Keaton appeared in well over 100 shorts and features during his fiftyyear film career. A small of short films of buster keaton acting in one week, sherlock jr, the blacksmith, and the frozen north. Joseph frank buster keaton, one of the most distinguished filmmakers in cinematic history, was a brilliant comedian whose films seem untouched by time. Bitching was a significant contribution to the second phase of development in the feminist movement. List of books and articles about buster keaton online. Keaton biography explores tempest in a flat hat july 9, 2005 jennifer ludden talks to edward mcpherson about his new biography of silent film star buster keaton, known as the great stone. With a face of stone and a mind that engineered breathtakingly intricate moments of slapstick, keaton has become an icon of the american cinema.
I went into this knowing that other keaton and non keaton fans utterly despise this book, but i thought i would read it anyway. Filmography for buster keaton turner classic movies. Released by united artists, the film is the last product of keatons independent production team and set of. Cut to the chase, biographer marion meade seamlessly lays out the life and works of this comedy genius. Beautiful video keaton could really show what he was feeling with those beautiful eyes of his that were truly a window to the soul. In 1995, draggas filmography of buster keaton, the most complete filmography to date, was published in buster keaton. She has written biographies of victoria woodhull free woman, eleanor of aquitaine, madame blavatsky, buster keaton cut to the chase, woody allen the unruly life of woody. The general, a thrilling comedy about the civil war, lifted buster keaton from the ashes of oblivion decades after his name and legacy were forgotten. Buster keaton joseph francis keaton, 18951966, american movie actor, b. Cut to the chase first edition 2nd impression by meade, marion isbn. A great comparison and contrast between harold loyd and buster keaton. In the year 2000, dragga became a freelance videographer and editor, receiving four telly awards for his work. It was inspired by the great locomotive chase, a true story of an event that occurred during the american civil war.
The story was adapted from the memoir the great locomotive chase by william pittenger. Before edgar wright and wes anderson, before chuck jones and jackie chan, there was buster keaton, one of the founding fathers of visual comedy. Buster made his name as a child of vaudeville, thrown around the stage by his father in a cartoon pantomime of very real abuse. The films of buster keaton first edition original 1969. The persistence of comedy by film analyst and writer, imogen sara smith. There should be a literary jail for people like marion meade. Pamela drive buster keaton the legendary estates of. The general is a 1926 american silent comedy film released by united artists. Meade is the first keaton biographer to detail his prickly relationship with film buff raymond rohauer.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. In keatons time, a man being sensitive and in touch with his feelings was not an attractive trait, his films gave his emotions and outlet. Meade has written novels, biographies, and nonfiction books. Considered one of the greatest comic actors in film history, keaton used his considerable acrobatic skills, which he had developed as a child in vaudeville, in many silent comedies in which he portrayed a deadpan hero who survived against incredible odds. Audiences and critics in the 1920ies did not appreciate this extraordinary masterpiece, but buster keaton always regarded the general as.
Cut to the chase by marion meade highlighted the comedians background in an attempt to shed light on the performers demons. Buster keaton, original name joseph frank keaton iv, born october 4, 1895, piqua, kansas, u. A film comedy is assembled with the same precision as the inner working of a watch. One wishes that despite her warning meade would talk more about the. Cut to the chase is a startling and moving account of the troubled life of a. Acceptable buster holiday fun special 1st edition 1969 various ipc magazine. Meades portrait of this brilliant artist also goes beyond the legend to reveal more details about the private keaton than any previous work. Based on four years of research and more than 200 interviews with notables such as billy wilder, leni riefenstahl, gene kelly, douglas fairbanks, jr.
Cut to the chase by marion meade english april 1st, 2014 asin. With his trademark porkpie hat, floppy shoes, and deadpan facial expression, buster keaton 18951966 is one of the most iconic stars of hollywoods silent and early sound eras. His elaborate sets, careful camerawork, and risky pratfalls have been mimicked by film comedians for generations. Cut to the chase 1995 harpercollins rapf, joanna e. Starting life in show business as a toddler in his familys vaudeville act, keaton rose to fame in his visionary silent comedies of the 1920s. A biobibliography 1995 greenwood press scott, oliver lindsey, buster keaton.
Silent film star buster keaton 18951966 developed his trademark deadpan expression and acrobatic artistry, according to the author, as a result of the abuse he received from his father, joe. Marion meade joseph frank buster keaton, one of the most distinguished filmmakers in cinematic history, was a brilliant comedian whose films seem untouched by time. The film stars buster keaton who codirected it with clyde bruckman. The true story of how he bounced back to become an icon in film history is the beautifully written and thoroughly researched tale lovingly crafted in buster keaton. Cut to the chase, biographer marion meade seamlessly lays out the life and works of this comedy genius who lacked any formal education. The unruly life of woody allen by marion meade books on. Marion meade buster keaton cut to the chase first edition 1995. Buster keaton, baseball player society for american. A great talk given at the frauenthal center for the performing arts in muskegon michigan as part of the 20th annual buster keaton convention. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read buster keaton.
Cut to the chase, by marion meade out of print keaton is my hero and i think ive read everything that has ever been printed about. A celebration, the 2018 the life and filmmaking career of iconic comedian buster keaton is celebrated in this documentary. Cut to the chase by marion meade follows one of the greatest comedic actors from his meager beginnings in vaudeville, his friendship and pairing with roscoe fatty arbuckle, through the hight of his early career in the 1920s and 1930s, his failed marriages, damaged reputation and unwillingness to stay sober, to his third act. The selfdestruction of buster keaton factors which led. Marion meades biography goes behind the scenes at the making of keatons masterpiece, the general, selected by the american film institute as one of the five best silent films of all time. Born on october 4, 1895, in piqua, kansas, as joseph francis keaton.
Keaton, buster 18951966with the possible exception of charlie chaplin, buster keaton stands as the greatest comedian of the silent movie era. Buster keaton 18951966 was a brilliant comedian and filmmaker who conceived, wrote, directed, acted, and even edited most of his ten feature films and nineteen. Released to coincide with the centenary of keaton s birth, this comprehensive biography fills gaps in the silentfilm comedians life history while dispelling a few rumors. Legendary motion picture comic actor, writer, producer, and director of the 1910s thru 1960s. Score a book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. When buster keaton showed guests around his grand spanishstyle mansion on a three and one halfacre estate a block behind the beverly hills hotel, he sometimes joked, i took a lot of pratfalls to build that dump. The general 1926 starring buster keaton internet archive. Cut to the chase by marion meade 1997, paperback, reprint at the best online prices at. Eng the best chase ever coming from seven chances by the great buster keaton 1925. It is cited in many books, so i thought that there must be some truth in this book. Buster keaton 18951966 was a brilliant comedian and filmmaker who conceived, wrote, directed, acted, and even edited most of his ten feature films and nineteen short comedies, which are perhaps the finest silent pictures ever made. The oldest son of joseph and myra keaton, who were stage comedians.
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