Buster Keaton No man can be a genius

Buster Keaton “No man can be a genius in slapshoes and a flat hat” by Delia Ritchie

“No man can be a genius in slapshoes and a flat hat” -Buster Keaton

tragedy is a close-up; comedy; a long shot -Buster Keaton

Buster Keaton’s Early Life Joseph Frank Keaton was born on October 4 th, 1895 in Piqua, Kansas. At only six months old, Harry Houdini gave him the nickname “Buster, ” after falling down a flight of stairs unharmed. While he was growing up, his parents, Joe and Myra, performed the most dangerous act in vaudeville. Buster participated until he was 21, because his father became a dangerous alcoholic and therefore stopped the act.

How did he become involved in films? His start in the film industry began in the 1917 silent film, The Butcher Boy, which contained Keaton’s usual slapstick comedy, which subjected him to abuse from being emerged in molasses to being bit by a dog. He started directing films in the ‘ 20 s, but they were not successful until later on in the ‘ 60 s, which included praise for the 1927 film The General that Keaton directed from fans in Europe. Because of his success later in life, he quickly became a Hollywood legend, not only for his falls, but his apparent lack of injuries sustained from his stunts. He was drawn away from film once the talkies came around in the ‘ 20 s.

greatest achievements In 1959, Keaton won an Oscar for his lifetime achievement in film and directing. In 1965, Keaton attended his first ever film festival, at the Venice Film Festival, where he showed his latest project, Film, a 22 -minute silent movie based on a Samuel Beckett screenplay that Keaton had made in New York the year before. When his presentation concluded, Keaton received a five-minute standing ovation from the audience. On February 1, 1966, Keaton died in his sleep from complications of lung cancer at his home in Woodland Hills, California.

Interesting Facts about Buster ❖Buster is considered one of the leading pioneers of the silent film industry! ❖Known as "The Great Stone Face, " Buster Keaton got big laughs out of his relentlessly blank expression in silent film comedies like The Saphead (1920), Sherlock, Jr. (1924), and his famous The General (1927). ❖Keaton was briefly a cryptographer with U. S. forces in France during World War I. ❖Keaton was one of silent film's most famous comedians; his popularity waned in the 1930 s, but he made a nostalgic flurry of films before his 1966 death.

How is he remembered today? As a film comedian, he is second only to comedian Charles Chaplin in world popularity today, while Keaton’s feature-length comedydrama The General (1926) is the single most-popular film of the entire silent era for today’s audiences. His career spanned six decades and touched the lives of millions of people. He had worked with everyone from Marlene Dietrich to Samuel Beckett, Cecil B. De. Mille to Tony Randall, and had maintained a seemingly selfless composure throughout. Today, more than thirty years after his death, Buster Keaton’s films seem as funny, touching, and relevant as ever.

Personal Life Much like his father, Keaton battled alcoholism and depression later in life. He married three times and had three sons with his first wife, Natalie Talmadge, and they had two sons, Buster Keaton Jr. and Bob Talmadge. His third wife, Eleanor Keaton, was a 21 year old dancer that brought Buster stability in his life. They remained together until his death in 1966. A return to fame came in the 1950 s, a revival that was sparked by British television, where the aging comedian appeared on a string of programs. In the States, too, American audiences became reacquainted with Keaton after he played himself in Billy Wilder's Sunset Boulevard (1950) and then in Chaplin's Limelight (1952).

Personal Connection Buster Keaton had depression and was an alcoholic later in his life, just like many Americans and celebrities today. Buster used his physical comedy to make people laugh, a modern day example of this would have been either John Belushi or Chris Farley. They both used their physicality to induce laughter from their audiences.

Why is it important to know about Buster? It is important to know about Buster Keaton because he was a well-respected pioneer in silent films. It is also important that all over the world, people seek inspiration from silent films, including recent films, such as The Artist. Buster Keaton is an important figure to remember because without him, the revolution of the silent film industry, would not have even existed, without him.

Clips of his films Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928) https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=vjl 2 Fj-_Hg 0 The General (1926) https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=il. Pk-SCHv 30