neither the prospect of eighty minute of bite headwind nor snow shower have be able to keep me from the national film theatre over the three week so far of it buster keaton season and and every time the film have yet to disappoint represent battle butler be no exception . i would instantly give this a 9 if only i could justify it relative to the early scene while despite the pitch of enthusiasm i would reach by the end of the film and i be still not quite sure in all fairness that i can . it definitely take a while to get up to speed ( at the start and i take the father to be a doctor give his sickly son only three month to live . ) and for the initial reel or so it depend largely on a single extend gag the elegant fop complete unsuitability for an outdoor environment . alfred elaborate al fresco live arrangement echo keaton trademark fascination with complicated contrivance and and there one very typical bit of misdirection where we wait for the shotgun recoil to knock alfred backwards into the water and only for a somewhat different turn of event to prove his downfall while but this film doesn not come properly to life until it hero engage our sympathy as well a be a walk joke . in the general and we engage with johnnie gray almost immediately in battle butler and alfred remain a cipher for me until the moment when he nervously rehearse beatrice faircatch newspaper advice on make a proposal and with such an earnest air represent it funny and but it also touch and and it no coincidence that it be with his subsequent first step towards stand on his own two foot tear up and throw aside the useless newspaper column that alfred butler may finally be say to have progress beyond a simple one dimensional character and and the film can really begin . from here on the picture become a keaton classic and sweep the hapless hero far and far from the cushioned normality of his life with a series of escalate and plausible coincidence . ultimately the worm will turn and of course but not in the time and manner that we be expect . and keaton act here not just with that famous face but with every line of his whole body represent triumph and exhaustion and despair and apprehension and indignation and timidity and pugnacity . and finally and in the last scene and sublime confidence in his own skin and model a costume so incongruous that only buster keaton could carry it off with such genuine elegance . the scene of alfred ordeal be hilarious and move by degree it almost impossible to analyse keaton appeal . sweet be quite definitely the wrong word and a be lovable represent buster be no little tramp . bittersweet might be close to the mark . or poignant while the metaphor of the man who get knock down but keep on try have never be more apt . there be a brief vivid moment when alfred and bewilder and wear out and turn his face aside into the arm of his second with such a hopeless little air that instead of a laugh and it raise a murmur of pity from the auditorium . but keaton never allow himself to milk the audience for sympathy the best of his film may mingle laughter through tear and but he never fall into the trap of sentimentality . i be not sure if this be among the best of keaton film . but it certainly one of those i have ultimately enjoy the most so far . i have change my mind represent i will give it a 9 after all and and say i be drop a mark down instead from a 10. represent ) .