Tour silentera hollywood with this pdf guide listing over 50 locations around town. Long considered rivals but always having avoided commenting about each other in the press, chaplin hired keaton for a part in limelight 1952. Why, joseph frank buster keatons 1926 the general, unsung in its day but heaped with critical acclaim ever. Buster keaton s the general combines inventive humor with terrific action and fine melodrama, all beautifully and carefully planned and photographed. Enligt keaton sjalv var det hans gudfar harry houdini som givit honom smeknamnet buster, da han som trearing foll nedfor en trappa, men uppgiften har ifragasatts av keatonforskare. Charlie chaplin and buster keaton were two of the most prominent actors of the silent film era. 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. The oncefamous clown calvero played by chaplin is sunk in alcoholic despair. Comparison of charlie chaplin and buster keaton men with. Whats the difference between buster keaton and charlie chaplin. Charlie chaplin and buster keaton were two of the most well known comedians in the silent film era, but their styles were. Of the three great american clowns of the silent era, charlie chaplin, buster keaton and harold lloyd, keaton has emerged, by and large, as the cinephiles favourite over chaplin, who was the greater star of his day and held the preeminent position in critics eyes for the first half of the last century. Posted on december 17, 2016 december 17, 2016 by truman hopper thomas h.
Joe and myra were vaudevillian comedians with a popular, everchanging variety act, giving keaton an eclectic and interesting upbringing. Preceding the show, these informational slides below prepared by the festivals artistic director anita monga, ran on a loop as people took their seats. As comedic actors, both employed a lot of action and comedy in their fighting, running, and chasing scenes. The general buster keaton film analysis senses of cinema. Feb 26, 2011 physical comedy scene in a classic dramatic comedy film. Keaton alone filmed scenes for eight different movies on this block. From major comic situations to throwaway gags, the general always knows what to do. In films that combined comedy with extraordinary physical risks, buster keaton played a brave spirit who. I must have been six or seven when i first saw buster keaton. The film stars chaplin as a washedup comedian who saves a suicidal dancer, played by claire bloom, from killing herself, and both try. An unimpressive but well intending man is given the chance to marry a popular actress, of whom he has been a hopeless fan. Buster keaton s the general, about a man and his engine, puts you in a world where the most comically inventive situation that could happen will happen. Harold lloyd made us laugh as much, charlie chaplin moved us more deeply, but no one had more courage than buster.
According to imdb, keaton and chaplin were rivals at first, but consolidated their relationship when keaton s career declined. Limelight features a historic but brief comedy scene starring both chaplin and buster keaton, the only time the two masters of silent comedy. Jun 24, 2016 there are tons more examples of buster keaton making us laugh and watch in wonderment. With charles chaplin, buster keaton, oliver hardy, stan laurel. 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. Ince was responsible to conceive the production system adopted by hollywood during its golden age. Its evolution and intimacy, a new video essay by charlie chaplin biographer david robinson new interviews with actors claire bloom and norman lloyd chaplin today. Demille, and buster keaton are among the hundreds of thousands of books, musical scores, and motion pictures that will enter the public domain on january 1. Limelight, a 2002 documentary on the film, featuring director bernardo bertolucci and actors bloom and sydney chaplin. The tour takes you to several spots right in hollywood, as well as the sites for the lloyd, chaplin, and keaton studios. His influence on physical comedy is rivaled only by charlie chaplin. Buster keaton the inventor and charlie chaplin the conjurer. Both actors were also directors and made funny and popular films in their time.
With buster keaton, natalie talmadge, joe keaton, joe roberts. Whats the difference between buster keaton and charlie. Feb 28, 2020 i must have been six or seven when i first saw buster keaton. Keaton with film forum about to begin a threeweek chaplin retrospective, two tony critics draw a line in the sand and take sides. Charlie chaplin and buster keaton comedy routine limelight. Keaton tours chaplinkeatonlloyd film locations and more. Buster keaton about buster keaton american masters pbs. One of the most famous images from the silent film era with lloyd clutching the hands of a large clock from the outside of a. Charlie chaplins the kid is, in my opinion, one of the best films ever made. Charlie chaplin and buster keaton were two of the most well known comedians in the silent film era, but their styles were drastically different.
Charlie chaplin was perhaps the most famous person on the planet for the first half of the 20th century. Limelight is a 1952 comedydrama film written, produced, directed by, and starring charlie chaplin, based on a novella by chaplin entitled footlights. Nov 10, 2002 the greatest of the silent clowns is buster keaton, not only because of what he did, but because of how he did it. Understanding the genius of chaplin and harold lloyd. Along with charlie chaplin and harold lloyd, keaton was a titan in the world of silent film comedy. A featurelength documentary devoted to the great clowns of silent comedy.
