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Buster Keaton
by: Cydnee J Bogue
"I have found-especially on the stage-
that when I finish a stunt, I can get a
laugh by just standing still and looking
at the audience as if I was surprised and
Slightly hurt to think they would laugh
at me. It always brings a bigger laugh."
-Buster Keaton
Picture Play magazine, 1921.
The Actor Buster Keaton was one of the best known and most respected of the silent film comedians. He was known as "The Great Stone Face" because he never smiled or changed expression, this was all part of his genius comedy. He wrote and directed and produced many of his own films in the 1920s. He was a genius behind the camera as well in front of it. He is also known for some of his dangerous brand of physical comedy and his impeccable comic timing in escaping injury.
In 1920 Buster Keaton became head of Comique Films for Paramount. Keaton began directing films that appeared in, his first directorial debut was The High Sun, which was a short film that wasn't successful at all. It wasn't released until 1921. Keaton then found his glory in the film, One Week which was the focus of the tributes of a "do it yourself house."
By 1923, Keaton was making full-length films. His first and famous film was The Three Ages. Then two of his best films were made in 1924, the first being Sherlock Jr., and the second The Navigator.
Buster Keaton received an Honorary Oscar in 1960 "for his unique talents which brought immortal comedies to the screen", and he had earned two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He stated near the end of his life that he had lived the happiest and luckiest of lives. In 1966, after finishing work on "A Funny thing Happened On The Way To The Forum" Buster Keaton died at the age of sixty-nine. His career in films lasted for over six decades. He had worked with several talented actors and actresses such Marlene Dietrich Samuel Beckett, and Cecil B. DeMille.
Some Of His Works
1920 One Week
1921 Hard Luck
1922 Cops
1923 The Three Ages
1924 Sherlock Junior
1925 Seven Chances
1926 The General
1927 The Cameraman
1928 Steamboat Bill Junior
1929 The Hollywood Revue of 1929
1929 Spite Marriage
1930 Free and Easy
1932 Passionate Plumber
1932 Speak Easily
1944 San Diego, I Love You
1950 Sunset Boulevard
1952 Limelight
1956 Around the World in Eighty Days
1963 It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
1966 A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum
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