Three Ages | 1923 | Comedy

Title: Three Ages | 1923 | Comedy Director: Buster Keaton, Edward F. Cline Studio: Buster Keaton Productions / Metro Pictures Starring: Buster Keaton, Margaret Leahy, Wallace Beery, Joe Roberts, Lillian Lawrence Based on: Original screenplay by Buster Keaton, Clyde Bruckman, Jean Havez, Joseph A. Mitchell Release Date: September 24 1923 Runtime: 63 minutes Format: Silent black and white Country: United States Language: Silent with English intertitles Genres: Comedy --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Introduction and prehistoric rivalry 00:10:00 Stone Age competitions 00:20:00 Ancient Rome chariot contests 00:30:00 Roman Age rescue 00:40:00 Modern Age courtship begins 00:50:00 Modern Age rivalry and resolution --- Summary: Three Ages is a 1923 American silent comedy that intercuts three parallel storylines set in the Stone Age, Ancient Rome, and the modern day to explore the timeless pursuit of love and courtship. In each era, characters played by Buster Keaton and Wallace Beery compete for the affections of the same woman, played by Margaret Leahy. The film uses visual gags and inventive scenarios in each historical setting to parody the conventions of epic cinema while highlighting Keaton’s physical comedy and underdog persona. --- Background: Three Ages was Buster Keaton’s first feature-length comedy that he co-wrote, co-directed, produced, and starred in, representing his transition from short films to feature productions. The structure of the film, presenting three interwoven tales, was conceived as a humorous homage and satire of D.W. Griffith’s *Intolerance*. Keaton’s clever use of parallel narratives and consistent comic struggles across eras marks an early example of ambitious silent-era filmmaking. --- Trivia: Three Ages was intentionally structured so that if the feature failed commercially it could be split into three two-reel shorts. The same actors portray analogous roles in each of the three historical segments, reinforcing the film’s theme of enduring human behavior. The film contains physical stunts and inventive visual comedy typical of Keaton’s work. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: September 24 1923 Original Studio / Distributor: Buster Keaton Productions / Metro Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Unknown --- Hashtags: #ThreeAges #BusterKeaton #SilentFilm #1923Film #Comedy #ClassicCinema #PublicDomain