Buster keatons best, funniest movie i love buster keatonnearly 100 years on, his movies are still some of the most amazing, hilarious, creative, and wild ones out there. Buy a funny thing happened on the way to the forum. Buster keaton, one of the greatest comedians and filmmakers of all time. French stewart talks becoming buster keaton for new play. A wide variety of comedies, totalling 500 films, were nominated for the distinction. Weekly top five film buster keaton s five best films posted by drew hunt on 02. A nontraditional documentary exploring buster keatons enduring legacy in cinema. Here is the story of joseph frank buster keaton, the director, producer, writer and starthe sadfaced little man who was one of the prime masters of silent film comedy. Theres something magical about film, its the ultimate for me, because its kind of permanent inasmuch as anything is. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Unlike some of the more well known interviews with him from the jazz age those published in buster keaton. Perhaps best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression. Academy honorary award winning famous yesteryear american actor, comedian, filmmaker, screenwriter, and stunt performer buster keaton began his journey in the entertainment industry as a child artist. In keaton s time, a man being sensitive and in touch with his feelings was not an attractive trait, his films gave his emotions and outlet.
Why buster keaton remains the king of comedy film the. The film was written by clyde bruckman and codirected by donald crisp. Classic tv, television, 1950s, 50s, fifties, studebaker, buster keaton, comedy, sitcom, an episode of the live television series the buster keaton show, complete with commercials for studebaker. Like his previous documentaries, 30 years is a good introduction to silent comedy for a newcomer. The general is a 1926 american silent comedy film released by united artists. 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. Buster in the jungle is an episode from the shortlived 19491950 sitcom. Free and easy, whose working title was on the set, was buster keaton s first starring role in a film shot for sound he had appeared in mgms talking the hollywood revue of 1929, but did not speak. A documentary celebrating the enduring legacy of silent film comedian buster keaton, 100 years after his first appearance on film. There are many who have cited him as a massive influence.
It would be five months before keaton would be allowed to address his. The general, a thrilling comedy about the civil war, lifted buster keaton from the. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading my wonderful world of slapstick. In 1862, after spies steal his locomotive, the general, he wages a oneman battle to recover it.
Five stars for buster keaton s shorts presented together in one 3dvd set and in chronological order. But what makes it really stand out is its blending of americana and a surrealism that outdoes bunuel and dali. Keaton plays an easygoing soul whose girlfriend refuses to have anything to do with him until he makes something of himself a problem that also plagued harold lloyd in his pictures. This is one of the most fantastic interviews ive seen with the twentysomething keaton. Nov 30, 2014 hold onto your slapshoes, buster fans. The book includes hilarious accounts of the filmingusually without scriptof some of his nowclassic films and more the 100 photographs. The scenes are beautifully shot, and keaton is wickedly funny.
Buster keaton wrote and directed most of his two and threereelers with eddie cline, who also appears in several of them as edward f. Released by united artists, the film is the last product of keaton s independent production team and set of gag writers. The thought that i could emulate keaton was a good deal more hilarious than the notvery funny shakespearean lines i had to utter, since many decent judges think that buster was the greatest clown. The general 1926 starring buster keaton public domain movies. As i watched the film, i was constatntly reminded of a pretalkie movie, keaton s the general from 40 years earler. Well, that moment has arrived as stewart takes center stage portraying silent comedy clown prince buster keaton in stoneface. 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. Services 2 the damfinos international buster keaton society. Before edgar wright and wes anderson, before chuck jones and jackie chan, there was buster keaton, one of the founding fathers of visual comedy. Feb 21, 2017 for the keaton 100 celebration and third annual buster keaton blogathon, i am exploring the six short films in which he starred in 1917. A digital download of the finished film a special thanks in our credits. He really can smilea charming 1921 buster keaton interview.
Please visit our website to watch quality silent films absolutely free and to support the. Made 100 years ago, it still shows off incredibly inventive gags and expert comic timing. Chan has even used some of keaton s stuntwork as a direct homage. He is most famous for his silent films which showed his skill at physical comedy. Joseph frank keaton october 4, 1895 february 1, 1966, known professionally as buster. In 2000, the american film institute, as part of its afi 100 years. Buster keaton quotes author of my wonderful world of slapstick. The general 1926 steamboat bill, jr 1928 the goat 1921 the blacksmith 1922 cops 1922. It talks about how keatons contract was traded, his spats with the mgm studio bosses, his deteriorating marriage, alcoholism, and how he became a gag writer and. See more ideas about sherlock, silent film and comedians. Cops 1922 buster keaton proved that paranoia can be funny in the franz kafkalike tworeel comedy, cops 1922. This is said to be the sole surviving episode of this comedy series, which aired in.
Buster keaton also had a rough start with sound in his first starring role in a talkie, free and easy 1930. But before i even begin, id like to share a personal anecdote about keaton s influence on me, my passion for silent film, and my career. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free. Interviews, up for free viewing in the great taylorogy site, and circulating in various biographies, this one was not taken while keaton.
And the general is his comedy masterpiece, and it truthfully gets funnier every time. He went on to garner immense popularity earning the epithet the great stone face for his physical comedy that became his trademark. Rewards that include credits, digital downloads, blurays and dvds will ship after our film. A contrarian history of american screen comedy from silent. The general, perhaps the greatest film ever made, and 20. Other silent actors might mug to get a point across, but keaton remained observant and collected. Rejected by the confederate army and taken for a coward by his beloved annabelle lee. Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. On imdb tv, you can catch hollywood hits and popular tv series at no cost.
