8mm Forum: Funny Laugh: Buster Keaton Film

This is topic Funny Laugh: Buster Keaton Film in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Mathew James (Member # 4581) on October 16, 2019, 07:45 AM:

I really like Buster Keaton, and he has a lot of films so one is never bored.... however, here is one I had not yet seen before.

This is classic for film/camera buffs! It is basically an advert for kodak but in a silent movie format. really great and worth watching at some point....

*edited to Brian's better version link. Thanx Brian! The Triumph of Lester Snapwell

[ October 16, 2019, 10:28 AM: Message edited by: Mathew James ]

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on October 16, 2019, 09:30 AM:

Also a longer version (including the 1920's and 1950's segments) from better a print https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NXwyG8ZLkY

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on October 16, 2019, 10:11 AM:

He did some wonderful ones for a beer company that had some great visual gags, (or instance, Buster draws a chair with chalk on a blackboard, then sits in the chair and enjoys a beer, a commercial, by the way, on super 8!), and there was a great series of ads with Alkaselzer (with little "speedy")!

Posted by Panayotis A. Carayannis (Member # 1220) on October 17, 2019, 01:41 AM:

I have "Triumph of Lester Snapwell" and the Simon Pure Beer ads in super8! [Smile]

The Alka Seltzer ads have not been issued in 8mm.

Posted by David Michael Leugers (Member # 166) on October 17, 2019, 04:29 PM:

I first learned of Buster Keaton through his commercials on TV. I've been a huge fan ever since. Strange how discussion on who made the biggest contribution to film during the silent years, no one seems to ever mention Buster Keaton. For my money he had no equal. He was at the top of his craft as a film comedian, a gag writer, a director, a cameraman who created effects and trick shots never seen before, and was one of the greatest stunt men to ever work in films. He selflessly shared his secrets with anyone who wanted to know (thus advancing the art of film) and never had his ego get in the way of getting a laugh. His features were not just "long 2 reelers" but had real stories and his character that you cared about. One day I found my grandma with a tear in her eye looking at a magazine that had Buster's picture on the cover with the story of his passing. She told me that she really liked Buster and my grandpa chimed in with "he was something else". Yes he was.

Posted by Osi Osgood (Member # 424) on October 17, 2019, 06:58 PM:

I so agree, David ...

I was first introduced to Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy, but when i first saw Keaton, there was a certain craft to his humor.

Yes, he could go for the "cheap gag' or laugh here and there, but his comedy was more sophisticated and in my opinion, more planned out. Chuck Jones, animations great directors was a lot like Keaton as, Chuck would have a beginning for gag that he would fore-shadow at the beginning of the cartoon (the Road Runner cartoons were filled with these kind of gags), to have a really big py=off later in the film.

Even Busters "facial nuiances" were special. though he was the great "stone-face", there was a myriad of expressions hid on the contours of that face that would make themselves known at the best possible moment, for the most impact.

Don't get me wrong, Chaplin had his special qualities and he deserves a lot of the kudo's that he was given, and Harold Lloyd, Conklin and a myriad of other comedians were great ...

But Keaton was and still is tops!

P.S. Another of Keaton's qualities?

His skills did not wane.

Yes, he had that bleak portion of his career that lasted for quite a few years, but just watch the "Railroader" and see that, even at his elevated age (he was in his 70's when he made that, right?), he was still capable of very dangerous stunts!

Posted by David Michael Leugers (Member # 166) on October 18, 2019, 06:46 PM:

Right on, Osi. In the documentary shot during the making of the Railroader, the director and Buster get into an argument. The director will not let Buster do some stunt that Buster felt he could easily do. Seeing what this 70 year old man, dying of cancer, actually did during the film is simply incredible. I saw a recent film that had the most realistic fight scenes I have seen. I normally do not care much for fight scenes. The director being interviewed said that he copied Buster Keaton who knew where to put the camera so that people could actually see that it was Buster doing the stunt. No cut-aways or other editing gimmicks. Pretty cool homage to Buster who died of old age before this director was born...

Posted by Mathew James (Member # 4581) on October 18, 2019, 06:57 PM:

right on!

funny sidenote....it's actually called "railrodder", like hot-rodder...

I thought it was roader too, but hence :

railRODDER

and here is the 'making-of':

Buster Keaton rIdes aGain

Posted by Melvin England (Member # 5270) on October 19, 2019, 02:57 AM:

I strongly recommend Marion Meade's biography of Keaton entitled
"Cut To The Chase." A superb read.

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on October 19, 2019, 07:13 AM:

I watched the Keaton feature "Steamboat Bill Jr." (S8, 4x400', Blackhawk) last night, it was great!

I love Railrodder on the NFB DVD, but I sure wouldn't mind finding a really good 16mm print.

Buster Keaton: The Art of the Gag

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