Film buster keaton train

Joseph frank keaton was born on october 4, 1895 in piqua, kansas, to joe keaton and myra keaton. The iconic train scene from general by buster keaton. In the footsteps of buster keaton tracking down the actors film locations is a fascinating feat of detective work keaton and company first utilized neighboring towns such as chatsworth, burbank. The screenplay, by sidney sheldon, who also directed the film, was loosely based on keaton s life but contained many factual errors and merged his three wives into one character.

In films that combined comedy with extraordinary physical risks, buster keaton played a brave spirit who. The train scene from buster keatons the general is the most. After walking away, buster runs into the officers who had chased him earlier. Sep 06, 2016 the train scene from buster keatons the general is the most expensive scene in silent film history. The film was written and directed by keaton and edward f. Keaton was a huge fan of train history and had read the book. One involved keaton holding on to an upright roadblock gate that swings down, with him jumping on to an oncoming car at the right moment. The general 1927 is an imaginative masterpiece of deadpan stoneface buster keaton comedy, generally regarded as one of the greatest of all silent comedies and keaton s own favorite and undoubtedly the best train film ever made. How buster keaton filmed the general chaplinkeatonlloyd film.

The train scene from buster keatons the general is the most expensive scene in silent film history. Buster keaton and train, 1956 photo, knotts berry farm. Keatons character, known only as friendless, is a midwestern boy who is down on his luck. The story was adapted from the memoir the great locomotive chase by william pittenger. Jun 19, 2018 comedian buster keaton was a pioneer of silent comedies in the 1920s. Buster keaton, american film comedian and director, the great stone face, known for his deadpan expression and his imaginative and often elaborate visual comedy. The film has impressive cinematography and a score that. How buster keaton filmed the general chaplinkeatonlloyd. Keaton had worked with roscoe fatty arbuckle for a number of years. All future uses of this photo should include the courtesy line, photo courtesy orange county archives. Sunday, july 23, 2006 cottage grove the scene takes all of about 15 seconds, followed by a mournful rendition of when the saints go marching in. Buster keatons last silent film on a speeder 1965 o.

As the railrodder, keaton crosses canada from east to west on a railway track speeder. Oct 04, 2011 later in speak easily, buster and the troupe arrive at the chatsworth station, and momentarily go their separate ways. The general is set during the civil war and features buster keaton as a confederate chain engineer chasing after union soldiers that steal his train. It is set during the american civil war 186165 and highlights the theme of. Apr 28, 2014 film comedian buster keaton has his foot caught in the frog adjacent to western ave. Our hospitality is a 1923 silent comedy film directed by and starring buster keaton. At the time of its initial release, the general, an actionadventurecomedy made toward the end of the silent era, was not well received by critics a. A tale of two train wrecks and one airport by buster keaton. When union spies steal an engineers beloved locomotive, he pursues it singlehandedly and straight through enemy lines. Buster keaton, who produced and directed the film, plays johnnie gray, the engineer of the general, whose. Buster keaton wanted to use the real locomotive the general, which was at the nashville, chattanooga, and st louis union depot in chattanooga, tn. As the railrodder, keaton crosses canada from east to west on a. Armando iannucci pays tribute to buster keaton film.

As the railrodder he crosses canada from east to west on a railway. Most of the train is now gone, but lloyd williams of the cottage grove historical society told reporter meghan kalkstein in 2007 that bits of track and steel can still be. Keaton handled the lead role well and the supporting cast was also solid. In honor of buster keatons birthday today, october 4, 1895, turner classic movies is hosting a buster keaton celebration by playing a large selection of his films throughout october. The film stars keaton s thenwife, natalie talmadge, as his onscreen love interest.

Bits of 1926 hollywood train wreck are still in row river the movie was the general, starring buster keaton. The railrodder english version by gerald potterton nfb. May 10, 2011 15 life lessons from peter sellers classic pink panther moments and more. Buster is a 1988 british romantic crime comedy based on events from the great train robbery. In the second feat, keaton is seen hopping atop the cars of a running train, eventually clutching on to a water spout.

One week is a 1920 american tworeel silent comedy film starring buster keaton, the first film to be released made by keaton on his own. Disorder in the court 1936 remastered hd 1080p duration. Released by metro pictures corporation, the film uses slapstick and situational comedy to tell the story of willie mckay, who gets caught in the middle of the infamous canfieldmckay feud, an obvious satire of the reallife hatfieldmccoy feud. Buster keaton starred in the film and codirected it with clyde bruckman. Its said talmadge wanted a separate bedroom following the birth of their two sons. He instantly thought the story would be perfect for keaton, who was an avid history buff. True to keaton s genre, the film is full of sight gags as our protagonist puttputts his way to british columbia. Informal portrait of buster keaton and natalie talmadge standing with their baby, joseph keaton, on the platform of a train station with a bridge in the background in chicago, illinois.

