Doing your own stunts isn't really the issue, Jackie Chan has for years been associated with Buster Keaton, but the issue is doing stunts that could easily get you killed if they go wrong. It ain't about whose holding the beer because nobody is actively trying to get killed. If an actor can perform their own stunts then they should get respect for that.
Somebody that really took "A good Comedian does things funny" was young Chevy Chase. He was hilarious doing the simplest of things. It's really too bad that Fame went straight to his head and he became a grade A... A-hole.
Years ago my wife and I were in Madrid. One day we visited the Museum of Modern Art, and after a few hours of looking at some very interesting and very bizarre pieces, we heard laughter coming from one corner of the floor we were on. We made our way to a small theater where 30-40 visitors from all over the globe were seated watching a compilation of Buster Keaton's work. They were laughing and jabbering away in their native language after each pratfall or near disaster unfolded on the screen in front of us. It was an amazing experience to see his art entertain so many from such diverse cultures.
@@fobster2000 This was the charm of the silent movie era. A great silent movie was popular in any culture. Funny thing the original Mad Max was most popular in Japan. The Mad Max films were basically the closest thing to modern day silent pictures. The Original Mad Max was never that Popular in America but huge everywhere else. For some idiotic reason they decided to redub Mad Max with American Accents in the US and it really took away from the pictures charm.
I am 75 and I remember all the Buster Keaton movies as a kid. They were old movies then but we loved him and raced to our little black and white TV sets whenever we knew his movie was coming on.
Actor Michael Keaton shares your administration for Buster Keaton. Prevented from using his birth name to register with the Screen Actors Guild because another actor, Michael Douglas, was already using it, he chose to use the last name of his favorite actor, and became Michael Keaton.
@@mikejacob3536 Untrue. Michael Keaton has said in several interviews that he searched a phone book under "K", saw "Keaton" and decided to stop looking.
It's nice that Keaton found peace in his personal life and the world was able to say thank you. I was born into Generation X and this guy still entertained me at the movies and now does online and will forever. He is etched into history.
I'm 65 today. This man was introduced to me while in school as a little kid. My teacher played a movie, the actual film projecting on a screen ... and it was Buster Keaton going across Canada on a little railway maintenance car type rig. I was amazed at that because my Father worked for the CNR for 30 years, so I knew exactly what that was that he was riding on throughout the whole movie...loved him since then and still do today.
The film you saw was the "Rail Rodder" and it is available on the National Film Board of Canada UA-cam channel if you want to watch it again. It is really a great film, and unfortunately the last film Buster Keaton's made before he died.
It was the last silent film! In Mel Brooks movie "silent movie" he has marcsl Marceau say one word "non" ( no in French) so Buster's movie was the last silent movie as an honor to him.
@@sclogse1 You are correct... The documentary on the making of the "Railrodder" is titled "Buster Keaton Rides Again" and is available on UA-cam on the National Film Board of Canada channel. If you are a Keaton fan is is very worth watching!
Don't forget that the next person to use a 'rotating room' rig after Keaton was Fred Astaire in the number 'Dancing on the Ceiling', from the 1951 film 'Royal Wedding'.
Also, the "magic" created by Stanley Donan in Royal Wedding was to fix the camera so that it rotated along with the room, giving the illusion of defying gravity. In the Keaton example, the camera itself does not rotate.
Wait, Lionel Richie didn't invent this? I'm kidding of course. Actually, as i recall (and I'm not about to search for it!) his vid was pretty lame as it was obviously a spinning room and, combined with him not being a dancer or stunt man, his deliberate movements as it spun gave it away even more. But it does show what a diff someone with the talent for it can make in selling it.
The name "Buster" came from Harry Houdini. When Keaton was a young child, Houdini happened to see him accidentally fall down some stairs. Houdini used a colloquial expression for a fall and exclaimed "That was a real buster!"
@@iamjames8403 I don't know how true that is, unfortunately. If you read about Hollywood in 1920s, it becomes clear that the studios didn't really care about people any where near as much as they cared about profit. A lot of people got hurt or even killed making movies. For just one example, in the 1928 movie Noah's Ark they dumped 600,000 gallons of water on a bunch of extras, sending a bunch of them to hospital. Later on the director of that movie won an Oscar for directing Casablanca
Pioneers like him were (and still are) amazing - if you think how much could go wrong with modern CGI or much more safety. Somebody could say that later movies copied some of his stunts. I don´t look at it as copycats, but to give tribute to such great stuntmen and without remembering it, most people won´t even know about them! Awesome documentary!
