description Convict 13 Overview
"Convict 13" is a 1920 two-reel silent comedy film co-directed by and starring Buster Keaton. The narrative centers on a young golfer who is mistaken for a convict and inadvertently becomes involved in a prison riot. The film exemplifies Keaton's trademark physical comedy and deadpan reactions, particularly during a sequence involving a botched hanging on the gallows where he survives due to a fake rope. It remains a notable entry in Keaton's early series of independent short comedies.
help Convict 13 FAQ
How does Buster Keaton end up in prison in Convict 13?
Keaton's golfer is knocked unconscious, and an escaped prisoner exchanges clothes with him. Guards mistake Keaton for Convict 13 and take him back to prison, where he faces execution for another man's crimes.
Does Convict 13 really turn a hanging into a slapstick sequence?
Yes. Keaton's character survives because the execution rope has been replaced with an elastic cord, causing him to bounce rather than hang.
Who appears with Buster Keaton in Convict 13?
The 1920 short features Sybil Seely as the warden's daughter and Joe Roberts as a formidable prisoner. Roberts became a familiar heavy in Keaton films including The Goat and Cops.
Why does Convict 13 suddenly return to the golf course at the end?
The prison adventure is revealed as a dream after Keaton wakes on the golf course. That ending explains the story's abrupt escalation from a failed golf swing to gallows, guards, and a prison revolt.
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