Keaton, has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: One for motion pictures and one for television.
In 1994, caricaturist Al Hirschfeld penned a series of silent film stars for the United States Post Office, including, Keaton.
Keaton, was famous for wearing a "pork pie hat". He started with a Stetson hat and cut it down, stiffening the brim with concentrated sugar water. The hats were often destroyed during Keaton's performances, some were given away as gifts and some were stolen by souvenir hunters. Keaton said he was lucky if he used only six hats while making a film.
To celebrate Halloween, Buster Keaton style, The Haunted House (1921). The short comedy was written and directed by Keaton and Edward F. Cline.
Video: First of 3.
So ends our journey through Buster Keaton's amazing film career. Like his performances, his life had many ups and downs, but.. as it seems he always landed on his own two feet. I hope that you enjoyed reading this series as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you...
Not long ago a friend asked me what was the greatest pleasure I got from spending my whole life as an actor. There have been so many that I had to think about that for a moment. Then I said, "Like everyone else, I like to be with a happy crowd."
In 1950, Keaton had a show called, The Buster Keaton Show. A Live show with Buster recreating his classic routines.
He next went on to film, The Misadventures of Buster Keaton, who plays the wacky owner of a sporting goods store who moonlights as the director/producer of a small theatre.
Keaton, also appeared on Ed Wynn's variety show, at the age of 55.
In 1954, Keaton played his first television dramatic role in, "The Awakening", an episode of the series Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents.
On April 3, 1957, Keaton was surprised by Ralph Edwards on the TV show, This Is Your Life.
Video: First of 3.
The show promoted the release of the biographical film, The Buster Keaton Story with Donald O'Connor.
In December 1958, Keaton was a guest star as a hospital janitor who brings gifts to sick children in a special Christmas episode of, The Donna Reed Show. The program was titled "A Very Merry Christmas".
He returned to the show in 1965 in the episode, "Now You See It, Now You Don't".
In August 1960, Keaton accepted the role of mute King Sextimus the Silent, in the national touring company of, Once Upon A Mattress, a successful Broadway musical. His wife Eleanor Keaton, was also cast in the chorus.
In 1960, Keaton returned to MGM for the final time, playing a lion tamer in, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn(1960).
In 1961, he starred in The Twilight Zone episode "Once Upon a Time", which included both silent and sound sequences. Keaton played time traveler Mulligan, who traveled from 1890 to 1960, then back, using a special helmet.
Keaton, found steady work as an actor in TV commercials, including a popular series of silent ads for, Simon Pure Beer, in which he used some of the gags from his silent films.
Other Buster Keaton TV commercials:
In 1963, Keaton appeared in the episode "Think Mink" of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington sitcom, starring Fess Parker.
In 1964, Keaton appeared with Joan Blondell and Joe E. Brown in the final episode circus drama in the, The Greatest Show on Earth. That same year, he appeared on Lucille Ball's TV show, The Lucy Show, in an episode ("A Day in the Park"), this featured him sitting on a park bench, reading a newspaper, which he unfolded into a huge, single sheet.
At the age of 70, Keaton suggested that, for his appearance in the 1965 film, Sergeant Deadhead, he run past the end of a fire hose into a six-foot-high flip and crash. When director Norman Taurog, was concerned for Keaton's health, Keaton said, "I won't hurt myself, I've done it for years!" Keaton, also starred in, Beach Blanket Bingo, Pajama Party, and How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (pictured below).
In 1965, Keaton starred in a short film called, The Railrodder, for the National Film Board of Canada. Wearing his porkpie hat, he travelled from one end of Canada, performing gags similar to those in films he made 50 years before. He later made a documentary about Keaton's life and times called, Buster Keaton Rides Again.
Also in 1965, he traveled to Italy to play a role in, Due Marines e un Generale, co-starring alongside with the famous Italian comedians, Franco Franchi and Ciccio Ingrassia.
Keaton's last film appearance was in, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966), which was filmed in Spain. He amazed the cast and crew by doing many of his own stunts, although they did use a stunt double for some scenes.
