" Egypt""s fearful Pharaoh Rameses I (Ian Keith) issued an edit to kill all newborn male Hebrew babies ("Since this deliverer is among their newborn, only their newborn need die").The hero dreamt himself into a detective movie that mirrored his real-life roubles.In a sense, Keaton""s objective was to present a satirical ribute to the power of the movies to glamorize reality (Hollywood""s Dream Factory) - to inspire escapist dreams, to let us live vicariously through film characters, to identify with film stars, or to project one""s hopes and wishes onto the screen (or in our mind""s eye).This film was made earlier in 1923 during the silent era with Florence Vidor.This film was the first major directing success of George Stevens and it was responsible for inaugurating his career.They begin to find fault with everything he does and they harrass him endlessly.He receives "the Treatment" in order to break his spirit - undesirable tasks, emotional harrassment, physical abuse, extra marching duty from Sergeant Baldy Dhom (Claude Akins), and double-time laps around the track for having a poorly-assembled rifle during gun inspection.Surrounded by an unfriendly and unreceptive group of townspeople, they speak o the town""s Marshal (Eades Hogue) at one of the booths:Vacarro: Come on, Marshal, whatcha gonna do about findin"" the man that burned down my gin?Marshal: Well, what makes you so sure your gin was set fire to?Vacarro: Look around.