-acrobatic physicality: filmed in long-shot, without cuts Buster Keaton 1895-1966 -Silent film star -Portrait of “a small man struggling in a big world that seemed full of obstacles poised to crush him, both physically and spiritually.” (Lloyd 83) -obsession with gadgets and machines: locomotive in The General and Our Hospitality, ocean liner in The Navigator. -poker-face, “Great Stone Face,” known for his lack of expression, rarely smiled on film -acrobatic physicality: filmed in long-shot, without cuts Lloyd, Ann, and Robinson, David, eds. The Illustrated History of the Cinema. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1986

Buster Keaton -long series of gags from a basic situation -very physical, reported once that throughout his career he’d broken every bone in his body -combination of tragic and comedic character: main character always had unique personality -characters always struggle against something or someone, frequently the underdog battling his way into social acceptability -character often adapts technology to make what he has work for him

Buster Keaton “In his tenacious war against the forces of evil, his endurance in restoring the rightness of things, and his enigmatic face that gives nothing away—no promises, no denials—he is one of the screen’s great martyrs.” (Lloyd 85) Lloyd, Ann, and Robinson, David, eds. The Illustrated History of the Cinema. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1986

Buster Keaton -on stage from VERY early childhood onward -performed with parents—very physical bits; accusations of child abuse throughout his childhood because of the nature of the stunts -worked with Rosco “Fatty” Arbuckle to learn the business of silent films, became very popular for his work there, got own production unit, Buster Keaton Comedies -most successful for full length silent films made in the 1920’s -lost independent set up to MGM, the biggest studio at the time

Buster Keaton -MGM buy out and intro of sound came around the same time, the combination hurt his career -1928: loss of independence/autonomy with MGM, struggled to find voice (literally and figuratively) -1939: Columbia Pictures hires Keaton to make 10 “shorts” in slapstick style of the Three Stooges -Shorts disappointed Keaton, he never starred in another series for a movie studio -Continued acting, character roles primarily, had a television show and made tv appearances throughout the 50’s and 60’s -died of lung cancer in 1966

Buster Keaton

Chase scenes, physical stunts, slapstick humor, love story The General Story of Confederate train engineer (Johnny Gray) who, after being rejected by the army, pursues his love (Annabelle Lee) and tries to redeem himself by waging a one-man war against the Yankee spies who have stolen his locomotive. Chase scenes, physical stunts, slapstick humor, love story Made in 1927: Keaton is 32 years old; prosperous time for the United States—we’re in the “roaring 20’s;” post WWI, but pre Depression; however, still a lot of racial and cultural tension in the country, reminders of the Civil War (Ku Klux Klan in the South, Immigration disputes and crime in the North) Film industry is booming at this point, but The General receives poor reviews when first released—considered tedious and disappointing—now considered to be Keaton’s best work