Throughout the 1940s, Keaton played character roles in both "A" and "B" films. Producers occasionally hired him for cameos in such films as:
In the Good Old Summertime (1949). Keaton worked as a gag writer at MGM when this movie was made. The filmmakers wanted him to find a way to break a violin that would be both comic and believable.. Keaton came up with an idea and the filmmakers then realized he was the only one who cold perform the scene, so they cast him in the film. Keaton came up with the idea, for Van Johnson, when he wrecks Judy Garland's hat. This was the first MGM film Keaton, performed in since being fired from the studio in 1933.
Sunset Boulevard (1950). Buster Keaton played one of Gloria Swanson's bridge partners.
Around the World in Eighty Days (1956). Among the film's 46 guest stars, the most memorable include Marlene Dietrich, Charles Boyer, Jose Greco, Frank Sinatra, Peter Lorre, Red Skelton and Buster Keaton.
Keaton, also had a small part as Jimmy The Crook, near the beginning of the long, chase scene in, It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), directing Spencer Tracy's character, Captain C. G. Culpepper, in storing his police car in a garage. Keaton, was given more screen time in, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966). He also performed in a comedy routine about two inept musicians in, Charlie Chaplin's Limelight (1952). Limelight, was the only time in which the two would ever perform together on film.
In 1939, Columbia Pictures hired Keaton to star in ten two-reel comedies. The director was usually Jules White, who made most of these films resemble the, Three Stooges comedies. Keaton's personal favorite in the series was,
Pest from the West, is a story when Keaton, plays is a millionaire vacationing in Mexico traveler who falls in love with a senorita (Lorna Gray) and sets out to win her.
Video : First of 2.
A shorter, remake of Keaton's little-viewed 1935 film, The Invader. A comedy film. The film has the same plot as its remake, Pest from the West (1939), with a millionaire setting out to win a local girl in Mexico. The film was directed by Adrian Brunel.
Keaton and Monte Collins, perform as Waters and Piper, plumbers. A heiress (Elsie Ames) runs from a suitor (Eddie Laughton). The suitor challenges Keaton to a duel.
Keaton, was not happy with these comedy shorts and swore he would never again "make another crummy two-reeler," and the Columbia films would be his final starring series for any film studio.
Keaton, eventually did make a comeback in a series of 16 two-reel comedies for
Educational Pictures. The most popular in the Educational series was, Grand Slam Opera, featuring. Buster in his own screenplay as an amateur-hour contestant. When the series ended in 1937, Keaton returned to MGM as a gag writer, for the Marx Brothers films:
At the Circus (1939). The circus strongman (Nat Pendleton) and the midget (Jerry Maren) have joined up with Carter (James Burke) who wants to take over the circus. In the animal car, they knock out Wilson (Baker) and steal his $10,000. Groucho, as lawyer J. Cheever Loophole, arrives to help, but.. knocks the furniture over and the midget threatens to sue. Groucho, always looking business, gives his card to Marenghi. In order to help Baker, he tries to get the money from, Peerless Pauline (Eve Arden), with no luck.
Then he calls on Mrs. Dukesbury (Margaret Dumont), and talks her into paying $10,000 to the Wilson Circus, to entertain the Newport 400. When Jardinet arrives, Groucho, has his orchestra play on a floating bandstand. Chico and Harpo cut the rope and the musicians go floating away. Meanwhile, Carter and his men try to burn down the circus, but are stopped by the brothers and the gorilla.
Go West (1940). Quentin Quale, heads west to make his fortune. On the way, he meets the brothers Joseph and Rusty Panello in a train station, where they steal his money. Quale soon learns the Panello's, are also heading west. Once there, they hook up with a old miner named Dan Wilson who owns, Dead Man's Gulch. They give him their last ten dollars and he gives them the deed. Wilson, the son of Terry Turner, has allowed the railway to build through the land, making the old man rich.
Buster Keaton, also provided material for Red Skelton and Lucille Ball in their films and TV shows.
