Pest from the West Synopsis & Summary

The first, and best, of ten comedy two-reelers Buster Keaton was to make for the Columbia short subject department, Pest From the West featured Keaton as a millionaire vacationing in Mexico. He falls for a beautiful señorita (Lorna Gray, later known as Adrian Booth), who plays along in order to make her employer, Gino Corrado, jealous. In a scene reminiscent of Keaton's best work, he serenades an irascible Bud Jamison in the mistaken belief that he is Gray. Keaton strums his ukulele, oblivious to the flying crockery that punctuates every note, and blithely warbles "In a Little Spanish Town." Like most entries in the series, Pest From the West was penned by veteran Keaton collaborator Clyde Bruckman. Reportedly, Keaton was hired for his onscreen presence only and apparently didn't contribute any gags himself. Although dismissed by modern Keaton fans, the Columbia two-reelers were popular in their day. - Hans J. Wollstein, All Movie Guide