*Spoilers.*
May 6th, 1922 – the day My Wife’s Relations was released. It’s generally thought of as one of Buster Keaton’s lesser independent shorts, and to be sure, it doesn’t compare to his best stuff. Still, even within a pretty flimsy short that’s founded on some sexist humor, there are gags and gag sequences that are nevertheless topnotch.
Makeshift Hat Rack
Buster’s accidental new wife brings him home to her father and four brothers. In lieu of an actual hat rack, they have a sconce light by the front door, and each man who comes in places his hat on top of the fixture, tossing the previous man’s hat on the floor. When Buster shows up, he does one better, using one brother’s bowler hat as a stool to reach the sconce and replace another brother’s policeman’s hat with his own.
Dinner Time
A simple sequence, but so effective. It kicks off with an almost-balletic scene of Buster having to pass another dish around the table every time he tries to take a bite. I enjoy the extra bits of personality, like Buster cutting out the middle-man for one sugar-loving brother by pouring his coffee directly into the sugar bowl, along with everyone bowing their heads for grace with their forks poised over the meat platter, so they can spring into action as soon as the father says “Amen.” The coup de grâce comes when Buster, bullied out of getting any meat, flips the date on the calendar to convince his Catholic in-laws that it’s Friday.
Making the Bed
My favorite sequence in the film. Buster doesn’t notice that there’s a broom laying across his bed frame, so when he sets the spring and the mattress on it, he seesaws back and forth over the broom, winding up with his head on the floor no matter which way he turns. Naturally, by the time he discovers the broom and fixes it, the bed has had it, and the headboard collapses on him as soon as he settles in. Super fun mechanical gag—Buster loves him a seesaw bit!
Making Nice
A quick bit, but I love it! The in-laws have mistakenly gotten the impression that Buster is due to inherit a fortune, so they’ve changed their tune, and everyone pitches in some cash for Buster to rent them a nice house as they prepare for their new lives of luxury. As Buster’s father-in-law goes to shake his hand, Buster slips his arm out of his baggy pajamas, leaving his father-in-law to shake the sleeve while Buster keeps counting the cash. Fantastic sight gag!
Family Portrait
Another great scene. A photographer attempts to take a portrait of the family, but the tripod is slowly collapsing. As they wait for the photo to be taken, everyone crouches lower and lower with the sinking tripod until they all wind up lying on the floor. I’m also a big fan of the bit where Buster’s brothers-in-law (who are all enormous, of course,) keep trying to crowd him out of the picture, especially the 100%-committed poses Buster makes every time he finds a new spot to stand.
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