T he pioneering genius of buster keatons 1926 silent film the general now on rerelease looks even more startling than ever. 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 keaton, who died yesterday in hollywood, was something of a genius, and even today there are men who spend hours arguing whether charlie chaplin or. He wrote, directed and starred in 60 films in the 1920s alone. The genius destroyed by hollywood full movie in hd visit in 1926, he was at the peak of his. Perhaps best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression.
The sequences where mr keaton is operating the train, and running back and forth performing impossible physical feats, are unequalled in cinema. On imdb tv, you can catch hollywood hits and popular tv series at no cost. Preserved in the united states national film registry in 1989 for being deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. It was released on april 21, 1957, by paramount pictures. Cline, buster keaton the playhouse 1921 best free legal movies ever 53 comedy. Gilberto perez describes keatons genius as an actor to keep a face. As with his previous film for mgm, spite marriage, production on. Decades after their release, his movies remain unsurpassed marvels of comic invention and mechanical timing. Shocking scandal that destroyed hollywoods biggest comedy star. Buster keaton on wagon train 58 mins an audio recording of a then 63 year old buster keaton in conversation with television writer bill cox. Buster keaton once said that if he hadnt been a comedian, he might have been a civil engineer. Buster keaton, the genius destroyed by hollywood tv movie 2016 on imdb. Buster keaton, the great comic actor of the silent era, was born on this day in 1895. Gilberto perez commented on keatons genius as an actor to keep a face so nearly deadpan and yet.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. He is seen here with his parents joe and myra with whom he performed from the age of three in the vaudeville. The wonderful gags of the founding father of visual comedy. The genius of buster keaton is fully developed, as he plays johnny gray the engineer of his beloved train called the general. This biography of buster keaton provides detailed information about his. Buster keaton was an american comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. Known for his legendary stone face and incredible physical gags, buster keaton 18951966 was a genius of silentfilm comedy. Select any poster below to play the movie, totally free. Beautiful video keaton could really show what he was feeling with those beautiful eyes of his that were truly a window to the soul. The general is a 1926 american silent comedy film released by united artists.
Buster keaton and mgm ties everything together and even has footage of keaton himself talking about his decline at mgm. A revealing look at how buster keaton went from being one of hollywoods brightest stars in the mid20s to becoming a sad, solitary alcoholic by 1933. Buster keaton, the genius destroyed by hollywood tv movie. The scene stealers, buster keaton and ed wynn 1962. Sep 29, 2015 later in 1929, mgm would cast buster keaton, along with most of its major stars with the exception of garbo, in a film called the hollywood revue of 1929, a variety show talkie in which keaton. The triumph of lester snapwell, 1963 as lester snapwell. The general, perhaps the greatest film ever made, and 20. Free and easy, whose working title was on the set, was buster keatons first starring role in a film shot for sound he had appeared in mgms talking the hollywood revue of 1929, but did not speak. Some of buster keatons great, deathdefying stunts captured. How, in the space of a few years, did buster keaton, the uncontested genius of silent films, go from the status of being a widelyworshipped star to an alcoholic. Buster keaton, the genius destroyed by hollywood tv movie 2016. Jun 09, 2011 the conceit is also, of course, a neat way of alluding to the nature of cinema.
In the earliest days on stage, they traveled with a medicine show that included family friend, illusionist harry. 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. He was basically bewildered at how such bad films as his early talkies were such a success at the box office while his own silent works that he thought were. 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.
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 greatest of the silent clowns is buster keaton, not only because of what he did, but because of how he did it. Mayer of mgm and two other invisible hollywood moguls. Route 66, in journey to nineveh 1962 as jonah butler, the town jinx. It was a huge 10,000 square ft residence over in beverly hills that buster called the italian villa. The genius destroyed by hollywood 52 mins a documentary on keaton and his struggles working within the hollywood studio system.
