Buster Keaton, the "Great Stone Face"

He was a vaudeville performer from the age of four, a silent-film star in his 20s, and the writer and director of some of the greatest comedy films ever made. Yet Buster Keaton never quite achieved the fame of Charlie Chaplin, and, at the peak of his success as an independent filmmaker, he signed a studio deal that he would call "the worst mistake of my life." Correspondent David Pogue talks with biographer Dana Stevens, and with comic actor Bill Irwin, about Keaton's artistic ingenuity, stunts, and innovations that inspire filmmakers to this day.
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[@captlazer5509]

Glad Buster Keaton is getting recognized. He was a clearly a genius. There is shockingly little film of silent era that is preserved, many silent film stars forgotton. Yet over the years Keaton's work survives and lives on. It was too amazing to forget.

[@lorenabarrios9224]

🙏🏻💕👍

[@steveconn]

Actually tons of silent films are preserved, from Lillian Gish to Chaplin to Lon Chaney in Phantom of the Opera

[@captlazer5509]

@@steveconn I thought that too. Then I found out according to the Library Of Congress, 75% of the silent era films are lost forever.

[@JoeLibby]

@@captlazer5509 We are lucky to have the silent films that have survived.

[@captlazer5509]

@@JoeLibby Absolutely! Thank you to who ever decided to pay to store a classic film. My remark was about Keaton and how decade after decade his work survives to be in awe of.

[@LovelyRuthie]

On behalf of the International Buster Keaton Society - thank you for continuing to put Buster's name out there. We love him, his work & his legacy

[@lilivonshtup3808]

Ah, a Damfino! I'm not a member but an avid admirer since childhood.

[@professorbutters]

He’s my favorite.

[@JeffreyGoff-gm2pc]

I don't physically laugh at many comedians but I explode with laughter at Buster Keaton. Pure pleasure

[@glnnchrstphr9717]

He was incredible! My favorite silent comedy star by far. Mr. Deadpan himself. 😑

[@tonygiraldes7848]

His determination to overcome his personal demons should be an inspiration to all of us 😊❤️

[@boybawang1981]

What about the greatest freaking stuntman of all time!!

[@lilivonshtup3808]

And without all the safeguards they have today!

[@boybawang1981]

@@lilivonshtup3808 indeed…

[@steveconn]

Incredible genius. Everyone from Jackie Chan to Johnny Depp was inspired by him (the Beach Blanket Bingo years were rough).

[@MothGirl007]

Actually, I think that the fact that he acted in films like that is what introduced him to the younger generation at that time - and he was by then happily married to his wonderful third wife and enjoying life. It's really a myth that his later years were unhappy ones - he worked steadily in both TV and film and frequently traveled to Europe, where he was revered, for special appearances.

[@Celluloidkid]

During the railroad water-tank scene in Sherlock Jr., Keaton broke his neck when a torrent of water fell on him from a water tower, but he did not realize it until years afterwards. A scene from Steamboat Bill, Jr. required Keaton to stand still on a particular spot.

[@thewkovacs316]

he hit the tracks. one of the reasons he started drinking was to self medicate due to the pain.

[@goodwood-rc4nx]

Found out 30 years later when had a medical

[@jojopuppyfish]

I've been watching a few of his films over the past couple of weeks. I love the surrealism of his films. I'm not sure its ever been equaled in cinema. BTW the key to watching his films is finding a music score you like. For example, The General is score by both Carl Davis and then there is another by Robert Israel. I prefer Robert Israel's score....but many prefer Carl Davis. Watch a clip on youtube and you'll find one you like

[@phatato]

The epitome of quiet cool

[@maxlinder5262]

He is far above Chaplin......

[@davidallen9729]

Agreed.

[@riverraisin1]

Wasn't aware it was a contest. How about they both were great in their own way?

[@scograham]

They aren’t alike. Comparison isn’t fair to either.

[@myguitardetective5961]

No.....Keaton himself would disagree with you...(yep, he's on record...). Having said that, they are both unique and wonderful. It's art. It's not a competition.

[@LeviBoldock]

Both incredible in their own way. Chaplin could never have made a film like The General, and Keaton could never have made something like The Great Dictator, but both are considered some of the greatest films of all time.

[@mililaniman]

I did not know that Buster Keaton's stunts created such a legacy that lives on in so many movies.

