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From: Damfin0
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  • Charlie Chaplin's the kid blows out anything buster ever did, However I found Buster to be found funnier.

  • according to people who knew him he was jolly,he laughed and smiled often in real life

  • I like these movies better than today's to be honest, they just have such pure comedy!

  • I just added "stuntman" to his repertoire on Wikipedia. I was surprised nobody put it up there, considering he was one of the best stunt actors in cinema history.

  • The link in the info doesn't work anymore

  • Why so many comparisons to Chaplin and Keaton in the comments? Delicious foods come in differant flavors. They are both genious and to be commended!!!!!

  • I don't know why I always used to make a mess out of his name "Keaster Burton" lol. He's a damn good actor, I prefer his movies than Chaplin's ones.

  • This is awesome!!! I had heard of Buster Keaton, but I didn't realize, before today how amazing his films were.

  • Jackie Chan gets his inspiraition from him

  • The best visual comic that ever graced the screen....absolute Legend

  • an amazing performer real hollywood a favorite always!!!!

  • Anyone who has seen Chaplin and Keaton films knows there's a humongous difference.

  • that is are masing

  • Great to see this with the commentary. I love Buster Keaton.

  • In soviet russia stunts perform you

  • It always amazes me that they couldn't afford to get someone to tune that piano.

  • ABSOLUTE GENIUS

  • chaplin was a romantic comedy and keaton an action comedy, both equally entertaining.

  • How could someone give this a thumbs down?! That was pretty damn awesome...I'll have to check out more by Keaton.

    Take your CGI and stuff it.

  • This has to be the most heated argument of the silent film era-who's funnier, Keaton or Chaplin? I like them both. Chaplin was funnier but is often too sentimental for my taste. Keaton always took his outrageous fortune stoically. Keaton was funniest when after a near death experience he would calmly look into the camera with that deadpan face like nothing had happened. My favorite of Keaton's is Go West, But Sherlock, Jr was technically better than anything Chaplin or anyone else did in 20s

  • @finnemccool Keaton is great. and I understand your dislike of Chaplin's "sentimental" side. However, "The Kid" tops the list of greatest 1920's flicks.

  • @BenjaminSasquatch The Kid was a very important movie because it was made in 1921, and it was the first full length blockbuster comedy-drama. But it can't compare technically to Sherlock, Jr, and Keaton did all his own stunts. He even fractured his neck doing the water tower/train scene. I have seen both The Kid and Sherlock, Jr more than once, so I appreciate them both. They are both great films, but if you haven't seen Sherlock, Jr. lately, check it out. It is a landmark film.

  • @finnemccool Sherlock Jr is aq great flick, seen it dozens of times. It wouldve been interesting to see it with Fatty Arbuckle as the director (as you prob know, he was originally signed on as the director). Im not taking anything away from Buster, he's the man. And all those crazy stunts he did are to this day still amazing to me. I dunno how he survived, and how he went years not realizing he had broken/fractured his neck. nuts.

  • @BenjaminSasquatch No, I didn't know that Arbuckle was to be the director. Interesting.

  • The General is on Turner Classic Movies April 11th 2011 @ 10:30pm pst.

  • I can tell Buster Keaton by his run alone .

  • Hard to believe this was one of Keaton's worst pictures at the box office.....

  • Intelligent Gentleman like this have not worked in Hollywood since his passing.

  • And I never even liked silent films BTW LOL. His are actually hilarious though. They're the only ones I'll probably watch. LOL

  • Duke of Truth I sooo agree! I first discovered Buster Keaton last month when I watched his short films on Bridges TV. Been a fan ever since. He's awesome!

  • my name is keaton so thats why i typed it in type in keaton426

  • Is it a real cannon? :O

  • Buster was far funnier than Chaplin. Buster played the "everyman".

  • DAMN! He almost sunk that piece of wood into the cannon too!! He's so amazing!

