(Special thanks to Fr. Luke for his work
on this installment of Letters.)Q I would like to know the name of the Keaton film where the final scene is many women chasing Buster from a church out into the hills. The scene of those giant boulders coming down toward him is one of the classic action scenes of all times. What is the name of the film and where could I buy a copy?
A The film is Seven Chances, made in 1925. When Buster first screened it for a preview audience, he noticed that people laughed at the end when some little rocks started chasing him downhill. Buster took that idea, expanded it, and developed it into the classic scene you so admired. The film is available from Kino on Video.
Q Did Buster Keaton ever ride on a tree as it was falling off a cliff? I remember seeing the scene on a silent films special, but can not remember if it was Buster Keaton.
A What a good memory you have! The moment you’re thinking of is in Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928). During the famous hurricane sequence, Buster grabs onto a tree for safety, but it is uprooted and carries him out over the water, where it dumps him in the drink. A tree also came in handy during a chase scene in Seven Chances (1925). Fleeing the army of brides, Buster leaps from a cliff into a tall fir tree which keels over and dumps him on the ground. Whichever sounds most familiar is probably the one!
Q Do you think there will ever be a movie based on the life of Buster, sort of along the lines of "Chaplin" (1992)?
A There was such a film, The Buster Keaton Story (Paramount, 1957). But Keaton felt this film lacked the Buster Luster; in fact, the film bears almost no relation to Keaton’s life. Buster’s autobiography, My Wonderful World of Slapstick by Buster Keaton and Charles Samuels (Da Capo Press, 1960) had Buster's cooperation because he wanted to set down something resembling the truth of his life after the unfortunate movie version, (See Bookshelf.) There have been several good documentaries about Buster, in particular Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill (1987). Eleanor Keaton provided generous assistance for this Emmy Award-winning documentary, a fine tribute to Keaton’s talent. To find out how to purchase this documentary, go to our News section. Another good documentary was made by Peter Jones for A&E’s Biography series in 1995. Copies are often available through Barnes and Noble. Who knows? One of these days, someone in Hollywood may try again. But the problem with all such films is the casting - if you’re telling the life story of a unique talent like Keaton, one whose work is captured on film, how can any actor today hope to do that justice when the original films are still around for comparison?
Q There was a Keaton short on AMC just recently, and it wasn't listed in the paper or in your Features area. What is the name of this film and when will it be on again?
A Damfino. AMC often runs classic silent short films. If you want AMC to list these films on its website, go to http://www.amctv.com and ask the network to publicize its complete schedule, not just the feature films.
Q I don't remember the year, but when I was young, I saw Buster Keaton on TV. He appeared to be a clerk in either a sporting goods store or a general store. Could you please tell me what it was?
A You’re probably thinking of Buster’s 1950 television series, The Buster Keaton Show, which was produced on film for one season locally in Los Angeles. In it, Buster played a clerk in a sporting goods store. At the end of the year, he decided that he didn’t care for series television - he found it too hard to come up with stories and gags once a week. The previous year, he had starred in another show with the same title, although that show was aired live and had a different basic premise.
Q I remember when Hard Luck and The Love Nest were thought to be "lost" films - and it was common Keaton lore that Hard Luck was his personal favorite of the shorts, which whetted our desire for it even more. My question is: Where did they find prints of these? How did they come about? The fact that I now have copies myself via AMC/Kino boggles my mind. They both showed up with little fanfare as if they had been there all along. Please explain.
A One of the great things about film preservation and restoration is that films once thought lost keep showing up - for example, a print of the Keaton-Arbuckle short The Cook was recently discovered in Norway. For information about the restoration of Hard Luck, read the article by Kevin Brownlow in The Great Stone Face, which The Damfinos published in 1997.
Q I just recently discovered Buster and am a great, great fan of his. Unfortunately, I don't know any other 20-year-olds who love him as I do. I recently watched The General for the first time and I absolutely loved it! Upon watching the film, I was surprised to see that Buster was shorter than I had thought him to be. I know he wasn't a very big guy, but can't find any source that states his height. Could you please tell me how tall he was?
A According to his widow, Eleanor Keaton, as well as his own youthful diaries (in which he recorded all sorts of useful information), he was 5'6" tall.
Q It's difficult to steal a scene from Buster, but at least one girl did it. Who is the hat check girl in Seven Chances?
A Damfino. But we'll poll our members and see if we can find out. Stay tuned.