Keaton, felt limited in his career when the studio refused his request to make the film, Spite Marriage, with sound. For the first time, Keaton was forced to use a stunt double for the more dangerous scenes. He also stopped directing, but continued to perform and MGM decided to team Keaton with Jimmy Durante, in the films listed below:
The Passionate Plumber(1932). A comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick. It is the second screen adaptation of the play, following the 1928 silent film The Cardboard Lover. It later was remade in 1942 as Her Cardboard Lover.
The story begins when a Paris plumber Elmer Tuttle, is hired by wealthy Patricia Alden, to make her boyfriend Tony Lagorce jealous. With the help of Julius J. McCracken and his wealthy friends, Elmer hopes to find someone to finance his invention a pistol with a range-finding light. Things become complicated when Elmer tries to show a military leader his invention.
Speak Easily(1932). Comedy film starring Buster Keaton, Jimmy Durante, and Thelma Todd. Directed by Edward Sedgwick.
What! No Beer? Elmer J. Butts, a taxidermist, goes to a dry rally, with Hortense and her gangster boyfriend Butch Laredo. He sits by Hortense, and is thrown out after the speaker asks if they want liquor back in this country, and he yells out “Yes!”
The next day, Jimmy Potts, drives a car covered in pro-booze stickers, to bring a fish to Elmer’s shop to be stuffed. On Election Day, Jimmy convinces Elmer to vote wet, and they go to the polls only to run into problems.
Later, at Jimmy’s barbershop, they listen to a radio report that the country has voted against Prohibition. At a hotel, a group of Spike Moran’s gangsters angry that their bootlegging business is finished. Hortense, now knows that her dream of getting her Rolls Royce is over. Back at the barbershop, Jimmy shares with Elmer his idea about buying a brewery. Elmer has $10,000 hidden in his stuffed animals. They take his nest egg to the bank and they accept his offer of $10,000 plus $5,00 a month.
When Elmer and Jimmy, enter the brewery they find three homeless men and they hire them. With an unpredictable water hose, they mix all the ingredients for a five gallon batch of beer in the huge tank. They bottle as much as the can, through exploding bottles and foam piling up way over their heads.
They put up a sign: “Real beer 5 cents” and the cops arrest them. The vote didn’t end Prohibition. In court, the chemist reports that it was only brown dishwater. Jimmy then goes to talk to the workers, where Schultz, shares with them that he really is a "master brewer". Jimmy decides to make real beer and tell Elmer that it’s "near beer".
Spike offers to buy 1,000 barrels a day and threatens them with, that they will stay partners as long as they stay alive. Elmer, then tells the three workers that they need to make more beer. Jimmy comes in and learns about the contract and puts the money in his coat pocket. Hortense, drives up and pretends to turn her ankle, so Elmer will carry her to the office and when she pretends to faint, he pours water on her and she takes off her dress and puts on Jimmy’s overcoat and leaves with all the money. Jimmy comes in, looking for his overcoat. Elmer tells him that Hortense has it. When Jimmy tells him about the money, Elmer says he doesn’t care because he is in love with her..
Hortense tells Butch that Spike, is working with the brewers. When the money falls out of the coat, Butch does not believe her her. She calls Elmer and he tells her to keep it and buy herself a Rolls. Then asks her out on a date.
At Spike’s office, two men say that Butch threatened to kill them if they picked up the beer. When Elmer drives the truck away, Butch’s men decide to kill him, but the trucks tire blows out and the barrels fall off of the back and chase the gangsters away. Jimmy arrives to find Elmer upset about the loss of all the near beer.
Hortense and Elmer, are on their date when they hear a paperboy call out the news, "there’s a new gang war". At the brewery, Jimmy learns that Butch killed Spike. Butch, arrives saying that now he’s their partner. Elmer comes in and tells them that Hortense is in love with him. Meanwhile, the cops are planning to raid the brewery. Back at the brewery office, Hortense stops a man who’s going to tell Butch about the raid. Hortense slips Elmer, a note about the raid and he escapes just in time. Letting everyone know, that there is Free Beer at the Brewery. The factory is mobbed, and by the time the police arrive, there’s no beer left.
Later, a Senator tells Congress, the story of a town where the gangsters were put out of business when the people stormed the brewery. He calls for an end to Prohibition. After the headline “Beer Legalized,”. At Butt’s Beer Garden, Elmer and Jimmy arrive the two get mobbed for autographs.
