Jail Bait (1937): Cast & Plot
Jail Bait is a 1937 short comedy directed by Charles Lamont, starring Buster Keaton, Bobby Burns and Harold Goodwin. It runs 18 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 18 min
- Director
- Charles Lamont
- Genre
- Comedy
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Educational Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Jail Bait About?
The premise of Jail Bait without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Buster agrees to pose as a murderer to throw off the police while his room mate, a reporter, searches for the real killer.
Jail Bait Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- surrealism
- search for escaped prisoner
- kicked in the shin
- platinum blonde
- newspaper headlines
- murder
- engagement ring
- jewelry store window
- roommate
- pratfall
- falling out of bed
- framed for murder
+38 more Show fewer
- decoy
- tumbling down a staircase
- elaborate scheme
- reported killed in airplane crash
- desk sergeant
- death sentence
- jail
- innocent man falsely convicted
- prison bars
- hacksaw
- escape from prison
- prisoner posing as guard
- hit over the head
- hiding in a barrel
- gang hideout
- police shootout
- car bumper
- reward
- false confession
- police chief
- policeman
- reporter
- office boy
- killer
- kidnapping
- investigation
- dummy
- cigarette smoking
- slang
- gang leader
- gang member
- prison guard
- escape from jail
- 1930s
- newspaper reporter
- newspaper story
- broken cell bars
- airplane crash
Jail Bait Cast & Characters
Buster Keaton leads the cast, with Bobby Burns as Warden (uncredited) and Harold Goodwin. Directed by Charles Lamont; 9 actors are credited in all.
- Director Charles Lamont
-
Buster Keaton - Bobby Burns as Warden (uncredited)
- Harold Goodwin
- Stanley Blystone as Arresting officer (uncredited)
Also Starring in Jail Bait
· 5 more- Harry Tenbrook Prison guard (uncredited)
- Matthew Betz
- Bud Jamison
- Allan Cavan Desk Sergeant (uncredited)
- Betty André
More from Charles Lamont
More films directed by Charles Lamont: The Kettles in the Ozarks, Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy, Abbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops and Ma and Pa Kettle at Home.
Jail Bait Plot Summary
What happens in Jail Bait from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 11 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In this brisk early sound-era caper, Buster Keaton plays a resourceful reporter who believes he has identified the killer behind a shocking kidnapping and murder. To throw the police off the real trail, he orchestrates a dangerous ploy by enlisting his roommate, a quick-witted newspaper boy, to confess to the crime. The ruse is meant to buy time for him to close in on the true culprit and pocket the reward that awaits the capture. The setup is tense, collaborative, and edged with a sense that a clever plan can bend fate to the pursuer’s will. As the plot unfolds, the moral lines blur: deception is the order of the day, and every move is calculated to keep the truth just out of reach long enough to profit.
Full summary
The whole story of Jail Bait, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Jail Bait?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the profession of Buster Keaton's character in Jail Bait (1937)?
Seen Jail Bait?
Movies Like Jail Bait
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Jail Bait, Jail Busters and Jailbreak.
Jail Bait FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Jail Bait, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Jail Bait?
Jail Bait runs 18 minutes.
When was Jail Bait released?
Jail Bait was released on January 8, 1937.
Who directed Jail Bait?
Jail Bait was directed by Charles Lamont.
More films by Charles Lamont Who is in the cast of Jail Bait?
Jail Bait stars Buster Keaton, Bobby Burns as Warden (uncredited) and Harold Goodwin, among 9 credited actors.
Does Jail Bait have a post-credit scene?
No. Jail Bait has no extra scene during or after the credits.
Coming soon to your phone
The Plot Explained Movie Summary App
From blockbusters to hidden gems: plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Save your favorites and never miss a twist again.
Be the first to know when it launches. Your email stays private, always. Learn more about the app