Keaton had appeared in the alltalkie musical extravaganza the hollywood revue of 1929 1929 but did not speak. Aug, 20 the disc free and easy comes on includes so funny it hurt. The rise and fall and rise of buster keaton at the pasadena playhouse. Actually he was in a part of the three keatons along with his parents when he was only three years old. Apr 08, 2009 why buster keaton remains the king of comedy. Quite a few of the excerpts, and even the players, go unidentified and quickly, toolloyd hamilton is on for mere seconds. Then i said, like everyone else, i like to be with a happy crowd. A centennial documentary honoring legendary comedian buster keaton, and his loyal followers. Who wouldve thought buster keaton was still active in the mid 1960s. This kino ultimate disc edition was mastered in hd from a 35mm archive print struck from the original camera negative.
And nearly 100 years after he first appeared onscreen, were still learning from him. But keaton had understatement, and keaton had a keen, almost prophetic sense in knowing that his jokes would still be funny 80 years later. Buster keaton and mgm which does a good job setting up the talkies well be discussing for the next few weeks. Joseph frank keaton was born on october 4, 1895 in piqua, kansas, to joe keaton and myra keaton. Commonly considered to be one of keaton s masterpieces. Keaton is considered one of the big three silentera comedians, along with harold lloyd and charles chaplin. And in 1999 the american film institute placed keaton at 21 on their list of the. The copies previously uploaded here were either incomplete or too blurry. One hundred years later, keatons film comedies are as funny and appealing to. These 21 films will give you a thorough primer on the joy of silent comedy as perfected by buster keaton, in eberts words not the great stone face so much as a man who kept his composure in the center of chaos. Search, discover and share your favorite buster keaton gifs. Jun 24, 2016 in a ploy movies use nowadays, buster keaton is the sole actor playing every character in the opening scene. But before i even begin, id like to share a personal anecdote about keatons influence on me, my passion for silent film, and my career.
The railrodder english version by gerald potterton nfb. Release dates 1 also known as aka 0 release dates usa 7 october 2017. Just click the edit page button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the synopsis submission guide. 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. There have been so many that i had to think about that for a moment.
Equally wonderful was the obvious extensive cooperation of cn. Updated daily, for more funny memes check our homepage. Buster keaton is one of my favorite actors, when i say actor, i mean actor. As promised, our films vimeo link has been updated with some new credits, and is now available for download. 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.
The story was adapted from the memoir the great locomotive chase by william pittenger. The film stars buster keaton who codirected it with clyde bruckman. The buster keaton show will kick off over kttv thursday. Buster keaton celebrity profile check out the latest buster keaton photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. Beautiful video keaton could really show what he was feeling with those beautiful eyes of his that were truly a window to the soul. Earlier this year, i showed my family his little masterpiece sherlock jr. The navigator is a 1924 comedy directed by and starring buster keaton. Buster keaton plays johnnie gray, an engineer on the western and atlantic railroad whose train is called the general. He is most famous for his silent films which showed his skill at physical comedy the magazine entertainment weekly listed keaton at number seven on their list of the greatest directors of all time. Some of buster keatons most amazing stunts youtube. Buster keatons best, funniest movie gently hew stone.
The magazine entertainment weekly listed keaton at number seven on their list of the greatest directors of all time. It was not a boxoffice success and became the last picture keaton made for united artists. It was inspired by the great locomotive chase, a true story of an event that occurred during the american civil war. For the keaton 100 celebration and third annual buster keaton blogathon, i am exploring the six short films in which he starred in 1917. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Consistently ranked among the greatest films ever made, buster keaton s the general is so brilliantly conceived and executed that it continues to inspire awe and laughter with every viewing. Buster keaton in his own time and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Joseph frank buster keaton vi october 4, 1895 february 1, 1966 was an american actor and movie director. Score a books total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. When buster keaton was starting out, he made numerous short films before he made features. My wonderful world of slapstick kindle edition by keaton, buster, samuels, charles. Archive of the annual buster keaton celebration, 19932017, at the bowlus fine arts center in iola.
As with his previous film for mgm, spite marriage, production on free and easy was largely out of keaton. Keaton ended up moving to metrogoldwynmayer where he made one last film in his trademark style, the cameraman. When it comes to comedy in film, buster keaton stands above. Zero mostel, buster keaton, phil silvers and an allstar cast scam their way through this boisterous romp amidst gorgeous girls, mistaken identities, stunning surprises, cunning. A nontraditional documentary exploring buster keaton s enduring legacy in cinema. It looks like we dont have a synopsis for this title yet. Keaton retold the anecdote over the years, including a 1964 interview with the cbcs telescope. It talks about how keaton s contract was traded, his spats with the mgm studio bosses, his deteriorating marriage, alcoholism, and how he became a gag writer and inspiration to stars like red buttons and. The general is a 1926 silent film starring buster keaton and codirected by keaton and clyde bruckman. Buster keaton was an american comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. Where is buster keatons influence on modern entertainment. This is discussed in the tcm documentary buster keaton. Johnnie gray, a train engineer, has two loves in his life.
When i went to see buster keaton when i was about 14 and i came out of the cinema having really laughed at this film which had been made 50 years before, i. Its like he has a 6th sense with trains, he makes all his props feel alive when he interacts with them. 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. A digital download of the finished film a special thanks in. This film was made almost 100 years ago and its humor is still fresh. 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. The disc free and easy comes on includes so funny it hurt. We watch it at our film 101 summer camp to show kids and teens how rich film history is. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts.