CBC Archives: Buster Keaton on Telescope, 1964

[holyunderwear92]

is it just me or did his version of Grand Hotel sound like the greatest film idea ever? haha

[peeknocker]

(continued) for gags and acrobatics Keaton was surely the master. I love them both, but for genuine belly laughs I'd have to say that the best of Laurel and Hardy does it for me.

[peeknocker]

I must have every single silent film still in existence made by both Chaplin and Keaton and I love 'em both dearly. If there's a preference by some for Keaton over Chaplin, I think I has to do with Buster's character being more modern and, thus, someone that is easier to relate to. Chaplin's "Tramp" (in dress and in sentiment) was very turn-of-the-century, which is why he fit in so perfectly in films like "The Gold Rush." As a pantomimist, Chaplin was clearly superior, but (continued)

[12stringsforme]

He's fantastic in A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum.

[draxx77]

Charlie Chapman got the press, but Buster was funnier.

[wwerulestna]

@draxx77 Chaplin not Chapman dumbass

[draxx77]

@wwerulestna

Chaplin! Thanks I knew that, I just wanted to see if YOU did. LOL!

[jfsh210]

@draxx77 Got that right!

[draxx77]

@jfsh210 Buster RULES!

[peeknocker]

@draxx77

They were BOTH great.  Period.

[draxx77]

@peeknocker

Agreed, but as for (ME) Buster cracks me up a lot more. Watch the movies 'Lime Light ' with both men working together.

[jstc2002]

To me, Chaplin and Lloyd represented the low end of life and the high end, respectively. Keaton, on the other hand, represented a more middle-class man, neither wildly rich nor pitifully poor, but an 'average' individual, a la' Al Bundy, et al. In this sense - plus the fact that the character Buster Keaton play always seemed to exemplify the old 'damned-if-you-do-damned-if-yo­u-don't' philosophy - makes Keaton the most 'intellectual' character of the Great 3.

[4MaryAnna]

I love Keaton,I love Chaplin,but imo Harold Lloyd stood out as the best!!Also,he'd be very well known today,if he had let his films & shorts be aired on tv.He wanted them shown without cuts for commericals,and without any of his 82 min film being chopped down to 60 mins,and since H.L. owned his own movies,he was able to do as he pleased,Trust me folks,if his stuff was more well known,everybody would still be talking about him.That's ok though,he's making a comeback....wait & see.

[answerstolucky]

Another case of management thinking they were smarter than the ones doing the work. Buster was right....too many stuffed shirts dictating what was funny. Or at least, what they thought was funny.

[theinnerlight87]

Exactly, and ironically I think that Buster's work was far more intelligent than any of the puns or wordplay they got him saying.

His gags were split second timing, beautifully planned and perfectly executed.. not many people could pull that off. Though many can just say a funny word gag.

[WiltatKansas]

All these guys are geniuses or what did you think? This guy is obvious that his IQ standed out from the rest.

[whatsthehurrymurray]

i love this comment.

[WiltatKansas]

People who works today in TV or cinema it's not necessarely brilliant, ok, they are hard workers and the scriptwriters are very valuable people, but back in the day, guys like Chaplin or Buster Keaton, they were brilliant minds, like painters like Picasso. Back in the day cinema was more than ever the 7th art.

[MST3Killa]

@WiltatKansas

I see the silent filmera as being alogical stepping stone.They have theirgreats which are truly timeless. I certainly enjoy them.But using your Picasso reference. Well, what came before..DaVinci.how about after... Warhol, perhaps? It's building on other masters work. That's how art is. That's like saying Frank Sinatra was a master... well not if your a Beethoven purist.

I'm not saying it wasn't the 7th art but the market is saturatedwhere youhave to look for the art today.

[spitfireJEJ]

Great comedians are always very astute. Not necessarily well educated but very astute.

[massiveham]

there is so much more in this interview...a full posting would be great, but hey, i'll take what i can get of mr. keaton. merci...

[farelaspesa]

Fue un chingón!! The best!

[oOwollerosekaufeoO]

Well, that is actually the first time that I hear his voice =)

[recordman64]

I just got his Burke's Law appearance (from around this time in 1964) on DVD, but I have yet to watch it.

[MilwaukeeSDman]

same!

