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Post by Carl on Jan 31, 2021 17:45:28 GMT
what a wonderful thread, Carl, did you also notice the great directors also involved - the immortal George Stevens, one of my favourite directors of any time, so many great films but of course Shane is the one most remember, I still sometimes watch this film and for me is a far greater film than John Ford's - but that is a personal opinion, although in saying that Wagon Train is also a masterpiece. And Leo McCarey whose directorial output included one the very best screwball comedies - the Awful Truth, wonderful sheer joy. I didn't realise Lou was in the film but of course recognised Eugene with that brilliant voice, a wonderful character actor with the Ghost goes West being one of my favourites. Chris, Yes, I did right away as he's credited alongside Leo McCarey and director Clyde Bruckman, whose career was marred by alcohol. "Shane" has more understanding of human nature and greater character development than John Ford ever achieved. It and "A Place in the Sun" are both epic masterpieces. |
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Post by Carl on Dec 7, 2023 17:17:16 GMT
Buster Keaton was on stage with his parents in vaudeville as a toddler, developing the extraordinary timing he later used to do his own amazing stunts in films.
He was the only comedian Chaplin viewed as an equal. 
Almost every stunt in this video was actually done by Keaton, who directed his own films. The girl in the waterfall was a dummy, but he used very few special effects, just great agility and perfect timing.
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Post by mikael on Dec 7, 2023 18:11:10 GMT
An amazing actor/comedian/stuntman indeed!
Not so long ago, there was a very interesting documentary film about him (Buster Keaton) and his life on Danish (or was it Swedish?) television. I enjoyed it very much. (Yes, his stunts were just amazing!) It was very touching as well, as he had several crises in his life, but he prevailed (largely thanks to a very happy second marriage) and eventually enjoyed a happy "life's autumn".
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Post by mikael on Dec 8, 2023 18:32:57 GMT
Interesting story about the nickname "Buster", by the way. And interesting that "Buster" became a legal boy's name, in the US - and also here in Denmark - probably thanks to the nickname of that popular actor/comedian(?)
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Post by Carl on Dec 8, 2023 19:24:24 GMT
Interesting story about the nickname "Buster", by the way. And interesting that "Buster" became a legal boy's name, in the US - and also here in Denmark - probably thanks to the nickname of that popular actor/comedian(?) Young Buster was tossed around by his father as part of the vaudeville act (wonderful training for his later stunts) and, according to legend, world famous magician Harry Houdini declared an offstage fall "a real buster", which may have been show business slang for a potentially dangerous fall.
The alley down which Buster was chased by a horde of angry policemen still exists on Cahuenga Boulevard just south of Hollywood Boulevard, although during later construction it was narrowed. The building in the background has been certified as the same. This nondescript alley was also used by Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd and most passersby have no idea that comedy film history happened right there 
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Post by mikael on Dec 8, 2023 20:37:35 GMT
Very interesting, Carl 
There was also a very popular Danish stage- and film actor, named Buster Larsen (1920 - 1993), who appeared in a large number of popular films, TV plays. and TV series. He had his debut on stage at age 12 and on film one year later.
In his mature and later years he always played the role of a thoughtful, kindhearted character (i.e., the nice guy); so I imagine that was his real nature as well.
Frankly, I always thought that Buster was his real first name; but a little research now shows that it was also a nickname - and also one given to him by his father. Most likely, it was inspired by Buster Keaton; yet I doubt that Buster Larsen's father knew about the background of Buster Keaton's nickname.
Buster Larsen |
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Post by chrisb on Dec 9, 2023 9:46:54 GMT
Buster Keaton was probably my favourite of all the greats from that era, although Laurel and Hardy are up there and extremely close if not slightly edging , funny enough I could never get used to Charlie Chaplin or Harry Langdon, although I did like Harold Lloyd, yet Buster was incredible and I have two of his films in my collection, the incredible Steamboat Bill Jnr, and the stunts in that were of incredible proportions, especially the famous one with the side of the house, a foot out would have meant curtains, the other film and one I did see at the National Film Theatre many years ago was of course the General, when you see this [and many others -especially Fred Astaire] on a big screen as intended you really do get swept away by all the detail and timing of everything that goes into these productions.
If memory serves me right did his first marriage had a lot to do with his drinking problems? and then the switch to MGM? I haven't looked it up so I am going from memory but so pleased he got it all back together again, and of course was part of the ensemble cast of around the world in 80 days.
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Post by Carl on Dec 9, 2023 18:13:16 GMT
Buster Keaton was probably my favourite of all the greats from that era, although Laurel and Hardy are up there and extremely close if not slightly edging , funny enough I could never get used to Charlie Chaplin or Harry Langdon, although I did like Harold Lloyd, yet Buster was incredible and I have two of his films in my collection, the incredible Steamboat Bill Jnr, and the stunts in that were of incredible proportions, especially the famous one with the side of the house, a foot out would have meant curtains, the other film and one I did see at the National Film Theatre many years ago was of course the General, when you see this [and many others -especially Fred Astaire] on a big screen as intended you really do get swept away by all the detail and timing of everything that goes into these productions. If memory serves me right did his first marriage had a lot to do with his drinking problems? and then the switch to MGM? I haven't looked it up so I am going from memory but so pleased he got it all back together again, and of course was part of the ensemble cast of around the world in 80 days. Chris, You are an excellent judge of film comedians. One of the best scenes in The General was near the beginning when his character, a locomotive engineer, had been turned down for enlistment and rejected by his sweetheart. Needing to collect his thoughts, he sits on a locomotive connecting rod and, unaware that the train slowly begins to move, rides up and down with the movement. Simple and brilliant...
Keaton married one of the famous Talmadge actress sisters, Natalie, and it was her greedy and clueless brother-in-law, Joseph Schenck, a producer at MGM, who convinced Buster to surrender artistic control, against the advice of Charlie Chaplin, and become a studio "talent", instantly ruining his career and leading to a downward spiral of depression and heavy drinking.
After years of degradation, Buster met and married Eleanor, whose devotion restored balance and helped rehabilitate his career, although the glory years were gone. One of my favorite stories involved the Venice Film Festival, to which he was invited in 1965, one year before his death. He and Eleanor anticipated a polite reception and were stunned by the immense ovation he received from an audience fully aware of his genius.
Cheers, Carl
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Post by Carl on Dec 10, 2023 18:11:05 GMT
Interesting story about the nickname "Buster", by the way. And interesting that "Buster" became a legal boy's name, in the US - and also here in Denmark - probably thanks to the nickname of that popular actor/comedian(?) I had a friend in elementary school named Buster. |
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Post by chrisb on Dec 10, 2023 19:54:21 GMT
Thanks Carl, I used to participate in a classic film forum and it was great for a few years, until someone took a distinct dislike of me and basically ruined my enjoyment and after a while I just got fed up with the crap and dropped out,
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Post by Carl on Dec 10, 2023 22:00:07 GMT
Thanks Carl, I used to participate in a classic film forum and it was great for a few years, until someone took a distinct dislike of me and basically ruined my enjoyment and after a while I just got fed up with the crap and dropped out, Was it Chaplin? No wonder you never warmed to him! |
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