  • SOMEONE PLEASE HELP i've just bought a copy of this but runs too slow - 105 mins when it should be around 75 mins, anyone know who does the best print ? All the web sies selling it list all the extras in the running time so it's very hard to find the right one.

  • Hey, I've been to Cottage Grove, Oregon! If I had known that it was where Buster Keaton filmed parts of "The General", I would've... kissed the ground or something.

  • Both incredible talents, but Chaplin always played to tug at your heartstrings; Keaton asked no quarter and played to stoic resolve. Also, Chaplin never did a "stunt" in his life and was always doubled; Keaton did all of his own.

  • @peetie44 it's definitely not true that Chaplin never did a stunt in his life... I don't think he ever used a stunt double. Admittedly there's less dangerous stuff in his films than in Buster's

  • @peetie44 It's true that Chaplin's comedy wasn't stant-oriented. His comedy was more intimate, based on comic mannerisms, imaginative use of simple objects, combined with an emotional core. But he did do stunts, and never used a stunt double. Take the scene in "The Fireman" where he scales the side of a building. Or "The Circus", where he's actually in a cage with a lion. Not huge stunts, maybe, but like I said, big stunts weren't his style. Probably saw them as detracting from personality.

  • if you like to see the movies history watch *BIRTH OF CINEMA* in youtube and enjoy.

  • Comment removed

  • WHERE ON EARTH CAN I GET A COPY OF THE FILM WITH *THIS* MUSIC!!! The sound effects and music in here are amazing. The 2 versions I have arn't as good. Anyone know where I can find this???

  • @wwrr98 amazon.com theres a combo dvd and you choose to have the oregon music or some other option i forget what. it was like 25 dollars.

  • I wish I was born in that era.

  • Genius ! Sorely missed ...

  • "...Or was killed".

  • buster was a genius in his own right and invented many routines that are considered classics. many of them would be replayed in later modern cartoons.

  • KEATON more action!!!!! Gotta appreciate the CLASSICS!!!! They are what make dance what it isbelieve it or not!!!

  • Years ago, I was sitting at home watching TCM, and the film The King of Kings came on. It was silent...I liked it and found silent's interesting. Then I saw Buster Keaton's The General and I was HOOKED!!!

  • Yep....Hes amazing. Cant top him...

  • if you like to see the history of movies watch *BIRTH OF CINEMA* in youtube and enjoy

  • Hahaha i read in a keaton biography that all in the same day, Keaton had part of his finger cut off if i remember, and he was literally pulled out of a window by a storm. It was hilarious. I love Buster Keaton. He, Chaplin, and the Marx Bros are probably my favorites :)

  • Truly amazing. I don’t care how many times it’s said - it’s true. The likes of Keaton genuinely deserved their praise and wages after the exertion they put into their craft.

  • I watcht hat movie yesterday i cant believe the whole time i was rooting for the Confederacy.lol But the gags were awesome^^ made me laugh

  • This is my favourite Buster Keaton film, I do not believe Keaton can be matched by any stunt artist! By the way in any versions of "The General" DVD is this the music used?

  • chaplin the nº1

    keaton the nº2

  • I can't remember where i read it, but someone wrote something to the effect that his comedy was based on his bewilderment of the world around him -- especially other people. To me that's the best comedy and I identify with it the most.

  • if you like to see the history of movies watch * BIRTH OF CINEMA* in youtube and enjoy

  • One of the greatest comedians. I mention Keaton in The Celebrity Song.

  • Just watched The General and really enjoyed it. I agree however with the commenter below - I wouldn't compare Chaplin to Keaton, just too different. Personally I prefer Chaplain but The General raised Buster Keaton up in my mind. Check out my film study blog Cinema Cram or find us on Facebook - search Cinema Cram

  • I always loved Buster. I always saw him as a genius. No matter how many times I see him doing stuff like this, I am in awe. It never gets old for me.

  • A new tribute to buster Keaton in 3D !

    search "buster keaton 3D"

  • Cool

  • thanks, i'm interested in keaton's works.i hope one day i could see the  whole documentary

  • A legendary cultural Icon for the town of Cottage Grove Oregon.

  • Молодец чувак.

  • he was born in piqua kansas

  • what?

  • off topic, i have 6 subscribers on my channel, i'm not one for posting videos, I would like to know how I can remove them, anyone help me out??

  • Just send them messages asking them to unsubscribe?

  • btw where did that cannon come from?

  • Keaton was one of the first filmmakers to make long outdoor movies and back then, it was embarrasing to do those since the equipement was extremely huge and heavy.

    Ahead of his time because having total control on a movie of your own is something you can't do anymore today for reasons not worth to explain. An heritage I guess that's not seen on TV quite often.

  • when that water hit him it broke his neck he didn't realise for about twenty years or so

  • why load the cannon? makes no sence!?

  • he wanted to shoot over his own train to hit the one in front of him.... but.... it worked a bit different :-)

  • the original Jackie Chan haha

  • Before CG!

  • omg dude this guy is my great great great great great uncle. NO LIE.

  • 1 to many greats to be REAL!

  • Such a comedic genius, I don't know if Buster will ever be matched.

  • @SR722 Jackie Chan paid HUGE amounts of homage to Mr. Keaton. Matched by few perhaps, but Jackie Chan brought hundreds of great physical comedy gags. Of course it is all owed to Buster Keaton, I'm just saying Jackie Chan is just as awesome in a different but familiar way.

  • @SR722, He won't. How fortunate we are that his genius is recorded for us to enjoy today. Imagine all the wonderfully funny people, from all walks of life and all regions of the globe, who lived through all those centuries before there was any means to capture their jokes!

  • @SR722 Buster would dissagree with you

    He said 'Chaplin wasn't the funniest, I wasn't the funniest, this man was the funniest' he said that at the funeral of stan laurel

  • Buster Keaton was the one.

  • The narrator sounds like Orson Welles

  • It is Orson Welles. This is a clip from a documentary on which Welles comments on the genius of Buster Keaton. The genius commenting the genius.

  • fantastic. I must see more!

  • Hi, can I ask what Buster Keaton is famous for?

    I've got a studying list for uni, I know Charlie Chaplin is famous for slapstick and his controversy, but what is Buster Keaton famous for?

    Whats the difference between them visually, performance wise and structure? x

  • For the stunts and the silent films he did. He risk his life for our entertainment. Sherlock jr. was flawless for his stunts and they didn't have special effects back in the day. He did everything.

  • Keaton was famous for his "great stone face", never showing an expression, and his various dangerous stunts.  He was very athletic, even though he most often played a fool. You should watch the youtube video "Buster Keaton can can" to see how entertaining he was.

  • Studying Chaplin vs. Keaton in class right now. Basically, as people mentioned, Keaton was famous for being stone faced, Chaplin was expressive. Chaplin's movements (and most of the characters in his films) were more exagerrated while Keaton's is more downplayed or "naturalist". Plus, Keaton was a great athlete who even broke his neck once and kept going without realizing it.

  • I sincerely hope you're not being serious.

  • The General was the first Keaton full length I saw, and still I'd have to say as much as I love all/any of his work it's still the best in my opinion.

    What surprised me though in The General was the length of the film didn't actually dull the movie by being too long, I honestly feel it's a perfect movie in any sense.

  • I remember a documentary from when I was a little kid and (bear with me my memory's a little fuzzy here) I remember a shot of Buster doing a building jump stunt or something like that and he fell, does anyone else know of this? (Might not have been Buster but I vividly remember the doc taking a minute or two to talk about it and show the clip, incidentally the person lived against all odds).

