The Boat (1921)
Plot: This two-reel silent comedy follows Buster Keaton, his wife, and their two children. Buster has meticulously constructed a large, elaborate cabin cruiser he names Damfino (a pun on "damn if I know") inside their home. When he finishes, he realizes the boat is too large to fit through the door. His attempt to enlarge the opening and tow the boat out results in the complete, spectacular collapse of the house. The family then tries to launch the boat, leading to the destruction of their car and a failed launch attempt that leaves the boat listing. Once they finally get out on the Pacific Ocean, their voyage becomes an escalating series of disasters, including an improbable leak caused by a misplaced nail and a storm that sinks the barely seaworthy vessel. Their frantic Morse code distress call (spelling out "Damfino") is dismissed by the Coast Guard as "damn if I know," a prank. Finally, taking to a ridiculous bathtub dinghy, the family resigns themselves to sinking, only to discover they are standing in shallow water on a deserted beach.
