In this film keaton rides across canada on a railway scooter and, between times, rests in a specially appointed passenger coach where he and mrs. The railrodder is a 1965 short comedy film starring buster keaton in one of his final film roles. Keatons silent films are among the most important works in the development of american. The railrodderbuster keaton rides again in 1964, buster keatons languishing career was experiencing a sort of semirenaissance. When we made pictures, we ate, slept and dreamed them. Jul 05, 2014 produced by the national film board of canada. This biography of buster keaton provides detailed information about his. The general is a civil war tale, the fictionalized account of an attempted hijacking of a confederate train called the general by union spies in 1862. In this informal study the comedian regales the film crew with. Discover canvas art prints, photos, mural, big canvas art and framed wall art in s varied collections.
According to a frequently repeated story, which may be apocryphal, keaton acquired the nickname buster at the age of about 18 months. The general film pdf buster keatons masterpiece and one of the greatest silent movies of all time was filmed in the cottage grove area in the summer of 1926. In september of 1964, hollywood icon buster keaton arrived at canadas. What makes keaton unforgettable is the composure and dignity he maintains in the face of what amounts to a deluge of misfortune in this and his other films. Buster keaton project restauration films by lobster.
The railrodder the railroader 1965 rotten tomatoes. This twenty minute short really isnt all that good but its slightly interesting thanks in large part to keaton who appears in his final silent movie. It is considered by fans and critics to be keaton still in top form, and it was added to the national film registry in 2005 as being deemed. Keaton lived during their canadian film assignment. Unfortunately i knew nothing of the railrodder until my father handed me a collector magazine the other day. Buster keaton double feature the railrodder the silent. A 25minute comedic travelogue of canada, the railrodder was also keatons final silent film, as the film contains no dialogue and all sound effects are overdubbed the backdrop to all of this is the canadian. The cameraman is a 1928 american silent comedy directed by edward sedgwick and an uncredited buster keaton.
When arbuckle moved on to featurelength films, keaton was promoted to star in his own shorts, and volume 1 of the ultimate buster keaton collection begins with the threediscset, the short films collection 1920 1923. A 25minute comedic travelogue of canada, the railrodder was also keaton s final silent film, as the film contains no dialogue and all sound effects are overdubbed. The railrodder 1965 buster takes a crosscountry trip across canada. This film is about how buster keaton made a canadian travel film, the railrodder. The railrodder buster keaton is a man living in europe who reads about how great canada is so he goes there and travels the railway system where he takes in the wonderful visuals. Legendary motion picture comic actor, writer, producer, and director of the 1910s thru 1960s. True to keaton s genre, the film is full of sight gags as our protagonist puttputts his way to british columbia. The general, perhaps the greatest film ever made, and 20. Bits of 1926 hollywood train wreck are still in row river. Buster keaton rides again was released with the railrodder. As the railrodder, keaton crosses canada from east to. It is considered by fans and critics to be keaton still in top form, and it was added to the national film registry in 2005 as being deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. In the words of avenue q, everybodys a little bit racist. In one of the last films of the comedians long career, buster keaton stars as a railrodder crossing canada from east to west on a railway track speeder.
Why, joseph frank buster keatons 1926 the general, unsung in its day but heaped with critical acclaim ever. When he was three years old he got his right index finger caught in a clothes wringer and it was crushed and had to be amputated at the first knuckle. A screen short starring buster keaton, this is one of the last films of the comedians long career. For a limited time, get your first 4 months of audible membership for just. The only reason i bought a copy of buster keatons the general on dvd was because in was included on the extras. Critics were rediscovering and wildly praising his great silent comedies of the 20s, and offers of movie and television roles were flooding in. 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. Inside the art of buster keaton, silent cinemas undisputed. See more ideas about sherlock, silent film and comedians. The 1965 documentary provides an absorbing portrait of keaton relaxing, telling yarns and plotting the next days action with considerable flair. Keatons cops and go west peeking over the school fence. The picture stars buster keaton, marceline day, harold goodwin, and others. Overview of the buster keaton story, 1957, directed by sidney sheldon, with donald oconnor, ann blyth, rhonda fleming, at turner classic movies. Lesters selfconsciously wacky approach is ohsovery swingin.
Joseph frank keaton was born on october 4, 1895 in piqua, kansas, to joe keaton and myra keaton. Before edgar wright and wes anderson, before chuck jones and jackie chan, there was buster keaton, one of the founding fathers of visual comedy. Not only has keaton influenced many of the worlds greatest filmmakers, but some of his techniques continue to be innovative and visually stunning to this day. The national film board of canada paid tribute to keaton by having him do a short subject in his old silent style.
Lobster films is raising funds for buster keaton project restauration films on kickstarter. Joe and myra were vaudevillian comedians with a popular, everchanging variety act, giving keaton an eclectic and interesting upbringing. Rent buster keaton rides again the railrodder 1965 on. Read buster keaton 32 success facts everything you need to know about buster keaton by joshua crane available from rakuten kobo. The railrodder english version by gerald potterton nfb. Kino has loads of keaton besides the keaton plus disc go here and scroll down to buster keaton for individual links. It is considered by fans and critics to be keaton still in top form, and it was added to the national film registry in 2005 as being. The cameraman was keaton s first film with metrogoldwynmayer.