Buster Keaton is the actor that made watching silent movies worthwhile back in my teens when most considered silent movies passé. Harold Lloyd would have to be my second favorite silent actor, from there I would discover the Mack Sennett keystone cops movies and then Clara Bow in “It” and later”Wings”.
He is the master. Innovation barely exists anymore mostly because of men like him taking it to what most modern directors feel was the limit. Just imagine his mind with today's technology. He's was already better than everyone today just using old props and old cameras with little to no post production other than speeding the camera up.
Those "old" props and cameras weren't old back when he was using them, a lot of that stuff was state of the art for the time, but yeah it would be interesting to see what people like Keaton, or a director like Orson Welles would do with access to the technology an average person could buy on a minimum wage job today.
@@NelsonStJames They wouldn't do anything. The complexity of today's world would simply fly over their heads. This is a matter of alignment, their attitude and experience against the severely underregulated and crude world they knew well how to fit into. Today they wouldn't even work in cinema -- they wouldn't even get past the interviews, let alone be the stars.
Buster Keaton is the GOAT (and I can say that objectively as one of his shorts was literally called The Goat which I think perfectly describes him) Seriously though, he is a legend in every calibre and I am obsessed with him and his stunts. This was a fantastic video detailing the incredible work he’s done. It deserves more views
Talk about someone amazing, Keaton definitely a trail blazer like early aviators doing stuff before the book was written on doing such stuff. I think what makes him a legend is he survived as so many opportunities he could have been killed. What adds to his amazing work and legendary status is his attitude.
Since Buster Keaton died in 1966, I'd say THAT was the cause of his career ending. He did guest appearances on most of the 1960s sitcoms and I see him fairly often today when the old series are rerun on various channels...I liked him better than Chaplin cuz Keaton's stunts were more daring. The General was my favourite. Amazing.
Amazing video about this wonderful man, so humble, talented and kind, who had his share of misfortune. James Mason, when he bought the Italian Villa in Hollywood, Buster Keaton's famous house in the 20's, found hundreds of film rolls rotting in the basement. He was one of the first trying to save these treasures from oblivion. Thank you for your work and this beautiful tribute! You have a new subscriber!
I am relieved and happy that he did not die in regret or addiction or disaster. I don't know that much about him, but I've seen enough to admire him greatly, and I'm gratified that he departed in a proper condition.
Buster was younger than my GrandDad & older than my Dad, but we all loved him! The General was a great movie by the way, but everything Buster did was great!
Wonderful. Watching that 1.5 tonne house-front fall past his head and shoulders still grips me with fear to this day (and I probably first watched it around 1966).
I always remember the old western scene with him tumbling and leaning in the strong wind. Thanks for the laughs! Now i need to look for a video anthology...
An interesting video, thought perhaps the title is a bit misleading, as I don't think there was any one stunt that ended his career. After watching the video, I'm still not entirely sure what stunt that was even supposed to be. I guess the falling train, but even without that The General still would have been very expensive for a comedy, what with its large number of extras wearing period costumes etc. I don't know if you can really draw a line directly from The General losing money to him signing with MGM in 1928, I think eventually having to sign with a big studio would have been inevitable, since he didn't have the same kind of money that Chaplin did to fund his own productions. Also his career never really ended until his death, as your video shows
The general is fantastic as well as Steam boat bill jr. I have seen the General on the bug screen with live music and a audience and truly fantastic experience.
Unfortunately, Buster Keaton is completely underrated. Like many of his colleagues. He was an absolute giant and I have admired him deeply for decades. Unfortunately, he is currently too unknown, but back then and in the years that followed, he created such original masterpieces that they will certainly continue to find admirers and fans. And what could be greater than being such a mavelous pioneer and becoming an evergreen.
@terryheadgepath4205 Everything Buster did amazes me! The facade of the house falling and the attic window is his only escape from death! 🤯 Chaplin seems to get all the credit and Harold Lloyd is also underrated, but nobody beats Buster Keaton!