What! No Beer? would be Keaton's last starring film. Thirty years later, both Keaton and Durante had cameo parts in It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World.
Keaton's world was in chaos, with divorce proceedings and alcoholism contributing to production delays at the studio. MGM released him after filming was complete.
Keaton, first met Roscoe Arbuckle, at the Talmadge Studios, in New York City and during his first meeting with Arbuckle, he asked to borrow one of the cameras. He took the camera back to his hotel room, dismantled and reassembled it. When he returned the next day, he was hired as a co-star and gag man, making his first film performance in ....
The Butcher Boy (1917). A short comedy film which Arbuckle, makes a living as the butcher boy in a little country store. He falls in love with the cashier, who is the daughter of the store owner. He later follows her, disguised as her female cousin, to an all-girl school.
Keaton and Arbuckle became close life long friends after performing on the film, The Butcher Boy .
The Saphead(1920). Was Keaton's, first starring role in a full-length film, a story about, Nicholas Van Alstyne, the richest man in New York, who is worried about his un- employed son, Bertie, who stays out all night gambling and partying. The only thing Bertie wants to do is to marry his adopted sister, Agnes.
Bertie's sister, Rose, is married to Mark a unsuccessful lawyer, who has a mistress named Henrietta and they have a child together. When Henrietta dies, a letter is sent to inform Mark, who says the letter belonged to Bertie, breaking Agnes' heart.
When Van Alstyne, goes away on business he leaves Mark, in charge of the family's business. Mark sells all their shares of stock. Bertie, buys back all of the stock without realizing that he is saving the families money. When Van Alstyne, finds out what has happened he allows Bertie to marry Agnes. Mark, dies of a heart attack when he finds out that his plot has failed.
It was not long before Schenck, gave him his own production company, Buster Keaton Comedies. He made a series of two-reel comedies, including:
One Week (1920). The short story is about two newlyweds, Keaton and Seely, who receive a build-it-yourself house as a wedding gift. The house can supposedly be can be built in, "one week." A ex- boyfriend secretly re-numbers the packing crates. Keaton, has a lot of trouble putting together the house. Keaton, also finds he has built his house on the wrong property and has to move it. The house becomes stuck on railroad tracks. Keaton and Seely, try to move it out the way of an oncoming train, which as luck would have it passes on the neighboring track. As the couple think that their troubles are behind them, the house is hit by another train going the other way. Keaton, places a "For Sale" sign on his "home sweet home".
Video: 1 of 2.
The Playhouse (1921). The movie is most famous because Keaton plays all the roles. The film uses many wonderful film tricks, like doubling, and things are not what they at first seem to be. It opens with Keaton attending a variety show. In this first scene, Keaton plays the conductor of the orchestra, every member of the orchestra, the actors, the dancers, the stagehands, the minstrels, and every member of the audience, male and female. This trick photography sequence turns out to be a dream.
The second half of the film Keaton's character falls in love with a girl who has a twin sister, and he has trouble remembering which is which. The film stars, uncredited, Virginia Fox as one of the twins and Joe Roberts as another actor and stage manager. Edward F. Cline co-wrote the production and appears, uncredited, as a monkey trainer, whose monkey Keaton impersonates after letting him escape.
Cops (1922). A short silent film, written and directed by Edward F. Cline and Keaton.
Even though the Keaton's character's intentions are good, he can not stay out of trouble with police. Eventually, he throws a bomb into a police parade and is chased by the cops all over town.
At the end of the film, Keaton's character locks up the cops in the police station. The girl he is in love with gives him the cold shoulder. He unlocks the police station and is immediately pulled in by the cops. The film ends with the title "The End" written on a tombstone with Keaton's hat resting on top of his grave.
The Electric House (1922). A short comedy film directed by and starring Buster Keaton. The known version today is the second version filmed. During the original shoot in 1920, Keaton broke his leg filming a scene with the electric staircase. The project was put on hold, and re-filmed. No copies of the original footage are known to exist.
