Yesterday, the silent film society of chicago presented a special screening of buster keaton s 1928 film the cameraman at saint john cantius. The screenplay, by sidney sheldon, who also directed the film, was loosely based on keaton s life but contained many factual errors and merged his three wives into one character. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. In films that combined comedy with extraordinary physical risks, buster keaton played a brave spirit who.
Being a giant buster keaton fan, and never having seen this film, or knowing much of anything about it, my expectations were pretty high for an exciting new keaton experience. Buster keaton the complete short films 19171923 bluray. In 1862, after spies steal his locomotive, the general, he wages a oneman battle to recover it. But ultimately, my expectations far outweighed the extremely disappointing film. Watching all three films backtobacktoback on bluray was a wonderful experience in that these films are rock solid in terms of story and content. It has made audiences gasp and i dare you not to also. Buster keaton the scarecrow 1920 film color youtube. The railrodder is amazing, and contrary to previous discussions, keaton was a survivor of alcoholism, and his dignity and wit shine through even as cancer was ravaging him. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname the great stone face.
This is film by samuel beckett with buster keaton 19650 music score mash up by bart capuano on vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people. Life with buster keaton color the first time in color. How silent filmmaker buster keaton revolutionized film. An attempt to recreate the first series on film as life with buster keaton 1951, which allowed the program to be broadcast nationwide, was less wellreceived.
Keaton had worked with roscoe fatty arbuckle for a number. Our hospitality is a 1923 silent comedy film directed by and starring buster keaton. With buster keaton, nell harrison, james karen, susan reed. The group advocates for historical accuracy about keaton s life and work, encourages dissemination of information and research about keaton, and endorses. For starters, keaton shows what time square looked like. As new generations discover the magic of silent cinema, buster keaton has emerged as one of the eras most admired and. Buster keaton our hospitality full movie in color youtube.
Title is a direct quote from marion meade, a buster keaton biographer cut to the chase from timelife magazine, august 1999. Jimmie shannon buster keaton is trying to work up the courage to tell mary jones ruth dwyer that he loves her. Jul 08, 2014 pauline kael has hailed it as a piece of native american surrealism. Buster keaton in the goat 1921 colorized silent movie. Why you really do need to see buster keatons the general.
Buster keaton is at the peak of his slapstick powers in the cameramanthe first film that the silentscreen legend made after signing with mgm, and his last great masterpiece. The gist of the story is an indian tribe getting their land taken from them by corrupt oil men and buster getting it back for them. Buster keaton was a comedian and actor famous for his stoic and deadpan expression in his silent films. The selfdestruction of buster keaton factors which led. His influence on physical comedy is rivaled only by charlie chaplin. Apr 16, 2019 buster keaton was comedian and film director who starred in silent films in the 1920s. Nov 18, 2008 when word got out that keaton was making a comedy of pittingers story, he was refused permission to use the general, which had survived and would laterpartly because of keatons filmbe. Three ages is a 1923 blackandwhite american featurelength silent comedy film starring comedian buster keaton and wallace beery. At the end of the film, keatons character locks up the cops in the police station. Having never traveled canada, i am pleasantly surprised to hear this amazing country shown in this film. Not just because its a silent film, but because its great music moving, light and comedic.
Cut to the chase by marion meade highlighted the comedians background in an attempt to shed light on the performers demons. The general is a 1926 american silent comedy film released by united artists. Buster in colorthe high sign silent film, classic films. Seven chances is a 1925 american comedy silent film directed by and starring buster keaton, based on the play of the same name by roi cooper megrue, produced in 1916 by david belasco. The music of robert israel really carries this film.
The film was written by clyde bruckman and codirected by donald crisp. Directed by buster keaton buster rises to new heights as he sails heavenward in a balloon. When word got out that keaton was making a comedy of pittingers story, he was refused permission to use the general, which had survived and would laterpartly because of keatons filmbe spruced up for a georgia museum. A twentyminute, almost totally silent film no dialogue or music, save one shhh.
