Pdf on jan 1, 2004, lisa trahair and others published the narrative machine. The following first four scenes quoted below are described by buster keaton in the autumnwinter 1965 issue of sight and sound magazine featuring buster on the cover, with an indepth interview by john gillet and james blue inside. Afis 100 years100 movie quotes american film institute. Theyve borrowed 80year old comedy gags from buster keaton, an actor, director and writer. Buster keaton 1895 1966 was an american actor, director, producer, writer, and stunt performer. Charlie chaplin, buster keaton, and harold lloyd stand out as the three kings of early comedy. The film has some fabulously funny scenes, but it also gets you thinking. If youve ever found it hard to appreciate the artistry of filmmakers from the silent era, then you will. In a ploy movies use nowadays, buster keaton is the sole actor playing every character in the opening scene. Some of buster keatons great, deathdefying stunts captured. 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. For buster keatons birthday, five minutes of his best stunts.
Following are some descriptions of sight gags and jokes orchestrated by buster keaton. Archive of the annual buster keaton celebration, 19932017, at the bowlus fine arts center. Their prince is harry langdon, who parlayed his considerable pantomime talents and remarkable, wideeyed, childlike face into silentera stardom in classic films like tramp, tramp, tramp 1926, the strong man 1926, and long pants 1927. The general 1926 steamboat bill, jr 1928 the goat 1921 the blacksmith 1922 cops 1922. 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. Alan schneider, had to keep stopping keaton from adding funny bits. Amazing every frame a painting episode about keaton. Wrapup summary of this final 2017 keaton celebration by musicianblogger jeff rapsis. It was a fortuitous meeting for all buster made a close, lifelong friend, and fatty introduced buster to moviemaking. Some people would even claim that he could smile or laugh.
Tony zhous video essay series, every frame a painting, returns with buster keaton. Anyways, this is a compilation of some of my favorite buster keaton moments. This is discussed in the tcm documentary buster keaton. After staying with the three keatons for nearly 20 years, buster moved on to what would become his lifes work. All the best to you and all other admirers of the great keaton. Actually he was in a part of the three keatons along with his parents when he was only three years old. A digital download of the finished film a special thanks in our credits.
He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression. Buster keaton quotes author of my wonderful world of. 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. Unlike many silent movie stars, buster was eager to go into sound considering he had a fine baritone voice with no speech impediments and. A documentary celebrating the enduring legacy of silent film comedian buster keaton, 100 years after his first appearance on. Regardless of genre, the films on this list possess a total comedic impact that creates an experience greater than the sum of the smiles. Despite doing all these crazy things, he actually lived to be 70. Cline, buster keaton the playhouse 1921 best free legal movies ever 53 comedy. Then i said, like everyone else, i like to be with a happy crowd. In 1956, the film entered the public domain in the usa due to the claimants failure to renew its registration in the 28th year after publication. Made 100 years ago, it still shows off incredibly inventive gags and expert comic timing.
Film and notfilm showcase the collaboration of buster keaton. Keaton not only took on the full risk himself in his most famous stunt scenesmany of which you can see in gif form herehe also doubled for some of his actors, doing. Before edgar wright and wes anderson, before chuck jones and jackie chan, there was buster keaton, one of the founding fathers of visual comedy. Joseph frank keaton was born on october 4, 1895 in piqua, kansas, to joe keaton and myra keaton. These movies provide laughs that echo across time, enriching americas film heritage and inspiring artists and audiences today. On the other hand that kindly critic, the late james agee, described my face as ranking almost with lincolns as an early american archetype, it was haunting. In not much more than 30 years, a new visual vocabulary was invented, explored to the fullest and even deconstructed. 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. A nontraditional documentary exploring buster keaton s enduring legacy in cinema. A centennial documentary honoring legendary comedian buster keaton, and his loyal followers. Rewards that include credits, digital downloads, blurays and dvds will ship after our film. It was 100 years ago today please appreciate the heroic efforts im going through to actually stay on the schedule i set for myself, lol that the film was released in theaters, treating the world to the antics of a great team of silent comics including al st john, buster keaton and fatty arbuckle.
Just click the edit page button at the bottom of the page or learn more in the synopsis submission guide. The magazine entertainment weekly listed keaton at number seven on their list of the greatest directors of all time. Charlie chaplins mournful expressions, slumped shoulders, and funny walks immediately come to mind, as well as his slapstick bits and pratfalls. A documentary celebrating the enduring legacy of silent film comedian buster keaton, 100 years after his first appearance on film. Cline, buster keaton the playhouse 1921 best free legal movies ever 53 comedy by tutti quanti. The era of silent cinema was one of the most creative periods in human history. A nontraditional documentary exploring buster keatons enduring legacy in cinema.
