Anecdotes about "Go West"?

[Lokke Heiss]

I was asked to talk about Go West, which will be showing in my town this week.

Any stories beyond the "smile when you call me that" scene, and Buster's affection for his leading "lady"?

[Rodney]

I was asked to talk about Go West, which will be showing in my town this week.

Any stories beyond the "smile when you call me that" scene, and Buster's affection for his leading "lady"?

You could talk about newspaperman Horace Greeley and the influence of his directive to "Go west, young man!" The city of Greeley Colorado was one direct result, the titles of at least three comedy films are another.

You could also talk about D.W. Griffith's penchant for naming characters as generic nouns and adjectives -- "The Little Colonel," etc. Buster Keaton's character name "Friendless" is a mild jab at Griffith.

[Kevin2]

I see Go West as a satire on the sentimental elements in Chaplin's, and perhaps even some of Lloyd's, comedies. Of course in Keaton's world, there isn't room for Chaplin's "gentle tears"; Keaton's "sentiment" is laced with playful irony. Even a docile dog turns away from "Friendless" when he goes to pat it, and of course, the female lead is a cow.

I also agree with Rodney that Keaton is gentle poking Griffith with the name "Friendless", and in the funniest and most inspired sequence, where he does the "Gish" smile, he plays with his own persona as well.