Buster keaton about buster keaton american masters pbs. A 1957 film biography, the buster keaton story, starring donald oconnor as keaton was released. Buster keaton in seven chances 1925 colorized youtube. Buster keaton is walking by and peers through a barred window while captured murderer dead shot dan is having his picture taken. It was inspired by the great locomotive chase, a true story of an event that occurred during the american civil war. But while he moves as quickly as ever, keaton performs stunts that. Along the way, he proves himself to be a superhuman god by surviving being burned at the stake. Its nice to have a quick reference to buster s shorts as the art of buster keaton scattered the films over 10 dvds so that you could not just pop in a dvd and watch the shorts in succession. Buster keaton in the high sign 1921 color dorothyoc. Nov 06, 2019 the film ends with the title the end written on a tombstone with keatons pork pie hat propped on it. I think if keaton were alive in the year 2000, he would still be sensational. The final work over which he maintained creative control, this clever farce is the culmination of an extraordinary, decadelong run that produced some of the most innovative and enduring comedies of all time.
Film is the only movie that samuel beckett 19061989 made. In his short video essay, buster keaton the art of the gag, tony zhou of every frame a painting explores keaton s genius and his enduring legacy. This film made me fall in love with buster keaton all over again and, in my opinion, if you can only watch one buster film watch this one. The story was adapted from the memoir the great locomotive chase by william pittenger. Mar, 2020 buster keaton, american film comedian and director, the great stone face, known for his deadpan expression and his imaginative and often elaborate visual comedy. Buster keaton october 4, 1895 february 1, 1966 was an american comic actor and filmmaker. But, as the film is based around bishop berkeleys principle esse est percipi to be is to be perceived, keaton s very existence. Buster keaton in the goat 1921 colorized silent movie color. Film is certainly one of the oddest film projects ever. In the earliest days on stage, they traveled with a medicine show that included family friend, illusionist harry. Buster keaton hollywood actor filmmaker 8x10 hand color. Cohen film collection is part of the cohen media group. He is best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression that earned him the nickname the great stone face. Having never traveled canada, i am pleasantly surprised to hear this amazing country shown in this film still exists.
Nov 10, 2002 the greatest of the silent clowns is buster keaton, not only because of what he did, but because of how he did it. The navigator is a 1924 comedy directed by and starring buster keaton. Though seventy years old, keaton darts about at a frenetic pace reminiscent of his early years, and still engages in hairraising stunts. Buster keaton s the general, about a man and his engine, puts you in a world where the most comically inventive situation that could happen will happen. The international buster keaton society was established in 1992 with the purpose of fostering understanding and perpetuating appreciation of the life, career and films of buster keaton.
Typical of silent cinema of the period, the camera movement is relatively limited certainly compared to more recent cinema that you will be more familiar with. I think he would have worked just as well, maybe even better, in color. This buster keaton short didnt have a ton of laughs but it had enough to suit me. Categories the color goes kind of crazy 2014 old hollywood in color calendars. A 25minute comedic travelogue of canada, the railrodder was also keaton s final silent film, as the film contains no dialogue and all sound effects are overdubbed. The goat is a 1921 american tworeel silent comedy film written, directed by, and starring buster keaton. Keaton himself verified the origin of his nickname buster, given to him by houdini, when at the age of three, fell down a flight of stairs and was picked up and dusted off by houdini, who said to keaton s father joe, also nearby, that the fall was a buster. Slarek has spent the last week with the widest of appreciative smiles on his face. The copies previously uploaded here were either incomplete or too blurry. Buster keaton is considered one of the greatest comic actors of all time. Keaton had worked with roscoe fatty arbuckle for a.