Keaton's other films include:
Our Hospitality (1923). A silent comedy directed, produced, written by and starring Buster Keaton. The movie uses slapstick comedy to tell the story of Willie McKay, a city slicker who gets caught in the middle of the infamous Canfield and McKay feud, a satire of the real-life Hatfield-McCoy feud.
Some exteriors were shot near Truckee, California, and in Oregon. The famous waterfall rescue scene was shot using a special set at Keaton's Hollywood studio.
Keaton set the film in the 1830s, so he could have a working model of Stephenson's Rocket, an early train. The traveling shots of this film were also used for the film, The General (1926).
This is the only film to feature three generations of Keatons. Buster's father plays a train engineer, Buster's infant son plays a baby version of Buster. Keaton's wife Natalie, was pregnant with their second child during filming, and she had to be filmed in a way to hide her pregnancy.
The Canfield and McKay families have been feuding for so long, no one remembers the reason the feud got started in the first place.
One stormy night in 1810, after John McKay, is killed during the feud, his wife Mrs. McKay, decides her son, Willie McKay, will not suffer the same fate. She moves to New York to live with her sister, who takes care of him after his mother's passing and does not tell him about the feud.
Twenty-one years later, Willie receives a letter telling him that his father's estate is now in his name. His aunt now tells him about the feud, but he decides to return to his birthplace anyway.
While traveling by train, he meets, Virginia, and she invites him to dinner at her house. They are greeted by her family, the Canfields, who already know that he is coming to town. They promise McKay, will not be harmed in their home.
Meanwhile, McKay is oblivious to the danger he is in and manages to dodge bullets without really meaning to. The McKay estate turns out to be unlivable.
Its not long before McKay, learns that as long as he stays in the Canfields' house that they will not kill him. A parson comes to visit. After a while, the parson is getting ready to leave, but there is a huge storm. The Canfield family, insists the parson stay the night. McKay, invites himself to stay the night also.
The next morning, McKay does his best to stay inside the house. After the father catches McKay kissing his daughter, McKay thinks it is time to leave, pretending to be a woman.
He's able to keep from the Canfield's all the way to the mountain and the waterfalls. After Willie trips and falls into the rapids, Virginia goes after him in a rowboat, she ends up at the edge of the waterfall. McKay swings on a rope, saving her just in time. (One of the most thrilling rescues in movie history).
Back home the Canfield's, find the gun cabinet empty, and in another room they see Willie and Virginia in each others arms and her father rushes into the room with gun in hand, he finds the parson completing nuptials for Willie and Virginia. Will her father bless the union and call off the feud?
Video: First of 2.
The Navigator (1924). A Comedy directed by and starring Buster Keaton. The film was written by Clyde Bruckman and co-directed by Donald Crisp.
Wealthy Rollo Treadway proposes to his neighbor, Betsy O'Brien, and sends his servant to make arrangements for a honeymoon sea cruise to Honolulu. When Betsy rejects his proposal, he decides to go on the trip anyway. Because the pier number is partially covered, he ends up on the wrong ship, the Navigator, which Betsy's father has just sold to a small country at war.
Agents, from the small country decide to set the ship adrift. When Betsy's father checks up on the ship, he is captured and tied up. Betsy hears his cry for help and boards the ship to look for him.
The Navigator drifts out into the Pacific Ocean. It is not long before a navy ship passes and they raise a brightly-colored flag, not realizing it signals that the ship is under quarantine, so the navy ship turns away.
They hit a tropical island and the boat springs a leak. While Rollo finds a deep sea diving suit and uses it to patch the hole, the natives kidnap Betsy. When Rollo surfaces, the natives are so scared that he is able to rescue Betsy and take her back to the ship. The natives return and board the ship. Rollo and Betsy try to escape in a small dinghy. It starts to sink, and the natives capture them in their canoes. Will the navy come back and save them in time?
Video : First of 4.
Sherlock Jr. (1924). A comedy silent film starring and directed by Buster Keaton and written by Clyde Bruckman, Jean Havez and Joseph A. Mitchell. It features Kathryn McGuire, Joe Keaton and Ward Crane.