Very well made. Point in fact, 06:38, Buster filmed the Three Ages jump atop Court Hill between Temple and 1st looking down Hill Street. Harold Lloyd filmed stunts here too. Court Hill has been completely demolished
I don’t know if he was really happy in his later years… I recall an interview where he recounted visiting Germany, shortly after WW2, and felt depressed at seeing so much destruction. Then there was some laughter to be heard that seemed to come from a barn or such building. Having become curious he decided to investigate: It proved to be a cinema of sorts and people where watching… one of his films. That brought him to the unexpected realization that what he had done in life must have meaning after all… Sir, you did an unbelievable thing: you managed to bring joy to unborn generations. Thank you!
When me and my brothers were kids in the 50’ we would laugh until it hurt watching Buster Keaton. Film stars and z list celebrities today think that they’re the best but the reality is that without CGI they’re nothing special. Buster, Harold Lloyd, Chaplain and others were the benchmark for great film makers. A mark that very few reach these days. 👍
Not unlike Orson Welles, Buster Keaton was a genius way beyond his time, and not unlike Welles he was not understood, and not treated like the genius he was by the Hollywood industry, and like Welles, we the audience and the world for that matter ended up missing out on so much more fascinating work they could have done if small minded people hadn't cut him short.
In the early '90's I saw a Buster Keaton movie with a full audience and a new print of the film. It was the greatest and most amazing audience reaction of any film I have ever seen.
Buster Keaton the legendary comedian of Black and White Hollywood era has his stunts copied in the present age of digital color and VFX Hollywood movies....which makes him way ahead of time.
Thank you for posting this! I learned a lot about someone I knew little about. I think about Harvey Korman in Blazing Saddles as he died -- How did he do such great stunts with such little feet??
That poor man had one of the saddest faces I've ever seen. Behind the laughs and gags were years of horrible abuse. In spite of all that he made people laugh all around the world. God bless him.
I actually share birthdays with Mr Keaton - . we were both born on the 4th October. A talented man, and I am happy that, despite all the adversity, his last years seemed to have been quite happy.
I like the old Ralph Edwards "this is your life" episodes such as the one that was excerpted here. Ralph also did an episode on Laurel and Hardy which was excellent. The series was later criticised for its cursory research, but I think it was quite something for its day. Thank you for the excellent documentary.
He played in one episode of the Twilight Zone in the early 1960s about a janitor from the late 1800s. His boss is a scientist who made a time helmet that send him to the 1960s. Him and a friend went back to the 1800s.
Greates genius from the golden era of Hollywood, and also a very kind man: He always supported and helped Roscoe Arbuckle after his obscure incident which was never really solved.
Tom Cruise
“I do my own stunts”
Buster Keaton
“Hold my beer”
A lot of actors do (or have done) their own stunts
A lot of bears do (or have done) sh!t in the woods
“I invented my own stunts” actor
Doing your own stunts isn't really the issue, Jackie Chan has for years been associated with Buster Keaton, but the issue is doing stunts that could easily get you killed if they go wrong. It ain't about whose holding the beer because nobody is actively trying to get killed. If an actor can perform their own stunts then they should get respect for that.
Cruise is always hanging on safety ropes. These are actually not stunts, more like gymnastic exercises.
Favorite quote comes from him "A comedian does funny things. A good comedian does things funny."
"A comic says funny things. A comedian says things funny."
Somebody that really took "A good Comedian does things funny" was young Chevy Chase. He was hilarious doing the simplest of things. It's really too bad that Fame went straight to his head and he became a grade A... A-hole.
It will be a crime if future generations forget this genius.
Old movies should be savored like fine wine.
Thank you so much for this video.
As you can see even in this video, lots of modern film makers keep his memory indirectly alive. See all of his stunts copied in new movies.
NOBODY who really understand cinema could possibly underestimate his influence. A master among masters.
I’m 74. My only claim to fame- in the 60s, for about 6 months, I was Buster Keatons paperboy in Woodland Hills.
Cool .
@ 1:10 is RFK a reincarnation of the guy speaking. Ya never know eh !
He fired me and left the Herald Examiner for the Valley News and Green Sheet. Bastard! 🙂
😂@@toring61_52
Cool! I'm 58 and I've never met any celeb in person. Not that I've been trying either....lol.