May 14, 2015 one question that pops up now and then among silent comedy fanson message boards, in facebooks groups, or even in those oldfashioned facetoface conversationsis the following. In this way, too, buster keaton, whom the french better call frigo the frozen. Mar, 2020 buster keaton, original name joseph frank keaton iv, born october 4, 1895, piqua, kansas, u. Joe keaton disapproved of films, and buster also had. Apr 12, 2020 the great silent film comedians charlie chaplin, buster keaton, and harold lloyd filmed more frequently on the 1600 block of cahuenga south of hollywood boulevard than at any other street in town. Apr 06, 2020 limelight, british sentimental drama film, released in 1952, that was written, directed, and produced by charlie chaplin, who was inspired by his experiences as a child and young man performing in music halls. Learn more about chaplins limelight at subscribe to our. Charlie chaplin, buster keaton short films showing at hillstead with. After creating this video full of various clips of his stunts and all, i have learned buster keaton is truly a legendary. We were living in new york, and my father took me to the museum of modern art in new york, where i. It is filled with subtle and wonderful details that make it well worth devoting your full attention to watching. Limelight is a 1952 comedydrama film written, produced, directed by, and starring charlie chaplin, based on a novella by chaplin titled footlights. Sep 26, 2014 i had the honor of introducing buster keatons 1926 masterpiece the general at the san francisco silent film festivals inaugural a day of silents festival held in 2014. But what he doesnt realize is that he is being used to make the actress old flame jealous.
Difference between charlie chaplin and buster keaton. Chaplins characters were often over sentimental and had a balletlike fluidity, while keatons style favored outright falling and the use of complicated mechanics. When it comes to comedy in film, buster keaton stands. He pioneered filmmaking, trying all the film tricks in the book. There are tons more examples of buster keaton making us laugh and watch in wonderment. Fields in new york with buster keaton and harold lloyd. When it comes to comedy in film, buster keaton stands above. Chaplin at first had not written the part for keaton, because he believed that the role was too small. Lloyd epitomized the american gogetter, but it was the.
Buster keaton began his stage life as a young man with a suitcase handle attached to the back of his clothes so he could be thrown higher and further when i was a youngster, buster keaton was my hero. Joseph frank keaton was born on october 4, 1895 in piqua, kansas, to joe keaton and myra keaton. From the suicidal clowns who inspired chaplin and keaton to robin williams and beyond, looking for charlie takes an unflinching look at the role played by depression in helping to shape the medium of film. The pairing of chaplin and buster keaton in the final musical number is historic for being the only time the two performed together on film. He and buster keaton had an interesting relationship.
Buster keatons neighbors with original film score by redhooker by merkinconcert. A fading comedian and a suicidal despondent ballet dancer must look to each other to find meaning and hope in their lives. Physical comedy scene in a classic dramatic comedy film. Buster keaton is considered one of the greatest comic actors of all time. 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. The films of buster keaton and charlie chaplin share a fraternal vitality and invention. Steamboat bill 1928 hd movie buster keaton youtube. Chaplin was steeped in victorian times, and keaton was in another universe altogether almost too weird for the really big mass audience. How buster keaton filmed the general chaplinkeatonlloyd. 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 general, perhaps the greatest film ever made, and 20. The twilight zone, episode once upon a time 1961 as woodrow mulligan the janitor candid camera, episode in the diner 1962. Jan, 2000 buster keaton is considered one of the greatest comic actors of all time.
In the earliest days on stage, they traveled with a medicine show that included family friend, illusionist harry. 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. As an extra bonus, it offers a fascinating look at the. Yes, the film quality is lacking, but you have to remember just how old these films are. Sep 04, 2012 harold lloyds iconic scene in the silent film safety last 1923. Charlie chaplin and buster keaton limelight by alfredo perez. Oct 26, 2016 three of the greatest comedies of all time, charlie chaplins the kid 1921, buster keatons cops 1922, and harold lloyds safety last. We were living in new york, and my father took me to the museum of modern art in new york, where i saw some keaton and some chaplin. Keaton lloyd hollywood alley chaplinkeatonlloyd film. The film stars chaplin as a washedup comedian who saves a suicidal. Chaplinkeatonlloyd film locations and more by john. Mar 22, 2015 this feature is not available right now. His famous deadpan face spoke volumes about his constant struggle to survive in an increasingly mechanized 20th century world. The only problem is her family has vowed to kill every member of his family.
Buster keaton and charlie chaplin in limelight 1952. Popular with the studios as a filming location, ive. Mar 28, 2020 oliver hardy at the chaplinkeatonlloyd alley. The score was composed by chaplin and arranged by ray rasch. When that world went a little mad, all buster keaton could do was stare and try to accept or outwit the madness. Buster keaton the inventor and charlie chaplin the. Harold lloyds iconic scene in the silent film safety last 1923.