Bologna with Tim Brock orchestral score

Preceded by:

Our Hospitality (John G. Blystone & Buster Keaton, 1923, U.S., 76m, 2K DCP)

A man (Keaton) returns to his Appalachian homestead. On the trip, he falls for a young woman (Natalie Talmadge). The only problem is her family has vowed to kill every member of his family. Among the many gags is the train ride that zig-zags around obstacles, a wild chase through the mountains, and a hair-raising rescue at a high waterfall.

New 2K restoration done in conjunction with Cineteca di Bologna with Carl Davis orchestral score