Buster Keaton

Some of the greatest and most distinctive screen talents were often given rather flimsy material - since their qualities were so strong, a dance team like Astaire and Rogers or comedic geniuses like the Marx Brothers usually didn't require the highest concepts nor the most artful constructions within which to do their thing. Indeed, in vehicles like these the plot's primary purpose is not to get in the stars' way. Yet with Buster Keaton, almost every picture is not only a vehicle for his unique talents, but a clever high concept idea as well (not to mention the usually quite impressive formal qualities). Would ... Read Full Story

"Gawwwwwwww! Gimme a simple answer will ya! 'At's all I ask..." That was the inimitable Buster Keaton speaking. Born to make women swoon, educated to act in films, and trained on the set of Hollywood's Sunset Strip, Keaton was a funny little man who, according to his office manager, "used to sneak up behind people and try to scare them." This was the mark of a funny man indeed! Even his good friend Rudolph Valentino said that Keaton was as unpredictable as a sandwich. Read Full Story

And again, happy new year! Berit and I have been continuing to hibernate at home for days, working on script stuff and other business for the year to come (and finishing up stuff from the year past). I've been watching a lot of Universal monster movies from the 1930s-40s -- pretty much all of them in chronological order. It was slightly for research for Spacemen from Space , but mainly for my own enjoyment, though it was also re-igniting in my head an old project David LM Mcintyre and I had been discussing as our follow-up to the collage-piece Even the Jungle -- this ... Read Full Story

Browse > Home / headlines / FLICKERS AT THE JUNCTION Hosted by E.J. Stephens - Featuring Silent Comic genius Buster Keaton’s “Our Hospitality” January 29, 2009 by admin   Greetings Classic Film Fans! Live Accompaniment by 96-year-old Bob Mitchell - “Last of the Silent Era Organists”, Spend Valentine’s Day with Buster & Bob, Saturday, February 14, 2009 – 7:30 PM, Saugus Train Station at Heritage Junction, (Inside William S. Hart Park), 24107 Newhall Avenue, Newhall. Suggested Donation: $5 – Free Popcorn! For more information, contact Pat Saletore @ 661.254.1275 – www.scvhs.org. The Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society is proud to kick-off 2009’s “Flickers at ... Read Full Story

Almost every day I think about Anita Page, and several times a week I check online to see if she’s still alive. No more. She died today at the age of 98 . Ms. Page was a movie star of the 20’s and 30’s, appearing in the silent era in one of MGM’s biggest hits, which ultimately led to her being partnered with — and this is why she matters to me — Buster Keaton, in his first talkie, “Free and Easy,” in 1930. Keaton liked her so much he requested her again for “Sidewalks of New York” the next year, making her the ... Read Full Story