[@Gabster1990]

His great granddaughter looks like him!

[@DavidPogue]

Definitely the same eyes!

[@jackbuckley7816]

He and his closest silent-movie competitor Charlie Chaplin worked only once together in a film. It's called "Limelight" & it's well worth seeing!

[@melissacooper8724]

The scene where Chaplin and Keaton performed together on stage was my favorite part of the film!

[@georgemaster689]

Once Upon A Time was an episode of The Twilight Zone that I never get tired of.

[@thefools]

5:02 is where he broke his neck.

[@annedwyer797]

Yes! I'd read some time ago that it was the water tank stunt that fractured a cervical (neck) vertebra, which he found out years later. He was indestructible!

[@richardmattingly7000]

Keaton never knew until he got an X-Ray once that he had broken his neck decades before and never lost his will to work even in his final years. Indeed he appeared as a old man searching for his lost children in the film musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Forum. Despite his age ran in many scenes even took a part fall as he had always done that surprised every one on set when he collided with a tree. A master at turning even the simplest of objects into something funny he appeared on the original Candid Camera in a scene at a lunch counter were everything he touched seemed at war with him having a hamburger. One of his last roles on film shown here being the scenes was a promotional for the Canadian Railroad where he comes ashore and takes one of their motorized handcars across the nation to see the Pacfic . Called The Rail Rodder which you can watch online Keaton did everything from making his meals to taking pot shots at passing birds overhead in the hand car until he stopped finally at the waters edge. In the last scene another man came out of the sea intent on seeing the Atlantic taking the handcar leaving Keaton to walk all the way back on the tracks to go back home again which was his final appearance on film...

[@girlfromthebronxbywayofelb7288]

Yes, love love "funny thing happened on the way to the forum"!! Thanks for the description of the Canadian railroad commercial, sounds brilliant! If early Hollywood had treated their performers better, maybe he wouldnt have been injured. Tremendous performer.

[@babasheeny3634]

So he was also his own stuntman!! Incredible!!

[@diatribe1194]

MY FAVORITE.. THANKS FOR THE LAUGH ... SO TRUE

[@samiraa3671]

Both he and Charlie Chaplin were great in their own ways. Both combined stunt with humour, but I find Chaplin the funniest. Keaton on the other hand did more unbelievable stunt work than Chaplin. I wonder if Jackie Chan was inspired by him because he reminds me a lot of Buster Keaton.

[@breckrichardson390]

Speaking of stunt work, you have to include Harold Lloyd in the mix.

[@AmericanActionReport]

Yes. Jackie Chan has said that Buster Keaton was his inspiration for action comedy stunts.

[@sisenor4091]

They should have asked Jackie Chan about him.

[@VNExperience]

Buster Keaton is the GOAT. I remember watching his movies as a kid, and they transformed my life. Together with Oliver & Hardy and Chaplin, Keaton made my childhood a real joy. I watched all of his movies and got fascinated with history and film. What's great about his work is how it's just as incredible today as it was when first released.

[@lilivonshtup3808]

He's the GOAT and he made a short called The Goat.kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWfOdmWAm9B9Z8U

[@Anzevuil]

OF COURSE he was "The Goat"..... ;) kzbin.info/www/bejne/lWfOdmWAm9B9Z8U

[@FGH9G]

4:36 YES! Thank you CBS for referencing that stunt as well as especially giving a shoutout to Jackie Chan in the very underrated movie Project A 2!

[@lilivonshtup3808]

An indelible and transformative part of his life was his introduction to Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle who was already making very popular shorts. They became fast (and the best of) friends and Roscoe asked if he'd like to make some movies. Although they're not the best of his career, they're very funny and I love to watch them having the time of their young lives before circumstances beyond their control took over.

[@Celluloidkid]

AMAZING!!

[@AmericanActionReport]

The failed leap at the 4:47 mark is an example of his improvisational humor. Originally, he was to have succeeded in the leap. When he didn't, he extended the fall to include the sequence of events you see afterward. It was the funniest scene in the movie, but it wouldn't have happened if the original leap had succeeded as planned.

[@sarahewson3607]

Let’s not forget to mention the countless fangirls (like myself) that still swoon over him! He’s beautiful 😍

[@seththomas9105]

In the late 60's and early 70's Laural and Hardy, