![]() ![]() Suppose fifty years in the future, some historian wanted to write a book about Saturday Night Live. Even comedic geniuses did not create in vacuum, they gathered inspiration from pop culture in general, as well as other films and actors.īy not watching these other films and performers, biographers risk creating a flat, misleading book. They do a lot of good but they can also do a lot of damage if they do not get their facts right.Īs you may recall from my review of Chaplin’s Burlesque on Carmen, biographers of silent comedians sometimes fall down in one respect: They may watch the films of their subject but they do not watch other movies that were released at the same time. Remember, these are highly educated, professional film historians and journalists. They seem to have grown so accustomed to extrapolating what a film might have been like from stills and contemporary reviews that they feel comfortable doing so even when the films they are covering still exist. Unfortunately, this fact has given rise to a rather regrettable habit among a few in the silent movie research field. The sheer number of lost silent films makes it a necessity. Silent film historians are sometimes placed in the uncomfortable position of passing judgment on films they have never seen. This bite has led to a few misconceptions as to just what Keaton was targeting. ![]() Other stars had spoofed Hart (notably Mack Swain, Douglas Fairbanks and Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle) but Keaton was close enough to the genuine article for the humor to bite. As I mentioned before, Keaton’s deadpan comedy style is the kissing cousin of Hart’s stark dramatic manner. He captures the western star’s stompy way of walking, his swaying mannerisms and his manly tears. As the icing on the cake, Keaton’s stone face proved to be be ideal for reenacting Hart’s Wrath of God scowl.īut here is another plus: Keaton’s imitation of Hart is devastating. Hart had both qualifications and he had a very distinct set of mannerisms and plot devices that were ripe for parody. Spoof comedy works best when the target is very popular (so that more people will get the jokes) and successful (making fun of a struggling actor or film can be mean if the comedian is not careful). Hart was an ideal performer for Keaton to send up. What does Buster Keaton mean to you? Elaborate stunts? Immaculate gags? Comical trains? Deadpan humor? Well, today we are going to look at an aspect of Keaton’s comedy that is a little more rare: the spoof. Home Media Availability: Released on DVD. It’s definitely one of his darker short films and is interesting in its own right but, as usual, the story behind the scenes is just as fascinating. Keaton is a lusty would-be bandit with a large dose of William S. Buster Keaton delivers a slice of demented wackiness in this snow-bound comedy.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |