IMDb RATING
6.9/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
An unimpressive but well intending man is given the chance to marry a popular actress, of whom he has been a hopeless fan. But what he doesn't realize is that he is being used to make the ac... Read allAn unimpressive but well intending man is given the chance to marry a popular actress, of whom he has been a hopeless fan. But what he doesn't realize is that he is being used to make the actress' old flame jealous.An unimpressive but well intending man is given the chance to marry a popular actress, of whom he has been a hopeless fan. But what he doesn't realize is that he is being used to make the actress' old flame jealous.
Jack Byron
- Giovanni Scarzi
- (as John Byron)
Joe Bordeaux
- Rumrunner
- (uncredited)
Ray Cooke
- The Bellboy
- (uncredited)
Mike Donlin
- Man in Ship's Engine Room
- (uncredited)
Pat Harmon
- Tugboat Captain
- (uncredited)
Sydney Jarvis
- Man in Audience Next to Elmer
- (uncredited)
Theodore Lorch
- Actor as 'Union Officer'
- (uncredited)
Hank Mann
- Stage Manager
- (uncredited)
Charles Sullivan
- Tough Sailor
- (uncredited)
- Directors
- Edward Sedgwick
- Buster Keaton(uncredited)
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaBuster Keaton wanted this film to be a full talkie, but MGM released it with only a musical score and sound effects. One thing that prevented this picture from being a full talkie was that MGM was late to the sound game and had only one full set of recording equipment at the time. Its Loew's Theater chain also was not yet fully equipped to show sound pictures. Plus, MGM's head of production reasoned Keaton's films were made with a lot of time-consuming improvisations and didn't think the added expense of using valuable, scarce sound equipment was worth it.
- GoofsIn the dressing-room, while attempting to trim the hair for his false beard, Elmer accidentally severs the left-hand shoulder strap of his tank-top undershirt and has no time to repair it. When he hurriedly changes back into his smart clothes after the performance, both straps are still whole.
- Quotes
Trilby Drew: What's that blonde hanging around you for?
Lionel Benmore: Can I help it if I'm good-looking?
- Crazy creditsRather than appear at the beginning, the MGM roaring lion opening appears after the conclusion of the film, but just before "The End" title, which immediately follows it.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Arena: Cinema: Christmas Special (1976)
- SoundtracksI'd Rather Be Blue Over You
(uncredited)
Music by Fred Fisher
Lyrics by Billy Rose
Played as background music at the cafe
Featured review
Worth Watching, & Has Some Very Good Sequences
This isn't bad at all, as long as you don't hold it up to the standard that Keaton set in the features he made on his own. It has some very good sequences that make up for the more routine stretches, and it shows enough of Buster's comic genius to be worthwhile. Even when the gags are not especially creative, he gets as much mileage out of them as anyone could have.
The premise of the "Spite Marriage" is rather flimsy at best, and in other hands it probably would not have been even this good. It actually starts out pretty well, as the first part moves at a good pace, and includes a very good sequence with Buster's hapless character trying to take part in a play. It begins to peter out in the middle, though, as the premise begins to wear thin. For some reason, the bedroom sequence from this portion seems to be the best-remembered portion of the movie, but it really isn't one of the better parts of the film at all. But things pick up again in the last part, when the story takes a couple of unexpected turns, and the comedy also improves.
To be sure, it is a shame that Keaton was forced into the studio mold in pictures like this. It worked for many, but not for a unique talent like Buster. Still, at least this time the result is a generally entertaining movie with more than enough laughs to make it worth watching for anyone who enjoys silent comedies.
The premise of the "Spite Marriage" is rather flimsy at best, and in other hands it probably would not have been even this good. It actually starts out pretty well, as the first part moves at a good pace, and includes a very good sequence with Buster's hapless character trying to take part in a play. It begins to peter out in the middle, though, as the premise begins to wear thin. For some reason, the bedroom sequence from this portion seems to be the best-remembered portion of the movie, but it really isn't one of the better parts of the film at all. But things pick up again in the last part, when the story takes a couple of unexpected turns, and the comedy also improves.
To be sure, it is a shame that Keaton was forced into the studio mold in pictures like this. It worked for many, but not for a unique talent like Buster. Still, at least this time the result is a generally entertaining movie with more than enough laughs to make it worth watching for anyone who enjoys silent comedies.
helpful•113
- Snow Leopard
- Nov 21, 2002
- How long is Spite Marriage?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Languages
- Also known as
- Matrimonio forzado
- Filming locations
- Hotel Carmel - 201 Broadway St, Santa Monica, California, USA(Lionel confronts Buster outside this hotel on the 2nd Street side - still in business in 2022)
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 16 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.33 : 1
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