For most of the film, Keaton teamed up with his "enemies" to stage multiple chases and counter chases. In that era when stunt technology was not yet developed, Keaton could be said to risk his life, ready to fulfill his vow of "dedicated to art" at any time.
In the second half of the film, Keaton perfectly integrates the American gag with obvious self-style characteristics ("cold funny") into the huge war scene (from the perspective of the time), which makes people have to admire him. Extraordinary control over the film's "overall structure".
A final conclusion: Buster Keaton is indeed a great "art for art's sake" great artist.
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