Overview
A small-town dreamer finds unexpected success in the wild west after a chaotic journey.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- deadpan
- playful
- lazy afternoon
- classic cinema night
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a lively, inventive silent comedy showcasing Buster Keaton's physical performance and visual craftsmanship.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Friendless navigates city streets, trains, ranch work, cattle transport, and armed conflict through Keaton's restrained reactions and elaborate gags.
Friendless leaves an economically stagnant hometown, rejects New York, and gradually finds usefulness on a western ranch.
The ranch's attempt to move one hundred cattle to Los Angeles expands into a chaotic, highly physical transportation set piece.
Trains, ranch equipment, cattle, and Friendless's body are coordinated into recurring visual gags and action rhythms.
Films like Go West, and why
The General
shared silent-era physical comedy, deadpan protagonist, and western setting
Sherlock Jr.
shared Buster Keaton deadpan humor, inventive stunt work, and outsider protagonist
The Gold Rush
shared silent comedy, frontier adventure, and escalating physical mishaps
Movie Details
- Director
- Buster Keaton
- Release Date
- 1925-11-01
- Runtime
- 83 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (162)
Cast
- Buster Keaton
- Howard Truesdale
- Kathleen Myers
- Ray Thompson
- Brown Eyes
- Roscoe Arbuckle
- Joe Keaton
- Gus Leonard
- Babe London
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Cohen Media Amazon Channel, FilmBox Live Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Go West about?
- A deadpan drifter turns failed urban ambition into an unexpectedly heroic cattle-moving adventure across the American West.
- What is Go West like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Go West as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Go West violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Go West as mild.
- What did critics think of Go West?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a lively, inventive silent comedy showcasing Buster Keaton's physical performance and visual craftsmanship.
- Which films are like Go West?
- Films with a similar feel include The General, Sherlock Jr., and The Gold Rush.
- How long is Go West?
- Go West runs 83 minutes.
- Where can I watch Go West?
- In United States, Go West streams on Cohen Media Amazon Channel, FilmBox Live Amazon Channel.