Nov 10, 2002 the greatest of the silent clowns is buster keaton, not only because of what he did, but because of how he did it. The plot was inspired by a real incident, though the keaton touch adds some of the most memorable stunt work and sight gags the cinema has ever seen. Harold lloyd made us laugh as much, charlie chaplin moved us more deeply, but no one had more courage than buster. Joe and myra were vaudevillian comedians with a popular, everchanging variety act, giving keaton an eclectic and interesting upbringing.

As shown below, the chatsworth train station appears briefly in sherlock jr. Produced with the full cooperation of the canadian national railroad, the film would see him. It was inspired by the great locomotive chase, a true story of an event that occurred during the american civil war. The general 1927 is a classic and very funny silent film about the true loves of johnny grey buster keaton, his girl and his locomotive not. It stars musician phil collins, julie walters, larry lamb and sheila hancock. Released by metro pictures corporation, the film uses slapstick and situational comedy to tell the story of willie mckay, who gets caught in the middle of the infamous canfield mckay feud, an obvious satire of the reallife hatfieldmccoy feud. With buster keaton, marion mack, glen cavender, jim farley. The film has impressive cinematography and a score that is good at first, but becomes repetitive. In the movie, a stubborn confederate train engineer named johnnie has his beloved locomotive, the general, stolen by union spies with his girlfriend on board. Busters trains one week to speak easily chaplinkeaton.

With buster keaton, natalie talmadge, joe keaton, joe roberts. The civil war adventureepic classic was made toward the end of the silent era. In the movie, a stubborn confederate train engineer named johnnie has his beloved locomotive, the general, stolen by union spies with his. Highlights of the picture include keaton s extended journey on a vintage train of the era, as well as a dramatic river rescue scene that climaxes the film.

A train from the east barrels down on the house, but passes. Train wreck from the general buster keaton, 1926 youtube. Film comedian buster keaton has his foot caught in the frog adjacent to western ave. With this delightful film, buster keaton rivals charlie chaplin for comic poetry and pathos. The high sign had been filmed prior to one week, but keaton considered it an. The film stars buster keaton who codirected it with clyde bruckman.

He made numerous short films as well as such feature films as three ages, sherlock, jr. The film stars keatons thenwife, natalie talmadge, as his onscreen love interest. The iconic train scene from general by buster keaton, 1927. The great classics josh jones is a writer and musician based in durham, nc. The selfdestruction of buster keaton factors which led. The general is hollywood dynamo buster keaton s masterpiece. Dec 11, 2009 in september of 1964, hollywood icon buster keaton arrived at canadas east coast to start filming a 25minute travelogue for the national film board. Sep 27, 2018 informal portrait of buster keaton and natalie talmadge standing with their baby, joseph keaton, on the platform of a train station with a bridge in the background in chicago, illinois.

Released by metro pictures corporation, the film uses slapstick and situational comedy to tell the story of willie mckay, who gets caught in the middle of the infamous canfieldmckay feud, an obvious satire of the reallife hatfieldmccoy feud it was a groundbreaking work for the comedy film genre, as. Keaton loved trains and had stephensons rocket recreated along with just on a mile of rickety track just for this film. Train history in cinema 1 our hospitality buster keaton 1923. Buster keaton, who produced and directed the film, plays johnnie gray, the engineer of the general, whose sweetheart annabelle lee, played by marion mack, rejects him when he fails to enlist in. The general 1927 is a classic and very funny silent film about the true loves of johnny grey buster keaton, his girl and his locomotive not necessarily in that order. Preceding the show, these informational slides below prepared by the festivals artistic director anita monga, ran on a loop as people took their seats. Buster used trains in many films, and in his later years he built a model train equipped with special cars to run hot dogs and sodas from his. Buster keatons debut film one week 1920 was hailed as the comedy sensation of the year. Comedian buster keaton was a pioneer of silent comedies in the 1920s.