Perhaps best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression. One week, in my opinion maybe keaton s best short film. Spam or selfpromotional the list is spam or selfpromotional. It looks like we dont have a synopsis for this title yet. Ok, ok, i know the song is a decade too late, but it just works somehow. For buster keatons birthday, five minutes of his best. But what makes it really stand out is its blending of americana and a surrealism that outdoes bunuel and dali. The hollywood revue of 1929 buster keaton princess raja. Keaton retold the anecdote over the years, including a 1964 interview with the.
Publication date 19210101 topics funny language english. A year later, ed wynn, known as the perfect fool, appeared in the. Jun 24, 2016 in a ploy movies use nowadays, buster keaton is the sole actor playing every character in the opening scene. Buster keaton was an american comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. It was his business to be as funny as possible physically, without the help. The thing was made of real wood and weighed well over pounds. Even harold lloyds vertigoinducing clock scenes in 1923s safety last used trick sets to lessen the risks.
In the age of silent cinema, one comedian reigned supremethe incomparable buster keaton, whose physical comedy and lowkey looks captured the heart of early audiences. Although his series never disappoints, this particular installment may be one of tonys best, taking you inside the comedic gags of buster keaton, a founding father of visual comedy. Incorrect book the list contains an incorrect book please specify the title of the book. The plot of the film involves extraterrestrial beings who are seeking to stop humans from creating a doomsday weapon that would destroy the universe. Inappropriate the list including its title or description facilitates illegal activity, or contains hate speech or ad hominem attacks on a fellow goodreads member or author. For buster keatons birthday, a few of the amazing things he. He is most famous for his silent films which showed his skill at physical comedy. The first films of a comedy legend february 21, 2017 elizabeth it is a wellknown fact among movie fans that buster keaton is the great stoneface. A version of one week with better picture, but no music for some reason. Buster keatons cinematic comedy, deleuzes recursion function and the operational aesthetic. The complete buster keaton short films 19171923 masters of cinema blu. When it comes to comedy in film, buster keaton stands. 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.
Oct 04, 2017 happy 122nd birthday buster keaton october 4, 2017 scott parkeranderson uncategorized 2 comments today is the 122nd birthday of the actor and my personal style icon buster keaton. Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. When it comes to comedy in film, buster keaton stands above. When buster keaton was starting out, he made numerous short films before he made features. Evidently he was more cerebral as much as a slapstick comedian can be called that and at my college there were often screenings of keaton, never of chaplin. Unlike many silent movie stars, buster was eager to go into sound considering he had a fine baritone voice with no speech impediments and years of stage experience, so dialogue was not a problem. A wide variety of comedies, totalling 500 films, were nominated for the distinction. Theyve borrowed 80yearold comedy gags from buster keaton, an actor, director and writer. There have been so many that i had to think about that for a moment. If keaton had not hit his mark precisely, he could have been killed or seriously injured. October 4, 2017 scott parkeranderson uncategorized 2 comments. Keaton balanced on the cow catcher of a moving steam locomotive, are incredibly dangerous and absolutely funny and once again, almost impossible to capture given the limitations of 1926 production. Father, with natalie talmadge, of sons buster keaton jr. In march 1917, in new york, buster met silent film comedian roscoe fatty arbuckle.
Buster keatons birth name is joseph francis keaton vl. Aug 14, 2015 the dark side of buster keatons comedic work. Joseph frank keaton october 4, 1895 february 1, 1966, known professionally as buster. The jokers catchphrase was the most common response to bbc cultures poll of 177 critics last year to determine the 100 greatest films of the 21st century. In 1964, buster keaton was offered the most serious role of his career. Selection criteria included choosing quotes from american films which circulate through popular culture, become part of the national lexicon and evoke the memory of a treasured film, thus. In the course of doing so, the aliens implement plan 9, a scheme to resurrect earths dead as what modern audiences would consider zombies called ghouls in the film itself to get the planet. Buster keaton quotes author of my wonderful world of slapstick. Jun 08, 2015 the era of silent cinema was one of the most creative periods in human history. But, at the time, jim carreys ace ventura shtick was such a winning formula. Buster keatons cinematic comedy, deleuzes recursion function, and the operational aesthetic find, read and cite. Just as memorable are the daredevil, deathdefying stunts of harold lloyd and buster keaton, who competed with each other throughout their careers. For buster keatons birthday, a few of the amazing things.
One week, in my opinion maybe keatons best short film. The scenes are beautifully shot, and keaton is wickedly funny. Do not be insane, do not complain addeddate 20171020 09. It was a fortuitous meeting for allbuster made a close, lifelong friend. Thus, one has several reels of funny yet not typically inspired keaton shtick until that. In not much more than 30 years, a new visual vocabulary was invented, explored to. Lauded by film critics over the years as the greatest of buster keatons films, if not.
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