An american icon, joseph frank buster keaton is easily acknowledged as one. The general is a 1926 american silent comedy film released by united artists. Buster keaton project restauration films by lobster. Although scholars who offer commentary in the sets extensive extra features note that keaton was more of a cult figure or acquired taste in his era compared to megastar charlie chaplin or even fellow.
Kino lorber remains committed to releasing buster keaton featurelength silent films on bluray, which began almost a decade ago with several standalone and double feature discs, plus a handy boxed set rereleased last november with a few modest upgrades, to make things even more confusing. Absolutely marvellous collection of all of the surviving 32 buster keaton short films. This is a wonderful little coffee table book with reminisces from buster keatons widow eleanor. The complete buster keaton short films masters of cinema. Ever wonder what fenns shower, dog or closet look like. With his trademark porkpie hat, floppy shoes, and deadpan facial expression, buster keaton 18951966 is one of the most iconic stars of hollywoods silent and early sound eras. He has been a sportswriter, film critic, and freelance writer for over seven years, with work appearing in the minneapolis city pages and startribune among many others. He went on to garner immense popularity earning the epithet the great stone face for his physical comedy that became his trademark. This is in addition to writing nonfiction, graphic novels, plays and screenplays, as well as the blog entries you read here. Keaton is easily acknowledged as one of the greatest filmmakers in early cinema and beyond. Foote has done an impressive amount of homeworkthis is scholarship at its finestthis book is an important addition to the keaton bookshelf leonard. With all that said, though, does the reader put down the book with a deeper understanding of who buster keaton was. Indians is stymied when the chase manoeuvres him toward the edge of a ravine.
In the 1980s, he worked as a researcher and graphic designer with raymond rohauer, who preserved many of buster keatons films. Reading books buster keaton in his own time mcfarland. In 1995, draggas filmography of buster keaton, the most complete filmography to date, was published in buster keaton. In the year 2000, dragga became a freelance videographer and. Cut to the chase recorded the journey of keaton from a kansas medicine. The navigator is a 1924 comedy directed by and starring buster keaton. 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. How to be a working actor 5th edition book pdf download. Best known for her role as annie hall in woody allens film of the same name, for which she won an academy award for best actress, keaton has had a fascinating and highly successful career, with roles in the godfather, reds, father of the bride, somethings gotta give and many more. I was particularly fond of the afterword from silent movie historian kevin brownlow. Buster keaton did his own stunts, which included working with. Some lacklustre clowning in the early stages soon makes way for moments of comic mastery in this, one of cinemas earliest media satires. 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 inspiration to stars like red buttons and.
Autobiography of the worldfamous, and muchloved, actress. Score a book s 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. Cut to the chase is a startling and moving account of the troubled life of a. Buster keaton, marceline day, harold goodwin a struggling photographer takes the job of a newsreel cameraman and unexpectedly becomes a hero in one of his films. The film was written by clyde bruckman and codirected by donald crisp. 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. Buster made his name as a child of vaudeville, thrown around the stage by his father in a cartoon pantomime of very real abuse. Buster keaton celebrity profile check out the latest buster keaton photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. Gehring author reading books buster keaton in his own time mcfarland d0nwload pdf.
Joe and myra were vaudevillian comedians with a popular, everchanging variety act, giving keaton an eclectic and interesting upbringing. Cut to the chase, biographer marion meade seamlessly lays out the life and works of this comedy genius who lacked. It was inspired by the great locomotive chase, a true story of an event that occurred during the american civil war. In the earliest days on stage, they traveled with a medicine show that included family friend, illusionist harry. The story was adapted from the memoir the great locomotive chase by william pittenger. Buster keaton and eddie clines the high sign 1921 is not only among keatons most breathlessly inventive tworeelers it is also, along with his nearly nihilistic cops 1922, among his most subversive, positing the clown not merely as an outsider but as a selfabsorbed deviant and unthinking lawbreaker. National catholic register arguably the greatest of buster keatons silent comedies, the general begins with a single, brilliantly sustained premise and works it into an engaging story that combines edgeofyourseat excitement, stunningly conceived stunts and sight gags, spectacular set pieces, touching sentiment, and a rousing finale. Watching the films of buster keaton in kinos buster keaton collection or the ultimate buster keaton collection, according to retailers online is frequently like glimpsing into the future. Spite marriage, his final silent film, is mostly salvageable despite an unfocused and meandering plot. Some lacklustre clowning in the early stages soon makes way for moments of comic mastery in. 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. Keaton made an even dozen feature films on a regular schedule of two a yearalways leaving keaton free in the early autumn to travel east for the world series. Eng the best chase ever coming from seven chances by the great buster keaton 1925. The company has compiled those titles, along with college exclusive to this set until march 05, 20, in a 14disc collection known as the ultimate buster keaton collection.