Johnnie loves his train the general and annabelle lee. With tenor, maker of gif keyboard, add popular buster keaton train animated gifs to your conversations. The general is hollywood dynamo buster keatons masterpiece. Why you really do need to see buster keatons the general. When the civil war begins he is turned down for service because hes more valuable as an engineer. May 20, 2012 buster keatons debut film one week 1920 was hailed as the comedy sensation of the year. As the railrodder, keaton crosses canada from east to. In september of 1925, one of buster keatons head gag writers, clyde bruckman, was doing some research on the civil war when he found a reprint of pittengers book which was retitled the great locomotive chase in 1893. Joseph frank keaton october 4, 1895 february 1, 1966, known professionally as buster keaton october 4, 1895 february 1, 1966, known professionally as buster keaton. The selfdestruction of buster keaton factors which led to.

The general 1927 is an imaginative masterpiece of deadpan stoneface buster keaton comedy, generally regarded as one of the greatest of all silent comedies and keatons own favorite and undoubtedly the best train film ever made. Buster lures them into the back of a truck, locks them in, and escapes. However, when it became known that the film was to be a comedy, the railroad withdrew permission and keaton had to look elsewhere. Film writer tim dirks introduces it as an imaginative masterpiece of deadpan stoneface buster keaton comedy, generally regarded as one of the greatest of all silent comedies and keatons own favorite and undoubtedly the best train film ever made. Highlights of the picture include keatons extended journey on a vintage train of the era, as well as a dramatic river rescue scene that climaxes the film. Buster keaton, original name joseph frank keaton iv, born october 4, 1895, piqua, kansas, u. May 14, 2015 this short film from director gerald potterton heavy metal stars buster keaton in one of the last films of his long career. Keaton stars as a railroad engineer who greatly desires to enlist and fight against the north. I had the honor of introducing buster keatons 1926 masterpiece the general at the san francisco silent film festivals inaugural a day of silents festival held in 2014. Watching keatons penultimate mgm feature speak easily 1932 for the first time, i was surprised to see that the movie employs the same train stations where.

Buster keaton is the comedians comedian, a fantastically athletic genius whose stunts are still astonishing today. Buster and crew stayed at the bartell hotel 1, steps from the union camp set 2 built north of the tracks and filmed looking north, 3 the halfmile length of parallel train tracks dotted line used for all of the tracking shots, all filmed looking south, 4 the open field green outline between main street and the tracks, used for the confederate army retreat, filmed. He escapes by hopping onto a train going to a nearby town. The greatest of the silent clowns is buster keaton, not only because of what he did, but because of how he did it. The general is a civil war tale, the fictionalized account of an attempted hijacking of a confederate train called the general by union spies in 1862. A 1957 film biography, the buster keaton story, starring donald oconnor as keaton was released. In the earliest days on stage, they traveled with a medicine show that included family friend, illusionist harry. Buster keaton the general 1926 silent movie action comedy. Buster keatons last silent film on a speeder 1965 o gauge.

Apr 06, 2020 the general is an ambitious film that combines historical fact, outlandish stunts, acts of heroism, and an inventive story line. Buster attempts to move his newly built home which becomes stuck at a train crossing. The soundtrack featured two singles from collins which topped the billboard hot 100 singles chart. Keatons train wreck is 80 by mark baker the registerguard published. In september of 1964, hollywood icon buster keaton arrived at canadas east coast to start filming a 25minute travelogue for the national film board. Some of buster keatons great, deathdefying stunts captured. The railroad initially permitted him to do so, even providing him with a branch line to film on. Produced with the full cooperation of the canadian national railroad, the film would see him travel from coast to coast on a railwaytrack speeder. This short film from director gerald potterton heavy metal stars buster keaton in one of the last films of his long career. Buster keaton and train, 1956 film comedian buster. Beloved for his short film comedies, keaton would expand his cinematic horizons in this big budget and adventurous civil war film. Bits of 1926 hollywood train wreck are still in row river. The wonderful gags of the founding father of visual comedy. How buster keaton filmed the general chaplinkeaton.

He also was a model railroader or toy train guy someone said they visited him when he was trying to stop smoking. A tale of two train wrecks and one airport by buster. The general, perhaps the greatest film ever made, and 20 other buster keaton classics free online. It ended with a powerhouse onetwo gag that still wows audiences today. The train scene from buster keatons the general is the. The general, american silent comedy film, released in 1927, starring and directed by comedian buster keaton, and cited by many film historians as one of the greatest american movies. The movie was the general, starring buster keaton who also produced the film. Buster keatons masterpiece and one of the greatest silent movies of all time was filmed in the cottage grove area in the summer of 1926.