Years ago my wife and I were in Madrid. One day we visited the Museum of Modern Art, and after a few hours of looking at some very interesting and very bizarre pieces, we heard laughter coming from one corner of the floor we were on. We made our way to a small theater where 30-40 visitors from all over the globe were seated watching a compilation of Buster Keaton's work. They were laughing and jabbering away in their native language after each pratfall or near disaster unfolded on the screen in front of us. It was an amazing experience to see his art entertain so many from such diverse cultures.
That's physical comedy for you!
So you got to see Swans Reflecting Elephants by Dali.
@@fobster2000 This was the charm of the silent movie era. A great silent movie was popular in any culture. Funny thing the original Mad Max was most popular in Japan. The Mad Max films were basically the closest thing to modern day silent pictures. The Original Mad Max was never that Popular in America but huge everywhere else. For some idiotic reason they decided to redub Mad Max with American Accents in the US and it really took away from the pictures charm.
Man, I love Buster. That closing statement almost made me choke up. Rest in peace great one.
Thank you Mr. Keaton, for the many years of great laughs you gave us!
I am 75 and I remember all the Buster Keaton movies as a kid. They were old movies then but we loved him and raced to our little black and white TV sets whenever we knew his movie was coming on.
Then in 1961, he stars in a Twilight Zone episode!
Youngster.
@@myparceltape1169 Thanks. I feel young.
I adored this man since i was small. his movies were beyond amazing. honestly, wish there was a holiday named after him or even a cross street.
Actor Michael Keaton shares your administration for Buster Keaton. Prevented from using his birth name to register with the Screen Actors Guild because another actor, Michael Douglas, was already using it, he chose to use the last name of his favorite actor, and became Michael Keaton.
@@cinemasage When I was a boy in Woodland Hills, he was the Honorary Mayor and presided over the annual 4th of July parade.
@@mikejacob3536 Untrue. Michael Keaton has said in several interviews that he searched a phone book under "K", saw "Keaton" and decided to stop looking.
Me too.
I wish they still made movies this good today.
It's nice that Keaton found peace in his personal life and the world was able to say thank you. I was born into Generation X and this guy still entertained me at the movies and now does online and will forever. He is etched into history.
I'm presently pleased that I got recommended this
A comedic genius. Groundbreaking when it came to stunts and movie magic.
Brilliant that, thank you. A very funny yet humble man, who paved the way for cinema a hundred years later. RIP Buster.
I'm 65 today. This man was introduced to me while in school as a little kid. My teacher played a movie, the actual film projecting on a screen ... and it was Buster Keaton going across Canada on a little railway maintenance car type rig. I was amazed at that because my Father worked for the CNR for 30 years, so I knew exactly what that was that he was riding on throughout the whole movie...loved him since then and still do today.
The film you saw was the "Rail Rodder" and it is available on the National Film Board of Canada UA-cam channel if you want to watch it again. It is really a great film, and unfortunately the last film Buster Keaton's made before he died.
@@Vincent_Sullivan There's a doc on the making of it..Lots of Buster conversing, playing guitar, planning scenes..
Actual film, portable movie projector, easy class, good old days.
It was the last silent film! In Mel Brooks movie "silent movie" he has marcsl Marceau say one word "non" ( no in French) so Buster's movie was the last silent movie as an honor to him.
@@sclogse1 You are correct... The documentary on the making of the "Railrodder" is titled "Buster Keaton Rides Again" and is available on UA-cam on the National Film Board of Canada channel. If you are a Keaton fan is is very worth watching!
Gifted comedian is a gross understatement. He was a gifted filmmaker, stunt coordinator, stunt man, actor, and perhaps a few more things I missed!
Don't forget that the next person to use a 'rotating room' rig after Keaton was Fred Astaire in the number 'Dancing on the Ceiling', from the 1951 film 'Royal Wedding'.
Before Keaton, it was used by Douglas Fairbanks in 1919's When Clouds Roll By
Also, the "magic" created by Stanley Donan in Royal Wedding was to fix the camera so that it rotated along with the room, giving the illusion of defying gravity. In the Keaton example, the camera itself does not rotate.
@@wmg93 Ah yes, an excellent point!
Wait, Lionel Richie didn't invent this? I'm kidding of course. Actually, as i recall (and I'm not about to search for it!) his vid was pretty lame as it was obviously a spinning room and, combined with him not being a dancer or stunt man, his deliberate movements as it spun gave it away even more. But it does show what a diff someone with the talent for it can make in selling it.
“Dancing on the Ceiling” was the best! The DANCING!