A movie house projectionist and janitor who is studying to become a detective, is in love with a girl, and he decides to give her engagement ring. Unfortunately, there is another man who is in love with the same girl.
After, he is accused of stealing his girlfriend's father's watch. He falls asleep on the job and dreams that he is a Sherlock Holmes, solving the case of stolen pearl necklace.
Seven Chances (1925). Comedy silent film directed by and starring Buster Keaton, based on a play written by Roi Cooper Megrue, produced in 1916 by David Belasco. Cast: T. Roy Barnes, Snitz Edwards, Ruth Dwyer and Jean Arthur.
Jimmy Shannon, is a partner in a financial brokerage firm that is on the brink of going under when he reads his grandfather's will, which says he will receive seven million dollars on the condition that he marry by 7:00 p.m. on his 27th birthday, which happens to be the same day he learns of the terms. Shannon, with the help of his partner and a lawyer, must find him a bride.
Video: First of 4.
The Cameraman (1928). A Silent comedy directed by Edward Sedgwick and an uncredited Buster Keaton. The picture stars Buster Keaton, Marceline Day, Harold Goodwin.
The film begins when Buster, working as a photographer, is in love with Sally, a secretary who works for the MGM's newsreel department. Hoping to impress her, he purchases an out-of-date movie camera and tries to get a job as a cameraman. Harold, the current cameraman also has designs on Sally, stands in his way..
Sally suggests that Buster film anything and everything, but Buster's footage has been ruined and can not bee used. Later, the couple meet and Buster gets into lots of trouble.
The next day, Buster's luck has not changed, but Sally gives him a tip that something big is going to happen in Chinatown and he should film it. On his way, he accidentally runs into an organ grinder and thinks he accidentally kills the his monkey. A nearby cop makes Buster pay for the monkey and he takes its little body with him. The monkey turns out only to be dazed and joins Buster on his adventures.
Once in Chinatown, Buster witnesses a "Tong War" and escapes death while filming the events. He is eventually is arrested, but escapes with his camera.
Returning to MGM, Buster and the boss are disappointed to find that he had no film loaded in his camera. Buster is thrown out once and Sally finds herself in trouble for giving Buster the tip.
Despite losing Sally, Buster, makes plans to film an afternoon on the river. He discovers that his Tong footage is still in one piece, because the monkey has switched the reels. While Sally and Harold, on the river, their boat to spirals out of control. Sally is saved by Buster, when Buster rushes to get medical supplies, Harold takes credit for the rescue. The two go off, and the broken-hearted Buster is left at a river bank. As luck would have it, his monkey has the rescue on film.
Buster decides to send his Tong footage to MGM free of charge, and the Boss says that it is the best camerawork he had seen in years. At the end of the reel is the footage of Buster's rescue of Sally, exposing Harold as a fraud.
The General (1927). Is set during the American Civil War, which combined comedy with Keaton's love of trains, including an amazing locomotive chase and beautiful locations. The film's storyline reenacted an actual wartime incident. It was too dramatic for some film goers expecting a lightweight comedy, and reviewers questioned Keaton's judgment in making a comedic film about the Civil War.
Video : First of 9.
It was a huge flop, and Keaton was never trusted with control over his films again. United Artists, insisted on a production manager who monitored expenses. Keaton, performed in two more films, and then looked for employment at Hollywood's biggest studio, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Keaton's loss of independence as a filmmaker happened during the coming of sound films and his personal problems, his career took a set back..
Buster Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966). Was an comic actor, filmmaker, producer and writer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was a stoic expression, earning him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".
Keaton was born Joseph Frank Keaton into a vaudeville family. He was named "Joseph" to continue the tradition on his father's side. Joe Keaton owned a traveling show with Harry Houdini, the Mohawk Indian Medicine Company.
The story goes... Keaton, was nickname "Buster" at about eighteen months of age, when Harry Houdini, happened to see the young Keaton fall down a flight of stairs without getting hurt. Houdini said, "That was a real buster!". After that Keaton's father started to call him "Buster".