  • There's a scene like that in"Three Ages",where Keaton tries to jump between two buildings and falls. This was an accident,but it looked funny enough that they actually used it in the movie. The scene which immediately follows,which shows Keaton saving himself by grabbing a drainpipe,was filmed a few days later - after he had recovered from his injuries!

    He was nowhere near dying,though. You should also check out"Sherlock JR",where he fell off a water tower,broke his neck - and DIDN'T NOTICE!

  • Holy shit how that's not an entry in the usual internet articles/videos about "old school people who were fucking awesome" I'll never know. Thanks for the tip I'll go combing the net for these amazing feats.

  • i just got a print of his great funny classic.

  • what's the name of the song playing in the train scenes?

  • This is great, thanks for posting :)

  • I think the reason Chaplin is more famouse and popular. Is because of his movies being more controversial. Besides that. They basically the same in my books.

  • @JeffHigs1: Chaplin and Keaton are basically "the same" in your books? probalby because they were both silent movie clowns. But calling them "basically the same" is like calling Mozart and Beethoven "basically the same" because they both made classical music. They are different artists with distinct individual personalities, calling them "basically the same" is just downright ignorant and simply wrong.

  • @DonFarshido a good point well made

  • @DonFarshido I totally agree, Yes Chaplin and Keaton are Movie stars. But no way are they the same.

  • @DonFarshido exactly. I couldn't agree more. :)

  • @DonFarshido lol. When I first read that, I thought to myself "Mozart and Beethoven are basically the same". Since for a while I've become great fans of both Chaplin and Keaton. I've even read the Buster Keaton Autobiography and currently half way through Chaplins Autobiography. I now can see that they both have very different and unique styles.

    I love how your comment has gotten the most thumbs up too haha.

  • @JeffZHigs1, sure, they're "basically the same," except of course that Mozart wrote during the classical period and Beethoven during the romantic, which had an entirely different worldview and aesthetic mandate. Other than that, they're basically the same.

  • @DonFarshido They were the same in the sense of being clowns in B and W films. Yet i noticed this film reel is not as scratchy, or beat up as Chaplin's reels. Were they from the same time? I am not sure. It seems like no.

  • @Paperhouse81 The General was made in 1927, I believe. Chaplin's shorts, which are the ones that have scratches and such, are mostly from before 1920. Check Chaplin's film, "The Gold Rush", made two years before "The General"...it's in good shape.

  • @DonFarshido Bravo, sir.

  • is this the guy from batman?

  • YES. How did you know....

  • different people have different senses of humour. I feel that Buster's humour is timeless and delightful.

  • Comment removed

  • Chaplin was more sentimental and more interested in making you cry, Buster only wanted you to laugh.

  • Buster makes me cry as well as much as Chaplin makes me laugh. These polar differences between Chaplin and Keaton are constructions. They are different, but in a different way than most people claim.

  • dungs127, you really have bad taste in movies. this is the # 1 greatest silent movie ever in the silent era!!!!

  • you can't beat the classics.

  • This film is definitely awesome (albeit sorta gloomy) and Buster looks so cool with longer hair ;) it's not a typical physical comedy. I can imagine how hard it was to film all these scenes on a train - he did it all by himself! Awesome man.

  • Thank you Damfino for this VERY SPECIAL posting!! Buster Keaton was the best of all physical comedians of all time...

  • 0:04 - 0:22

    Ancient scarred unhappiness.

    (I am at a loss to find the right words describing it but I think I can sense it.)

    His first marriage was very unlucky.

  • he was a film hero. Try to do this stuff today. if ya think its shit dont watch it then.

  • you mean Buster Keaton?

  • No, wifiarnyek, your shit. if you don't like it, then DON'T WATCH IT!!!!

  • ive just found this guy, and he inspires me. he is amazing.

  • haha @ 2:03

    Imagine a studio going to a present-day insurance company with THAT stunt.

  • lol

  • How does buster compare to chaplin? I am not familiar with keaton's work, but chaplin's "modern times' is the funniest movie I have ever seen.