When future nobel laureate samuel beckett made his one and only film in. River, which doubled for the mississippi river setting of twains book. But afterwards, mgm, acting in their own selfinterest, created elmer, a creation that he would later be associated with. Download full book in pdf, epub, mobi and all ebook format. But we feel that this volume serves best as an adjunct to several other books written on the complex subject of buster keaton. Released to coincide with the centenary of keaton s birth, this comprehensive biography fills gaps in the silentfilm comedians life history while dispelling a few rumors. Buster keaton director films as director and actor.
Marion meade born january 7, 1934 is an american biographer and novelist. 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. My wonderful world of slapstick by buster keaton with charles samuels. Based on four years of research and more than 200 interviews with notables such as billy wilder, leni riefenstahl, gene kelly, douglas fairbanks, jr. Marion meade spent 4 years researching this book and interviewed more than 200 people.
Her style is as dry, humorous, and unsentimental as any of keatons classic films. Mar 26, 2015 eng the best chase ever coming from seven chances by the great buster keaton 1925. Publication date 1960 topics motion pictures, motion picturesbiography publisher. Buster keaton great director profile senses of cinema. His elaborate sets, careful camerawork, and risky pratfalls have been mimicked by film comedians for generations.
His site gets 8,000 hits a day and has the distinction of being the one on which fenns books are sold. This time around, its back to the well for a few of keatons biggest hits, paired with a lesser. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read free woman. Joseph frank keaton was born on october 4, 1895 in piqua, kansas, to joe keaton and myra keaton. Cut to the chase available for download and read online in other formats. Joseph frank keaton october 4, 1895 february 1, 1966, known professionally as buster. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. When we made pictures, we ate, slept and dreamed them. The reader will find this book to be a fast, compelling and informative read.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read buster keaton. Marion meade keaton conceived, wrote, acted in and even edited most of his films, a true comedic genius if ever there was one. I am watching them whilst reading his biography cut to the chase incredible how many of these films were discovered and recovered all over the world and then transferred to other media so we can enjoy them today. Buster keaton 18951966 was a brilliant comedian and filmmaker who. It is here, circa 1928, that marked the end of buster keatons creative spurn of the last several years. Dorothy parker ebook for scaricare download book pdf full. Buster keaton 27 books meet your next favorite book. The disc free and easy comes on includes so funny it hurt.
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. Cut to the chase, biographer marion meade seamlessly lays out the life and works of this. The film stars buster keaton who codirected it with clyde bruckman. Pdf cut to the chase download full pdf book download. The life and times of victoria woodhull ebook written by marion meade. Keaton broke his neck when a torrent of water fell on him from a water tower, but. 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 inspiration to stars like red buttons and the. For the mention of your name as a major sponsor in the opening credits of a buster keaton movie, please. Buster keaton and mgm which does a good job setting up the talkies well be discussing for the next few weeks. Fenn himself sends in random thoughts on art, life and other topics, along with photos, for postings in forrests scrapbook. Buster keaton did his own stunts, which included working with samuel beckett director ross lipman introduces screenings at music box and university of chicago. Since 2009, kino has been releasing buster keaton s films, both shorts and features, on bluray. His elaborate slapstick made audiences scream with.
His elaborate slapstick made audiences scream with laughter. Fury road, chase films have kept the cameras turning. A film comedy is assembled with the same precision as the inner working of a watch. One of the most attractive features of ebooks and audiobooks is the ease of downloading them. The rundown on samuel beckett and buster keatons tribute. Schenck short comedy, starring buster keaton and featuring joe roberts, a star of silent hall of fame. Cut to the chase, biographer marion meade seamlessly lays out the life and works of this comedy genius who lacked any formal education. If you love buster keatons silent comedies this book is for you.