One of the most influential, innovative, and important filmmakers of all time once drove a motorized handcar across canada. In particular, the railrodder, and the simultaneously made documentary buster keaton rides again, used to be standard viewing in many. Before cgi and computer graphics, hollywood had to get creative to make special effects work. Buster keatons last ride, the railrodder vancouver blog. The numbers next to each film in the keaton list of films correspond to the number of the. Jun 25, 2014 the cameraman is a 1928 american silent comedy directed by edward sedgwick and an uncredited buster keaton. But, i came here to get any information i can regarding this documentary. Weekly top five film buster keatons five best films. Bits of 1926 hollywood train wreck are still in row river the movie was the general, starring buster keaton. Always a fan of trains and railways, buster keaton filmed the railrodder in 1964 for the national film board of canada, his terminus being white rock, bc. As a bored british gent, he walks across the ocean to newfoundland and grabs a railcar to travel across canada. After the list of keatons films, i have started a list of dvd releases. The cameraman w buster keaton fullhd video dailymotion.
The deadpan genius of buster keaton silent genius he never cracked a smile on screen, but keatons silent films are as funny as anything hollywood ever made. Having never traveled canada, i am pleasantly surprised to hear this amazing country shown in this film still exists. He is seen here with his parents joe and myra with whom he performed from the age of three in the vaudeville. This book is your ultimate resource for buster keaton. The railrodder is amazing, and contrary to previous discussions, keaton was a survivor of alcoholism, and his dignity and wit shine through even as cancer was ravaging him. Zero mostel, phil silvers, buster keaton, michael crawford movie version of the hit broadway musical by shevelove, gelbart and sondheim, with manic performances from mostel, silvers and crawford. This channel is dedicated to the genius of buster keaton and family.
Buster keaton biography childhood, life achievements. Silent movie special effects were seriously creative. The most comprehensive biography yet of buster keaton. Still, since its the american dream buster is pursuing, we anticipate a happy ending, or at least the hero having the last laugh. The railrodder is a 1965 short comedy film starring buster keaton in one of his final film roles, directed by gerald potterton and produced by the national film board of canada nfb. As might be expected, the film is full of sight gags as keaton. When arbuckle moved on to featurelength films, keaton was promoted to star in his own shorts, and volume 1 of the ultimate buster keaton collection begins with the threediscset, the short films collection 1920. The railrodder is amazing, and contrary to previous discussions, keaton was a survivor of alcoholism, and his dignity and wit shine through even as cancer was.
Buster keaton was a comedian and actor famous for his stoic and deadpan expression in his silent films. Find highquality buster keaton stock photos and editorial news pictures from getty images. In 1862, after spies steal his locomotive, the general, he wages a oneman battle to recover it. The oldest son of joseph and myra keaton, who were stage comedians.
Buster keaton project restauration films by lobster films. Buster keaton 18951966 born joseph francis keaton american director, actor, screenwriter, and producer. 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. Download premium images you cant get anywhere else. Rent buster keaton rides again the railrodder 1965 on dvd. The copies previously uploaded here were either incomplete or too blurry. The cameraman was keatons first film with metrogoldwynmayer.
In this instance the film is the railrodder, a national film boards of canada p. As the railrodder he crosses canada from east to west on a railway track speeder. It is called buster keaton rides again, and it is a national film board of. As the railrodder, keaton crosses canada from east to west on a. A lot of the stunts in early films look downright dangerous, especially when you cant imagine how they were pulled off, like this scene starring buster keaton in sherlock, jr. Buster keaton in the railrodder, a 1965 short film by the nfb. The railrodder and buster keaton rides again 1965 are enjoyable remnants of the keaton revival that occurred in the late 50s and early 60s, just before keaton s death in 1966.
The hollywood director has made a documentary about the silentera legend, who he rates even above charlie chaplin. Rent buster keaton rides again the railrodder 1965 starring buster keaton on dvd and bluray. 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. Silent film may or may not be your thing, but the work buster keaton demands to be seen, studied, and marveled at for its ingenuity. The railrodder is a silent comedy short which showcases the style that made buster keaton famous. And nearly 100 years after he first appeared onscreen, were still learning from him.
This short film from director gerald potterton heavy metal stars buster keaton in one of the last films of his long career. Keaton got into films supporting roscoe fatty arbuckle, in front of and behind the camera. Why, joseph frank buster keaton s 1926 the general, unsung in its day but heaped with critical acclaim ever. Buster keaton, the great comic actor of the silent era, was born on this day in 1895. An actor friend named george pardey was present one day when the young keaton took a tumble down a long flight of stairs without injury. None of the biographical material ive read has ever remarked on it, so i dont think so. Behold buster keatons oncelost film vault and gorge estate.
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