There will never be anyone that could ever compare to him. 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. Buster keaton is said to have been recommended for the role by douglas fairbanks, who had played the character on stage. Joe and myra were vaudevillian comedians with a popular, everchanging variety act, giving keaton an eclectic and interesting upbringing. The buster keaton story is a 1957 american drama film directed by sidney sheldon and written by sidney sheldon and robert smith. Jan 23, 2014 t he pioneering genius of buster keatons 1926 silent film the general now on rerelease looks even more startling than ever. Masters of cinema limited edition bluray from zavvi, the home of pop culture. Later in 1929, mgm would cast buster keaton, along with most of its major stars with the exception of garbo, in a film called the hollywood revue of 1929, a variety show talkie in which keaton. Anyone who can appreciate silents wont be disappointed. The genius destroyed by hollywood is a documentary directed by jeanbaptiste peretie. My original mash ups of music i like and the genius director, actor, writer, and performer buster keaton.
The film stars donald oconnor, ann blyth, rhonda fleming, peter lorre, larry keating and jackie coogan. He went on to garner immense popularity earning the epithet the great stone face for his physical comedy that became his trademark. Feb 02, 2018 buster keaton, who died yesterday in hollywood, was something of a genius, and even today there are men who spend hours arguing whether charlie chaplin or harry langdon or buster keaton was the. Guide, download movies, tv shows, free videos, watch movies. The film stars buster keaton who codirected it with clyde bruckman. Joseph frank keaton october 4, 1895 february 1, 1966, known professionally as buster. Why, joseph frank buster keaton s 1926 the general, unsung in its day but heaped with critical acclaim ever since. Hollywood home tour buster keaton silver scenes a blog. Well worth the watch for casual fans and serious scholars alike, but if you want to get the most for your pennies buy the wonderful, indepth bbc set buster keaton. The saphead was a stepping stone on buster keaton s way to stardom. The 40 minute documentary that wraps up the set so funny it hurt. It was inspired by the great locomotive chase, a true story of an event that occurred during the american civil war. As with his previous film for mgm, spite marriage, production on free and easy was largely out of keatons hands. What motion picture did no less an auteur than orson welles call the greatest comedy ever made, the greatest civil war film ever made, and perhaps the greatest film ever made.
Cleopatra skit, 1964 buster keaton on hollywood palace. Buster keaton was a comedian and actor famous for his stoic and deadpan expression in his silent films. The conceit is also, of course, a neat way of alluding to the nature of cinema. In keatons time, a man being sensitive and in touch with his feelings was not an attractive trait, his films gave his emotions and outlet. Buster keaton extras day dreams and the problems of missing film. The cinematography is outstanding and of course the scene where the locomotive falls off the bridge is simply in the realm of legend. Hollywood could not even begin to create a masterpiece such as this. Mgm decided to use her in a movie with buster keaton. This was his first starring role in a fulllength feature film. In films that combined comedy with extraordinary physical risks, buster keaton played a brave spirit who. The story was adapted from the memoir the great locomotive chase by william pittenger. Why, joseph frank buster keatons 1926 the general, unsung in its day but heaped with critical acclaim ever since.
The genius destroyed by hollywood 52 mins a documentary on keaton and his struggles working within the hollywood studio system buster keaton on wagon train 58 mins an audio recording of a then 63 year old buster keaton in conversation with television writer bill cox. The general 1926 steamboat bill, jr 1928 the goat 1921 the blacksmith 1922 cops 1922. The general, perhaps the greatest film ever made, and 20 other buster keaton classics free online. Upon keatons return to hollywood in 1934, he made a screen comeback in tworeel. With his athleticism, precision and comic timing, keaton more.
The genius destroyed by hollywood 52 mins a new documentary on keaton and his struggles working within the hollywood studio system. The great classics josh jones is a writer and musician based in durham, nc. A revealing look at how buster keaton went from being one of hollywood s brightest stars in the mid20s to becoming a sad, solitary alcoholic by 1933. When i watched his films, short or fulllength, i felt completely drawn in to the story.
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