#7: The Great Stone Face
"In a way his pictures are like a transcendent juggling act in which it seems that the whole universe is in exquisite flying motion and the one point of repose is the juggler's effortless, uninterested face."
-- James Agee, "Comedy's Greatest Era"
The man who wouldn’t lie down. The great stone face. A silent film legend. So many descriptions exist for the one and only Buster Keaton.
In http://www.cinepad.com/busterk.htm, I found a website with the article "The Beauty of Buster" dedicated to the famous comedy star. Buster Keaton was a genius in the silent film world of the 1900's. Too often, however, his brilliance is overshadowed by other legendary greats like Charlie Chaplin( the creator of the little tramp) and Harold Lloyd ( the creator of the daredevil comedy).
According to Fang, the new movie goers of the silent film age sought movies for their escape. They entered the theatre to enter a fantasy world where they can forget their problems. They wanted to laugh and the slapstick comedies in particular provided that opportunity. Fang explains slapstick comedies where danger pervailed and "hairbreadth escapes were common... settings were realistic, but the realism was exaggerated to absurdity by fast motion film, ridiculous props, split-second timing, and incongruous film cutting."
But Keaton provided audiences with a unique chain of movies, that is widely appreciated even today. I never ever thought I could be a fan of silent comedy films. In fact, I found black and white silent films very creepy. Also, I never understood why people would want to watch old ingenuous movies when new and sophisticated films with enormous sound and quality pictures were dropping in theatres everyday. But after taking MCM 155, I began to become fascinated with how directors and actors were able to create such advanced and cutting edge films integrating a host of dangerous stunts and hilarious scenes. All without the technology of today! All without any sound! It is quite remarkable indeed.
In particular, Keaton was an actor and director brimming with talent. With his trademark "uninterested face" as Agee calls it, Keaton was able to express emotion with an expressionless visage. It may be confusing and difficult to believe, but watch one of his movies and you will fully understand the idea. His face exhibited the despair of the "punches the universe threw at him" and then the joy "of being alive in this whirlwind of a universe." Keaton provided his audience with such an interesting idea indeed, always embodying characters who fight to survive whatever the world cast at him until he is victorious at the end.
The author Jim Emerson wrote that in his films, Keaton simply trusted the universe, against a number of lifethreatening situations. For example, in Steamboat Bill Jr, he survives a hurricane; in Seven Chances, he runs from an avalanche; in The General, he wins in a Civil War battle; in Our Hospitality, he fights a violent river. In each film, Keaton cleverly tries to teach audiences that with the right skills, they can approach ugly circumstances and survive triumphantly. Through his silent comedy, the mastermind tried to evoke sentiment (as well as laughs) from his audience so they can relate the character's absurd situation to their own lives. Finally, he wanted audiences to come out of the theatre feeling refreshed and optimistic after watching one of his heartwarming comedies.
He tended to incorporate romance in his movies as well. In addition to overcoming the life threatening task at hand, he needed to reach a goal- the goal of proving himself to his love interest. But the little guy seems to always triumph and win the happily ever after fantasy with his love.
Not only were viewers satisfied with the invigorating experience of watching a Buster Keaton film, they were fascinated by the remarkable and dangerous stunts he performed. Back then, neither technological devices nor computer graphics existed that help to add the superficial danger to today's film plots. Keaton did not use such convenient technology nor a stunt double to create his dangerous slapstick comedies. For example, in Steamboat Bill Jr, a wall crashes down just missing Buster's head by an inch. Despite knowing the dangers of performing such a stunt, he followed through to create one of the most dangerous filmed acts.
Silent films were never silent. Keaton's films were an experience.
-- James Agee, "Comedy's Greatest Era"
The man who wouldn’t lie down. The great stone face. A silent film legend. So many descriptions exist for the one and only Buster Keaton.
In http://www.cinepad.com/busterk.htm, I found a website with the article "The Beauty of Buster" dedicated to the famous comedy star. Buster Keaton was a genius in the silent film world of the 1900's. Too often, however, his brilliance is overshadowed by other legendary greats like Charlie Chaplin( the creator of the little tramp) and Harold Lloyd ( the creator of the daredevil comedy).
According to Fang, the new movie goers of the silent film age sought movies for their escape. They entered the theatre to enter a fantasy world where they can forget their problems. They wanted to laugh and the slapstick comedies in particular provided that opportunity. Fang explains slapstick comedies where danger pervailed and "hairbreadth escapes were common... settings were realistic, but the realism was exaggerated to absurdity by fast motion film, ridiculous props, split-second timing, and incongruous film cutting."
But Keaton provided audiences with a unique chain of movies, that is widely appreciated even today. I never ever thought I could be a fan of silent comedy films. In fact, I found black and white silent films very creepy. Also, I never understood why people would want to watch old ingenuous movies when new and sophisticated films with enormous sound and quality pictures were dropping in theatres everyday. But after taking MCM 155, I began to become fascinated with how directors and actors were able to create such advanced and cutting edge films integrating a host of dangerous stunts and hilarious scenes. All without the technology of today! All without any sound! It is quite remarkable indeed.
In particular, Keaton was an actor and director brimming with talent. With his trademark "uninterested face" as Agee calls it, Keaton was able to express emotion with an expressionless visage. It may be confusing and difficult to believe, but watch one of his movies and you will fully understand the idea. His face exhibited the despair of the "punches the universe threw at him" and then the joy "of being alive in this whirlwind of a universe." Keaton provided his audience with such an interesting idea indeed, always embodying characters who fight to survive whatever the world cast at him until he is victorious at the end.
The author Jim Emerson wrote that in his films, Keaton simply trusted the universe, against a number of lifethreatening situations. For example, in Steamboat Bill Jr, he survives a hurricane; in Seven Chances, he runs from an avalanche; in The General, he wins in a Civil War battle; in Our Hospitality, he fights a violent river. In each film, Keaton cleverly tries to teach audiences that with the right skills, they can approach ugly circumstances and survive triumphantly. Through his silent comedy, the mastermind tried to evoke sentiment (as well as laughs) from his audience so they can relate the character's absurd situation to their own lives. Finally, he wanted audiences to come out of the theatre feeling refreshed and optimistic after watching one of his heartwarming comedies.
He tended to incorporate romance in his movies as well. In addition to overcoming the life threatening task at hand, he needed to reach a goal- the goal of proving himself to his love interest. But the little guy seems to always triumph and win the happily ever after fantasy with his love.
Not only were viewers satisfied with the invigorating experience of watching a Buster Keaton film, they were fascinated by the remarkable and dangerous stunts he performed. Back then, neither technological devices nor computer graphics existed that help to add the superficial danger to today's film plots. Keaton did not use such convenient technology nor a stunt double to create his dangerous slapstick comedies. For example, in Steamboat Bill Jr, a wall crashes down just missing Buster's head by an inch. Despite knowing the dangers of performing such a stunt, he followed through to create one of the most dangerous filmed acts.
Silent films were never silent. Keaton's films were an experience.
posted by Miss Elania @ 6:39 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home