[Sturrminator]

What a gem! Thank you for this clip. Buster Keaton was one in a million and one of the revolutionaries in film. Although modern movie stars now overshadow these pioneers, he is still one of the greats that led the way to what comedy has become today.

[fidobarks]

genius

[redlion83]

The Grand Hotel spoof would have been great!!!! I wish these phenomenal people were remembered today. I said Buster Keaton's name at a party recently and the overwhelming response was "Who?"

[MarcoFriendino]

yes... i hate it, you talk about keaton and it seems you want to be the "intellectual one"... on the contrary old things can be great and you don't need to be a genius or a cultivated person to understand it! You just need to watch it!

[yourpaljc]

I've hardly ever laughed so much in my life as when I've been watching Buster's films...exquisite.

[elanmak]

I'm sure he's rolling in his grave, considering the general public's opinion on comedy

[asocietysensation]

3rdPR, you can try the Damfinos website. I don't know if they sell it, but they have everything Buster there.

[erod550]

Yea because he wouldn't have ever died if he hadn't smoked. He'd have lived forever!! /eyeroll

[talbotfisher1984]

But he could have lived longer or at least not suffered with cancer. Yeah, something would have gotten him eventually, but I'd have think peacefully of old age is better than cancer.

[PoeticRasling]

It's a shame that they weren't nearly as informed way back in the days of Mr. Keaton.

[girlhitsbus]

I wish I'd been alive during the early days of film; it all seems so magical.

[theblackmambe]

i wish he would have lived 35/40 more years. I would have been alive to have seen him .

[theblackmambe]

did you know that keaton broke his neck falling of a train for one of his stunts, yet he didnt know until 20 YEARS later, thats how tough he was.

[mocthezuma]

Him and Jackie Chan.

No other actor/stuntman would risk his life for his audience.

[3rdPR]

Where do I get the entire CBC documentary on Keaton?

I saw it once and always wanted to see it again.

[VisualizeJess]

I love hearing his voice. :)

[cremington10]

bittermuch?

[KultureJamCollective]

I love how he's saying yes to silence in comedy. There are so many great comedic moments that happen in extended silences. It's not utilized enough in comedy. David Cross does silence great.

[arisztidoltz]

<3 him

[valentinesmuse]

This is a brilliant vid! i'm playing buster in a movie my friend is making for school detailing the almost undocument rivalry between chaplin and keaton! Thanx for helping get his accent down...cheers!:)

[Erisa14]

I'm so glad my parents showed me his and other old films when I was a kid, it's sad that these days youngsters miss out all this greatness watching just action films, I know 'cause I'm just a teen myself, none of my friends know nothing about films older than 90's.. Funny to hear Keaton talk after all these years.

[HamiltonFDRJWJS]

You're lucky. I got into old films in 10th grade. What makes it harder's that my parents immigrated here.

But just a heads up: don't think a lot of teens don't know films. You'd be surprised. I'm sure some of them have watched stuff like Star Wars and GWTW, Twilight Zone, Funny Face, etc. Once you hit college, everyone learns of the good old stuff, so it's just a matter of when.

[JU8788]

Keaton kept working and honing his craft and Chaplin retired. Keaton, if only by keeping up acting all his life, must have been the Master.

...Ahh; to have learned from him...

[foxpawz]

well unlike Chaplin, Keaton wasn't a good business man and he lost more money then he made with his pictures...and really kinda sunk deeper and deeper till he lost everything. Chaplin wasn't really lazy, i think he had payed his dues by then, he just had complete creative control, and being a perfectionist, he took all the time in the world ot make a picture. he was the one who gave Keaton a bit of a boost with Limelight and had advised him against the MGM deal.

[Jacklgf]

Interesting comment he made about my hero. "Chaplin is too lazy." Makes me wonder who is more historical accurate. Buster or the Chaplin history, because both could have been manipulated.

[Schlafly27]

Chaplin had slowed down his pace, but increased the quality of his work. City Lights (1931), Modern Times (1936), The Great Dictator (1940). Plus, Chaplin was born 1889. So, by the 1930's, he was already in his 40's. I think Buster is probably a little jealous. But, also probably a little right.

[Erisa14]

A tiny wee bit of competition must have been there..

[foxpawz]

i think BUster must of been jealous of Chaplin. I would of been if i were him! KEaton in his own right was brilliant, things just didn't turn out so great for him...things wheren't always peachy for Chaplin either but i do believe the two had great mutual respect for one another. Chaplin is my fav of the two.