At the age of three, Keaton began performing with his parents in The Three Keatons. Myra played the saxophone, while the young Keaton would goad his father and the father would throw him against the scenery, into the orchestra pit, or even into the audience. Which lead to accusations of child abuse, and arrest. However, Buster Keaton was always able to show the authorities that he had no bruises or broken bones. In 1914, Keaton told the Detroit News:
The secret is in landing limp and breaking the fall with a foot or a hand. It's a knack. I started so young that landing right is second nature with me. Several times I'd have been killed if I hadn't been able to land like a cat. Imitators of our act don't last long, because they can't stand the treatment.
According to one biographer, Keaton was made to go to school while performing in New York, but only attended for part of one day. Keaton, later said that his mother taught him to read and write. By the time he was 21, his father's alcoholism threatened the the family act, so Keaton and his mother, left for New York, where Buster Keaton's career moved into film.
Although he did not see active combat, he served in World War I, during which time he suffered an ear infection that permanently damaged his hearing.
“College” (1927) is a silent comedy starring Buster Keaton, Anne Cornwall, and Flora Bramley. Directed by James W. Horne, this film stars Keaton in one of his most memorable roles as the hapless Ronald who gives a high school valedictory address that praises books and condemns sports. His girlfriend Mary thinks that’s nonsense. Afraid he might lose her, Ronald goes to college and tries to become a star athlete.
“College” is my favorite of Keaton’s silent comedies because the majority of the film’s gags concern Buster’s attempts to become a successful athlete in order to win back his girlfriend. It’s interesting to note that in 1927, before he began making films, Spanish director Luis Bunuel praised Keaton’s achievement in “College” for its simple cinematic style, and at least one segment in his classic surrealist film, Un Chien andalou (1929) may have been influenced by Keaton.
Buster Keaton, The Great Stone Face, was a filmmaker and comedian. He wrote, produced, directed and acted in ten feature length comedies within five years in the 1920’s. He was also in 124 other films, short and long, over a 50 year period right up to his death in 1966. He and his parents and two younger children were a close and happy family for his first twenty years. His father had met his mother while playing in her father’s medicine show, and Buster was born on tour, in Piqua, Kansas. His very earliest stunt was observed by the famous magician, Harry Houdini, a member of their vaudeville company. When six-month-old Joseph rolled down a flight of stairs at a theatrical boarding house and came up laughing, Houdini and Joseph, Sr. nicknamed him Buster. There were many happy tours and pleasant family summers, but eventually alcoholism caught up with Joseph Keaton, Sr. Mrs. Keaton broke up the act in 1917, and Buster got a job on his own with a new musical review on Broadway for $250 a week. Before Buster could start, he visited the set of a Roscoe Arbuckle film production on East 48th Street. Buster was invited to do a bit part in the two-reeler starting that day, “The Butcher Boy” (1917). Buster turned down the $250 for a chance to work in a medium for $40 a week to start. Buster worked with Arbuckle from 1917 to 1919. Joseph Schenck, who had been handling the finances for the Arbuckle films, decided to let young Buster Keaton produce a series of his own pictures. Schenck left Buster free to work as he pleased, but he kept ownership of the films. Keaton had trusted his brother-in-law, Schenck, to take care of his business affairs, but in 1928, Schenck advised him to give up his independence and go to work at MGM. This took away Keaton’s creative freedom and after two more pictures he began to suffer personally and professionally. Keaton did stay busy, but the declining years were bitter and degrading. His marriage in 1921 to Natalie Talmadge, whose sister Norma had married Schenck, started well and it lasted ten years, but Keaton was appalled at his wife’s financial demands. The divorce took much of Keaton’s property and income and separated him from his two sons. Keaton developed a problem with alcohol, but his desire to live pulled him out of it. One day in 1938, Keaton was playing bridge at his mother’s house with some friends and he met a 19-year-old girl who also liked bridge. Eleanor Norris liked this humorous man who was so interesting and so kind to her. After a long acquaintance, she encouraged him to marry her and she stayed with him until his death in 1966.
Keaton lived long enough to receive an enthusiastic ovation at the 1965 Venice Fim Festival, but he did not live long enough to accept honors and applause from the new audiences that have come along and embraced his comedic style.
