Hard Luck is a 1921 American two-reel silent comedy film starring Buster Keaton, written and directed by Keaton and Edward F. Cline. It runs 22 minutes. For sixty years it was Keaton's only major lost film until it was partially reconstructed in 1987, with the critical final scene—which Keaton called the greatest laugh-getting scene of his career—still missing. It was later discovered in a Russian archive print, and now the full film is available.[1]

Hard Luck
Buster and his Chinese wife and children in the finale of the film.
Directed byEdward F. Cline
Buster Keaton
Written byEdward F. Cline
Buster Keaton
Produced byJoseph M. Schenck
StarringBuster Keaton
Virginia Fox
Joe Roberts
Bull Montana
CinematographyElgin Lessley
Edited byBuster Keaton
Distributed byMetro Pictures
Release date
  • March 14, 1921 (1921-03-14)
Running time
22 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguagesSilent film
English (original intertitles)
Hard Luck

Plot

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Buster plays a down-on-his-luck young man who decides to commit suicide after losing his job and his girl. After several inept attempts to end his life—and bolstered by whiskey disguised as poison—he joins an expedition to capture an armadillo. He finds himself becoming more confident through a series of adventures (such as fishing and fox hunting) as the film proceeds. But the confidence becomes his undoing as he misses the pool in a dive from a high board and hits the ground on the far side with such force that he disappears into a hole. Some years later, an Asian-garbed Buster climbs out of the hole in the now dry and deserted pool followed by a Chinese wife and three young children.

Cast

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "TCM Short Subject Schedule October 10–23". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2014.

Bibliography

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