[artyparis]

Keaton played Limelight with Chaplin. Great scene :)

Keaton didn't manage to switch to "speaking" cinema, as many actors. His humor was visual. It doesn't make him less impressive.

One of my master. Thank you Mr Keaton.

[channychanzy]

"there's none of us making pictures." haha. Buster lied. Chaplin created some of his greatest films during the 30s;)

[mercadeti]

I love Buster!!!

[gnolti]

What a cool old voice. Could have done some good character stuff in later life if he'd felt like it.

[1more4theroad]

He talks like he is 30 years old here! Not at all like he is nearing 70, just a couple of years before his death - he was quite a smoker. Buster was a very intelligent and talented individual. Had all his marbles, even after all that physical comedy. It was nice to hear the moderator address him as Mr. Keaton.

[OldHollywoodVideos08]

What a LEGEND! :)

[herasfolly]

Thanks for this...I love reading and especially watching and hearing any interviews Buster gave..What a great wealth of humor and ideas!

[fromthesidelines]

Yes, Buster wanted to produce a feature-length parody of "Grand Hotel" in 1933 {"Grand Mills Hotel"}, which would have featured Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy in supporting roles. Unfortunately, this was during the period where Buster's relationship with MGM was at the breaking point (would YOU want to be Jimmy Durante's on-screen partner?), and he abruptly left the studio before the idea could be worked out...

[OldHollywoodVideos08]

What a great actor! :)

[baaaadbone]

stan laurel and olvier also charles chaplin and arnold lloyd all these even buster keaton is one true classic comedy best of all time today movie and tv show comdey not even as funny as true classic today joke are not even funny talking too much less action old slapstick comdey more action less talk we can smile and laugh with that god bless slapsticks

[marius478]

Buster Keaton was probably the greatest genius of them all.I love Chaplin(haven't seen Lloyd yet I'm afraid)But Keaton was just so awesome.:)I must check out that website for more of this fascinating interview!

[geekyvince]

that would have been a great movie with him and Stan Laurel.

[selena149]

This is so amazing to see. I have never heard him speak before. This is a great experience for me! Thanks a bunches!

[DrDespicable]

Absolute genius - the true master and innovator of his day!  Chaplin was never as funny...

[tristramshandy3]

chaplin's 'modern times' is one of the funniest things human kind has ever produced. I need to watch some keaton films, but i'm skeptical that anybody could top chaplin's brilliance. I've been wrong before :)

[itsjustanillusion]

I'm a huge fan of Chaplin and Keaton. You don't have to compare them or choose between them, just enjoy both :)

[57highland]

Is someone starting that old bit again? (Who's better than whom?) Did you ever see the episode that BK did on Candid Camera from the early 60's? He was sitting at a lunch bar, doing his bit, and they wanted to see what various persons sitting next to him would do (i.e., laugh, walk away, whatever). At one point, he sneezed and his toupee fell into his soup. It was hilarious! But I'm sure I can't do it justice verbally.

[srvinfinity]

Loved that bit! Never forgot it. Does anyone have that clip? Would love to see it again and add it to my favs. It's really not who is best, but who is your fav? Buster is my fav.

[57highland]

I looked under "Candid Camera" but didn't see it. A few years back, I think it was Turner Classic Movies which starting running old silent films one night a week, and I saw a few of Buster movies. I never knew they were that good. I've seen some of Chaplin's too, but I probably give Buster the edge.

[itsjustanillusion]

I found it on YT just a few days ago, it's so great - watch?v=WqR5QYjZHOw too bad it's not longer! As for Chaplin vs. Keaton, I find it impossible to pick a favourite, I'm just happy there's a double dose of genius for me to enjoy :)

[srvinfinity]

Thankyou so much for the lead on Keaton's bit. I wish it were longer too.

[tristramshandy3]

sounds good bro :)

[57highland]

You're a book, aren't you? I mean, you're an old English novel, right?

[tristramshandy3]

"The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman" is one of the greatest pieces of writing ever assembled. It was written by the hilariously brilliant Laurence Sterne throughout the 1750's. Try it :)

[57highland]

In fact, I do possess a copy of that book. But, man, that older English stuff is so deep and detailed! It's almost like a separate category of literature. Thanks for the encouragement, though!

[UnderligGrotta]

What a great icon.