Keaton and Chaplin were geniuses of their time!! I watched their comedy as a child growing up on tv!! I still love them!!🙏💖🪶💞✨️💜
Im 34 and i want to binge watch all his creative works, thank you for introducing me to him ❤😂😊
The name "Buster" came from Harry Houdini. When Keaton was a young child, Houdini happened to see him accidentally fall down some stairs. Houdini used a colloquial expression for a fall and exclaimed "That was a real buster!"
Buster Keaton is so underrated and unsung. Every kid today should know his name!
What a wonderful actor and stuntman too, I never tire of seeing Buster in these old films.
The one who brought so much laughter and suffered so much. Deserved a little happiness before life's end
That almost made me cry. Now I love Buster Keaton even more than before! Watching those stunts makes me happy.
This was wonderful, a mark in the positive column for the internet.
He is a master of his craft, a legend, an athlete. I've always been amazed at his acting and physical comedy. Fantastic!
That was a terrific, mini biography. Thank you and Buster Keaton for the laughs and the memories.
I like how gravity was a suggestion in the 1920's
Not a rule.
Gravity is still only a theory.
Gravity. It's the law!
@@gohawks3571 no it’s not. Density is the law.
My grandmother would tell me about Buster Keaton. A legend, truly a legend ❤
Dudes were just built different then. No special effects and near zero room for error.
Back when people were put before profit.
@@iamjames8403 I don't know how true that is, unfortunately. If you read about Hollywood in 1920s, it becomes clear that the studios didn't really care about people any where near as much as they cared about profit. A lot of people got hurt or even killed making movies. For just one example, in the 1928 movie Noah's Ark they dumped 600,000 gallons of water on a bunch of extras, sending a bunch of them to hospital. Later on the director of that movie won an Oscar for directing Casablanca
A per when men were men
Oh
and so we're the women 😂
"Dudes"?
You obviously didn’t listen to the video - Buster Keaton INVENTED a lot of “special effects”…
How good to see those classic stunts again - and some new to me as well. A genius, a great guy, and a wonderful, happy legacy.
Pioneers like him were (and still are) amazing - if you think how much could go wrong with modern CGI or much more safety.
Somebody could say that later movies copied some of his stunts. I don´t look at it as copycats, but to give tribute to such great stuntmen and without remembering it, most people won´t even know about them!
Awesome documentary!
Loved these old movies when i was a kid and still do, him and Harold Lloyd.
Excellent narratives, and production! Thank you!
Buster Keaton is the actor that made watching silent movies worthwhile back in my teens when most considered silent movies passé. Harold Lloyd would have to be my second favorite silent actor, from there I would discover the Mack Sennett keystone cops movies and then Clara Bow in “It” and later”Wings”.
I loved Buster Keaton's films!
He is the master. Innovation barely exists anymore mostly because of men like him taking it to what most modern directors feel was the limit. Just imagine his mind with today's technology. He's was already better than everyone today just using old props and old cameras with little to no post production other than speeding the camera up.
Those "old" props and cameras weren't old back when he was using them, a lot of that stuff was state of the art for the time, but yeah it would be interesting to see what people like Keaton, or a director like Orson Welles would do with access to the technology an average person could buy on a minimum wage job today.
@@NelsonStJames They wouldn't do anything. The complexity of today's world would simply fly over their heads. This is a matter of alignment, their attitude and experience against the severely underregulated and crude world they knew well how to fit into. Today they wouldn't even work in cinema -- they wouldn't even get past the interviews, let alone be the stars.
A beautiful documentary of Buster, Keaton, well done❤
What an absolute star he was!
The General is by far my favorite silent film.
❤❤
Buster is a full proof legend.
Great video. Keaton was a genius. Thank You for this.
He was simply one of the best.
No stunt ended his career! Why post that??!
I agree, its misleading, dishonest & disrespectful to a genius that would take falls for a living but always got back up
Glad I read this before watching. I can't stand click bait thumbnails. I've seen some that have absolutely nothing g to do with the title.
It is so hard to find Buster Keaton films. Maybe I’m not doing it right. He was a true legend.❤
I LOVED THIS GUY. HE MADE ME SMILE, GOD BLESS HIM,
Beautifully done. I had no idea. Wish we had more like him nowadays.
