Buster Keaton
August 4, 2006 12:01 am by Basil
Several years ago … I don’t remember just when … I found out about Buster Keaton. Might have been an episode of the Twilight Zone (Once Upon A Time). Might have been “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.” Might have been some special on public TV. Whatever it was, I was fascinated. And an instant fan.
The trouble is, you don’t … or didn’t … get to see many of Buster Keaton’s movies. But, one day, I caught “The General” on cable TV. If you’re not familiar with “The General,” you’ve missed a classic.
It’s loosely … very loosely … based on the Great Locomotive Chase. That’s where Andrews Raiders captured a Confederate railroad engine and were chased by the conductor and eventually captured with Andrews and 7 others hung as spies.
From that, Buster Keaton found the basis for a comedy.
“The General” … with all its sight gags, wonderful timing, and Keaton’s great Stone Face … is one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen. Ever.
If you’ve seen it, you understand when I mention Johnny Gray (Buster’s character) trying to get the boxcar in front of his engine moved … getting it moved to a side track while running on foot next to a moving locomotive … turning away to tend the engine while the boxcar returns from the side track … turning back to see it back, and Buster’s perfect reaction … then turning away to tend the engine, missing the boxcar hitting a cross-tie and derailing … then turning back to see it gone again.
I don’t know how else to describe that sequence of events. But the action and the timing is perfect. And Buster’s face is priceless.
If you haven’t seen it … well, it’s your loss.
Recently, I introduced Buster Keaton to a friend at work. He loved “The General.” And “Steamboat Bill, Jr..” And, to repay the favor, loaned me a DVD containing “Our Hospitality.”
That movie is based … loosely … on Romeo and Juliet. But without all the suicides. And with lots of Buster Keaton sight gags, situations, and reactions.
As much as I like my TiVo, don’t much beat a good old fashioned funny, funny movie.
Black and white.
Silent.
Funny.
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