  • you need to watch the general, one of the BEST movies ever made imo. and the south wins in this one, truth!

  • Chaplin and Keaton are among the greatest directors and are maybe the two most graceful performers of cinema history. So if you like Chaplin, you should check out Keaton, and be ready to see a completely different personality. You have to get into it, then you'll know and appreciate the Keaton-humour, the Keaton-melancholia, the Keaton-feeling, a very different kind of feeling than the Chaplin-feeling.Some of it is even easier to identify with,since Chaplin at times seems to huge a persona(lity)

  • I always liked Keaton much more than Chaplain. Keaton played an "everyman" type character, just an average guy who faced extraordinary adventures.

  • I love this movie, if u ever can I highly recommend you pick it up. The comedy in this movie is at it's best. If you haven't seen it you'd be surprised at how evolved the man vs women humor is, its great.

  • This is the worst thing I have ever heard. But so cool to watch.

  • I agree totally, I have released a version that I hope you will like. With GOOD music , if you like Scott Joplin. I posted 2 clips yesterday. Please take a look, I'd love to hear your opinion.

  • Buster Keaton is my film hero.......He once broke his neck on set and they kept rolling, capturing footage of him getting up and running away.

    What a MAN.

  • my little boy would never sit still for anything on tv.

    except for Buster Keaton.

  • Your little boy has appreciation for great art.

  • Can u watch these movies on line

  • "the cameramen had orders to keep shooting until Buster yelled, 'Cut!' or was killed." <-- I miss The Good Old Days!

  • And he didn't have a stuntman!!!

  • lol you would first have to find a stuntman doing the things he does.

  • i think if he found a stuntman, he too would need a stuntman, that would be keaton.

  • he was his own stuntman...

    did u know he broke his back on the set? it was a scene with a water spout... forgot which movie it was, but he broke his back, finished the shot, and walked off the shot like nothing!!!!

    amazing. :)

  • @cecisota12 It was his neck, while shooting Sherlock, Jr. He never even knew it was broken until many years later, when it was revealed by X-ray. He said that since that day, he'd suffered from chronic headaches, but otherwise had no idea anything was wrong.

  • Ooooh, my dad showed me his movies when I was a kid and I was sooo in love with him :D

  • The Best 3 Buster Keaton Films:

    1. Speak Easily

    2. Parlor, Bedroom, & Bath

    3 Steamboat Bill jr

  • I think that Steamboat Bill is heavily overrated (still a great picture of course), whereas "Our Hospitality" is totally magnificent.

  • nice, really good

  • fantastic keaton was a master

  • Indeed he was strakna,indeed he was.He's still my all time favorite sight~gag comedian.

  • what documentary/feature is this from? like at the end with the interviewer talking to keaton?

  • I'm glad AFI recognized it as one of the great movies of all time and putting it in the Top 20 really makes all us Keaton fans very happy.

  • BRILLIANT !

  • I love this guy

  • he hand made all his own hats too

  • He was a great arist! It's fantastic and amazing!

  • Man, this is ridiculous.

  • I have the general, the three ages and steamboat bill jr. on dvd ^^

    Keaton is great, greater than chaplin

  • A masterpiece! The best version of this brilliant film is the Photoplay one, with the wonderful music by Carl Davis. Mr Davis also did a fabulous score for 'Our Hospitality'. I wish he could have done the same for all of Buster's films - Buster was the best, so he deserves the best!

  • buster is freaking amazing. all his own stunts.

  • I don't find him as funny as find him quite brilliant, those stunts are insanity

  • Come on we ALL know who's the best.

  • Oh my god.

    THE BEST <3

  • Haha the best!

  • I just saw this for the first time on AMC the other nite and it was one of the funniest movies I have ever seen.. I laughed so hard

  • I don't know about love, but i wish i was his best friend!

  • i am in LOVE with buster keaton!

  • any of yall ever seen the love nest? it's hysterical!