Buster Keaton is the GOAT (and I can say that objectively as one of his shorts was literally called The Goat which I think perfectly describes him)
Seriously though, he is a legend in every calibre and I am obsessed with him and his stunts. This was a fantastic video detailing the incredible work he’s done. It deserves more views
"GOAT"?
@@ElvarMasson Everything is goat today.
frrrr fam fr no cap onnggg
Definitely one of my favorites, and I'm a huge fan. It's amazing what he could do with story telling without using walls of text between scenes.
I'm obsessed with Buster Keaton too.
A true legend and an inspiration to generations to come. May we never forget this amazing pioneer and amazing man ❤
Buster WAS the best.. LMAO on his stunts!! RIP
This guy is such a genuine treasure.
That's insane! The General was the movie that introduced me to Buster, & ever since, I will watch anything if he's in it.
Talk about someone amazing, Keaton definitely a trail blazer like early aviators doing stuff before the book was written on doing such stuff. I think what makes him a legend is he survived as so many opportunities he could have been killed. What adds to his amazing work and legendary status is his attitude.
Since Buster Keaton died in 1966, I'd say THAT was the cause of his career ending. He did guest appearances on most of the 1960s sitcoms and I see him fairly often today when the old series are rerun on various channels...I liked him better than Chaplin cuz Keaton's stunts were more daring. The General was my favourite. Amazing.
Buster is the king! No Hollywood performer will ever even get a taste of his boot!
Wow!
Those stunts were incredible.
Keaton was a true pioneer of cinema art!
Amazing video about this wonderful man, so humble, talented and kind, who had his share of misfortune. James Mason, when he bought the Italian Villa in Hollywood, Buster Keaton's famous house in the 20's, found hundreds of film rolls rotting in the basement. He was one of the first trying to save these treasures from oblivion. Thank you for your work and this beautiful tribute! You have a new subscriber!
I am relieved and happy that he did not die in regret or addiction or disaster. I don't know that much about him, but I've seen enough to admire him greatly, and I'm gratified that he departed in a proper condition.
The science he used in all of his films was amazing. I have heard that quite a few professional engineers thought he was a genius.
❤ A top human being! 🙏 The total opposite of an oxygen thief.
Buster was younger than my GrandDad & older than my Dad, but we all loved him!
The General was a great movie by the way, but everything Buster did was great!
Wonderful. Watching that 1.5 tonne house-front fall past his head and shoulders still grips me with fear to this day (and I probably first watched it around 1966).
He was legend. I adored him.
I always remember the old western scene with him tumbling and leaning in the strong wind. Thanks for the laughs! Now i need to look for a video anthology...
thank you for bringing back to our attention one of the first and maybe finest comedian of moving pictures... a real artist and trailblazer to boot.
the poet of the cinema... The best there ever was
My grandmother took us to silent movies at the Granada Theater in West Seattle, Buster Keeton and Harold Loyd were our favorites.
Buster Keaton was one of the finest entertainers of all time. May he RIP!
He was never mentioned in any of my public or private school education through bachelor's degree. What an amazing influence on movie-making.
Growing up great memories of Buster! Was our pop's favorite. At Shakeys Pizza they would roll Buster's fliks on their big screen
An interesting video, thought perhaps the title is a bit misleading, as I don't think there was any one stunt that ended his career. After watching the video, I'm still not entirely sure what stunt that was even supposed to be. I guess the falling train, but even without that The General still would have been very expensive for a comedy, what with its large number of extras wearing period costumes etc. I don't know if you can really draw a line directly from The General losing money to him signing with MGM in 1928, I think eventually having to sign with a big studio would have been inevitable, since he didn't have the same kind of money that Chaplin did to fund his own productions. Also his career never really ended until his death, as your video shows
very good points made......thanks for the input!👍
UA-camrs feel they got to bait and switch for engagement. I just put the channel on 'do not recommend'
I guess it's AI script-wiring going somewhat berzerk. Good point, though.
Buster is my personal favorite
Ditto. I loved "the General!" Sad that it didn't make money back then. 😮😢❤🎉 He was great.
The general is fantastic as well as Steam boat bill jr. I have seen the General on the bug screen with live music and a audience and truly fantastic experience.
My Dad turned me onto Buster back in the 60's. He would point him out on TV. What an amazing man Buster was..
a real comedic genius rip great man
I too am from Kansas and am actually related to Buster - he makes me feel proud to be a hick from Kansas.
