Sunday, February 21, 2010

Buster Keaton

It is important to realize that actors back in the early days of film really did their own stunts. Comedy and slapstick particularly were rather dangerous. Here's a homage to Buster Keaton, one of the greatest early film comedians: A Montage of Buster Keaton

Joseph Frank Keaton was given his professional name by Harry Houdini. "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966), was an American comic actor and filmmaker. He got his start as part of a vaudeville act and later co-starred with plump actor Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle in "The Butcher Boy". He is best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was farce or physical comedy with a stoic, deadpan expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".

In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Keaton as one of the greatest male actor of all time. His film The General is listed as one of the greatest 100 films of all time.

For those of you most interested in Keaton's life and work, here's an excellent website.

Take a look at some of his work:

One Week (1920) - part 1
One Week (1920) - part 2 (parts 3-5 can be found on the side bar of youtube.com)
The Goat (1921) (part 1)
The Haunted House (1921) part 1

The General (1927) Full Length Feature Film
Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928) Full Length Feature Film

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