Buster Keaton's Best Movies (The Great Directors -- Episode 4)

Buster Keaton is revered by directors and critics as one of the greatest moviemakers ever. He's arguably the best writer-director-actor-stuntman combo ever.
Which of Keaton's movies should you watch? Which should you start with?
This video will help introduce you to Keaton, and it'll give all of you some ideas about which Keaton movies are among the best.
See joshmatthews.org for more great movie criticism.

[@candicearce3858]

I watched the documentary and 3 of Keaton's movies on TCM earlier this month (Oct 2020) and I got hooked. I've been watching everything I can find on KZbin, including other documentaries. I have to say it was his eyes & the expressive ways he communicates with them that first grabbed my attention. Learning that he did his own stunts, and the stunts he does in his movies just blows me away, aside from laughing. I can't really name a favorite of his early movies yet as I've loved everyone I've watched so far, along with many of his short films too. I've been watching something everyday for the past 2-1/2 weeks. Just can't get get enough of this incredibly talented man!! God truly blessed him with a gift. One of kind!!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

Excellent! Agree with everything. A couple of tips: many kids love Keaton -- they get the simplicity and the hilarity quickly, but empathy comes easy to. As you might know Keaton films were partly the basis for Looney Tunes cartoons. You also might eventually try Charlie Chaplin's "Limelight," which features Keaton, as does, of course "Sunset Boulevard." You might not want to look at this, but Keaton was in a teen beach movie in the 1960s named Beach Blanket Bingo, which is just weird.

[@candicearce3858]

Thx! I did watch a clip from "how to stuff a bikini" where he was dancing - or trying to keep up, lol. I've learned so much from the docs I've watched, and even personal interviews. Have you seen The Rail Rodder? I watched it, then the documentary of them making it. Definitely in awe of this man. Camt believe its taken me this long to discover him as I have been a Chaplin fan for years, and I'd heard of him but it wasn't until this month that I actually watched anything, and as mentioned, I got hooked. I've watched and read so much about him in the past two weeks. My latest passion you could say. I remember seeing him in The Good Old Summer Time and read he staged & directed the beginning scene with Judy & Van. Can't recall him in Sunset Blvd tho I've seen it several times. I presume he's in the card playing scene. Have to watch it again.

[@patrickkelly5004]

Born in 1954, I was familiar with Buster Keaton from movie clips incorporated into shorts and cartoons I watched as a child, but I never sat down to watch any of his movies until watching Sherlock Jr a few days ago. Amazing!!! In 1924 Buster essentially designed and executed cinematic virtual reality, and did so seamlessly. It's almost sad to see him conclude his movie career portraying a waxen image of his own ghost in Sunset Boulevard, and a caricature of his comic genius in Beach Blanket Bingo. I was pleased to see this 45 minute gem, Sherlock Jr, at the top of your list. Thank you.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you.

[@phildokes7478]

Cannot thank you enough for getting me to finally sit and watch some Keaton, just watched Cops and was blown away, can only imagine the joys ahead. I never did get to see any Keaton in my ravenous early movie going days because for a long stretch of time, there was only The General available for view (and the copy i did get was a horribly mangled VHS, and then, you know how it goes, i got caught up chasing other films and never came back around til now. Thank you SO much!

[@LearningaboutMovies]

you're very welcome. I'm currently going through Keaton's shorts, in prep for a video on them. Tweeted this out yesterday: twitter.com/DrJoshMatthews/status/1511165826564567042

[@clumsydad7158]

It's amazing how Keaton's movies were essentially lost for 30 years from the 1930s to 1960s. Now, more than ever, we're able to access his amazing features and short reels. Just getting to understand again his fantastic talent rivaling Chaplin, what a duo !

[@drdavid1963]

Great to see you have Sherlock Junior in your choices. And yes, it's in my top 10 of all time. Pure genius.

[@cfbilly70]

My top five bests would probably be: 1. The General 2. Sherlock Jr. (my favorite) 3. The Cameraman 4. Our Hospitality 5. Steamboat Bill Jr. The Navigator and Seven Chances left me waiting for something more, if that makes sense. My favorite short so far is The Haunted House. Also if anyone changes his rating on The General because the protagonist is from the south during the Civil War, that's just ignorant and shortsighted imo.

[@LearningaboutMovies]

thank you. can't go wrong with those. I have no patience for those who won't understand historical circumstances and differences in values (within some reason). I am sure that "The General" is up for cancellation by certain parts of the Internet today, but filmmakers and video-creators will keep returning to it.

[@cfbilly70]

@@LearningaboutMovies there is a whole lot up for cancelation these days and probably more to come. One of the pros of having a physical media collection, no matter what movies they will never show again, glad I have them.

[@dmm3124]

People do not realize that The General is based on a true story.

[@rsoldford321]

David Cross?

[@LearningaboutMovies]

I've heard that many times. Watch "She's the Man." Spitting image.