Rotating room - Fred Astaire was the first to copy it. Indeed, his version is the most famous today imo.
Unfortunately, Buster Keaton is completely underrated. Like many of his colleagues. He was an absolute giant and I have admired him deeply for decades. Unfortunately, he is currently too unknown, but back then and in the years that followed, he created such original masterpieces that they will certainly continue to find admirers and fans. And what could be greater than being such a mavelous pioneer and becoming an evergreen.
Buster Keaton has got to be the OG of Hollywood stuntmen, guy was legendary for his time and still is a LEGEND.
'The General' contains the greatest train wreck in cinematic history!
I watched it in amazement he didn't get run over doing the railroad tie removal.
@terryheadgepath4205
Everything Buster did amazes me!
The facade of the house falling and the attic window is his only escape from death! 🤯
Chaplin seems to get all the credit and Harold Lloyd is also underrated, but nobody beats Buster Keaton!
Very well made. Point in fact, 06:38, Buster filmed the Three Ages jump atop Court Hill between Temple and 1st looking down Hill Street. Harold Lloyd filmed stunts here too. Court Hill has been completely demolished
Hi John
I don’t know if he was really happy in his later years… I recall an interview where he recounted visiting Germany, shortly after WW2, and felt depressed at seeing so much destruction. Then there was some laughter to be heard that seemed to come from a barn or such building. Having become curious he decided to investigate: It proved to be a cinema of sorts and people where watching… one of his films. That brought him to the unexpected realization that what he had done in life must have meaning after all…
Sir, you did an unbelievable thing: you managed to bring joy to unborn generations. Thank you!
When me and my brothers were kids in the 50’ we would laugh until it hurt watching Buster Keaton. Film stars and z list celebrities today think that they’re the best but the reality is that without CGI they’re nothing special. Buster, Harold Lloyd, Chaplain and others were the benchmark for great film makers. A mark that very few reach these days. 👍
It’s amazing to me how many of the silent films by Chaplin and Keaton still more than hold up, They still entertain.
Many thanks! Wonderful! I didn't know anything about Buster Keaton. I'm going to look for his movies now. What a love!
Thank you, mroberts!! I hope you enjoy what you find.
Not unlike Orson Welles, Buster Keaton was a genius way beyond his time, and not unlike Welles he was not understood, and not treated like the genius he was by the Hollywood industry, and like Welles, we the audience and the world for that matter ended up missing out on so much more fascinating work they could have done if small minded people hadn't cut him short.
Thank you for that...
Very well done...
Warms my heart...
In the early '90's I saw a Buster Keaton movie with a full audience and a new print of the film. It was the greatest and most amazing audience reaction of any film I have ever seen.
Buster Keaton the legendary comedian of Black and White Hollywood era has his stunts copied in the present age of digital color and VFX Hollywood movies....which makes him way ahead of time.
Thank you for posting this! I learned a lot about someone I knew little about. I think about Harvey Korman in Blazing Saddles as he died -- How did he do such great stunts with such little feet??
Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. The 2 greatest physical comedy geniuses of the 1920s.
That poor man had one of the saddest faces I've ever seen. Behind the laughs and gags were years of horrible abuse. In spite of all that he made people laugh all around the world. God bless him.
I actually share birthdays with Mr Keaton - . we were both born on the 4th October. A talented man, and I am happy that, despite all the adversity, his last years seemed to have been quite happy.
Great piece about one of the best of all time.
The rotating set became truly famous when Fred Astaire did it in "Royal Wedding". I'm surprised you all missed that.
Thought the same thing.
Fantastic video, that ending 🥹
I like the old Ralph Edwards "this is your life" episodes such as the one that was excerpted here. Ralph also did an episode on Laurel and Hardy which was excellent. The series was later criticised for its cursory research, but I think it was quite something for its day. Thank you for the excellent documentary.
It's overlooked that he was an amazing athlete and very strong.
Buster Keaton: A Man with Balls of Steel!
the most brilliant and original comic actor
Timeless talent, amazing artist.
He played in one episode of the Twilight Zone in the early 1960s about a janitor from the late 1800s. His boss is a scientist who made a time helmet that send him to the 1960s. Him and a friend went back to the 1800s.
Greates genius from the golden era of Hollywood, and also a very kind man: He always supported and helped Roscoe Arbuckle after his obscure incident which was never really solved.