Released by metro pictures corporation, the film uses. Buster keaton in our hospitality 1923 color version youtube. Between 1920 and 1929, buster keaton created a peerless run of feature films that established him as arguably the greatest actordirector in the history of the movies. However, the girl he is trying to woo disapproves of his behavior. Seeing that the photographer is looking away, dan moves his head. From major comic situations to throwaway gags, the general always knows what to do. Joseph frank keaton october 4, 1895 february 1, 1966, known professionally as buster keaton, was an american actor, comedian, film director, producer, screenwriter, and stunt performer. The railrodder is a 1965 short comedy film starring buster keaton in one of his final film roles, directed by gerald potterton and produced by the national film board of canada nfb. Buster keaton in the goat 1921 colorized silent movie color colour duration. Mar 03, 2020 one week is a 1920 american tworeel silent comedy film starring buster keaton, the first film to be released made by keaton on his own. Released in 1925, seven chances starts with just over three minutes of very early two color technicolor in the opening credits and first four scenes. There is absolutely nothing in the film that is funny.
Posts about buster keaton written by arlissarchives. For a 1923 film on the early 1800s, buster does a great deal of poking fun at a changing america. One area of cinematography that you should certainly discuss in relation to the buster keaton short films is camerawork. Buster keaton is the greatest maker of comedy shorts who ever lived. The town of marietta, where the story began, wanted nothing to. Joe and myra were vaudevillian comedians with a popular, everchanging variety act, giving keaton an eclectic and interesting upbringing. Harold lloyd made us laugh as much, charlie chaplin moved us more deeply, but no one had more courage than buster. Released by metro pictures corporation, the film uses slapstick and situational comedy to. Director and film historian peter bogdanovich fell in love with silent film star and filmmaker buster keaton at an early age, and that affection seeps from every frame of this heartfelt and. In 2018, the film was selected for preservation in the united states national film registry by the library of congress. He made numerous short films as well as such feature films as three ages, sherlock, jr. Announcing season 2 of cohen film classics on kcet and link tv. These are the films of american actor, comedian, and filmmaker buster keaton.
In 2018, the film was selected for preservation in the united states national film registry by the library of congress as being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. It stars the famed comedian buster keaton 18951966 who is seen in more than half of the short film from the back, not his face. Together they represent a true master at his peak, and the masters of cinema series is proud to present all three films from. Go west 1925 is a silent movie starring buster keaton keaton portrays friendless, who travels west to try to make his fortune. The twilight zone, episode once upon a time 1961 as woodrow mulligan the janitor candid camera, episode in the diner 1962. For starters, keaton shows what time square looked like before there was any traffic.
He was a contemporary of charlie chaplin and started in vaudeville. All three films showcase what a great athlete, stuntman, and performer buster keaton really was. He bumps into clouds and, in trying to bring down a duck, punctures the gas bag and crashes in the woods where he saves phyllis haver from a bear and falls in love. Film 1965 a twentyminute, almost totally silent film no dialogue or music one shhh. Buster keaton and virginia fox play young lovers who live in tenements. Buster keaton, original name joseph frank keaton iv, born october 4, 1895, piqua, kansas, u. Savvy showman joe keaton liked the nickname, which has stuck for more than 100 years.
Giphy is how you search, share, discover, and create gifs. Released by metro pictures corporation, the film uses slapstick and situational comedy to tell the story of willie mckay, who gets caught in the middle of the infamous canfieldmckay feud, an obvious satire of the reallife hatfieldmccoy feud. One week is a 1920 american tworeel silent comedy film starring buster keaton, the first film to be released made by keaton on his own. Premiered dec 23, 2019 the film opens near the last stop, a subway terminal apparently in alaska, which appears to be emerging from deep snow in the middle of nowhere. The film stars buster keaton who codirected it with clyde bruckman. Five stars for buster keaton s shorts presented together in one 3dvd set and in chronological order.
The shorts collection 1917 23 may also be available with public performance rights ppr and digital site licensing dsl for colleges and universities. Directed by and starring buster keaton, this film portrays his particular brand of physical comedy, though perhaps not with as much danger as the general or as many tricks as sherlock jr. Keaton s films have such a graceful perfection, such a meshing of story, character and episode, that they unfold like music roger ebert buster keaton is one of the very greatest filmmakers ever to get behind a camera bfi buster keaton s timeless 1926 silent the general is the perfect chase movie. Joseph frank keaton was born on october 4, 1895 in piqua, kansas, to joe keaton and myra keaton.
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