The Paleface
The Paleface is a short silent comedy film starring and directed by Buster Keaton. The film uses stereotypes to mock early Americans in their conflicts with Native Americans. The film is written by Keaton and produced by Joseph M. Schenk.
Plot
The Native American tribe lives contently until one day, American oil men arrive. They are met by hitman who 'bought the lease for the land for a dollar' by killing the Native American who had it and giving his corpse a dollar. Soon met with a 24-hour eviction notice, the Native Chief is infuriated with the white men, threatening to kill the next white man who walks through the gate. Immediately after, an unsuspecting Buster Keaton peaks through the gate during his chase of an elusive butterfly. After catching the butterfly, the Indians round him up and tie him to a stake to be burned. Buster cleverly escapes, and eludes the tribe to a cabin, where he is able to make a makeshift fireproof suit. Although he stumbles back into the grasp of the Natives, he is unharmed by the flames. Aghast by such marvelous wonders, the Natives bow to Buster, who has now been "indoctrinated into the red man culture."
Upon "Little Chief Paleface" (Buster's) rocky assimilation into the tribe, the Natives share their land dilemma with Buster who immediately leads the tribe to confront the oil moguls. The tribe "does the dance," parading around the businessmen with axes, as Buster even takes one of their wigs, hilariously referencing the idea to "scalp" the white man. One of the businessman escapes; however, and in a tense chase, Buster is cornered and forced to switch clothes with the businessman to keep the Indians off his tail. Dressed as the 'crooked white man' Buster now is forced to flee the new Native Tribe who went bankrupt playing strip poker, until he finds his own tribe and eventually makes it back to camp where he is ultimately recognized. Buster then checks his coat pocket, and to his surprise, sees the lease for the land, inadvertently given to him by the oil man when they switched clothes. The village was finally saved. In a classic and final act of true heroism, Buster 'wins the girl,' by kissing the Indian Maiden to end the movie.
Cast
Buster Keaton as "Little Chief Paleface"
Joe Roberts as the Indian Chief
Virginia Fox as the Indian Maiden
Production
The majority of the film was shot at Iverson Ranch in Chatsworth, CA. Buster had adequate space and unique natural surroundings to perform his stunts. His stunt where he narrowly escapes with his makeshift bridge was made safer with a net to catch his would be 85-foot drop; however, the fireman who designed it broke a leg and shoulder in an earlier testing stage.
References
James Curtis, Buster Keaton: A Filmmaker's Life (New York: Knopf, 2022), p. 201.
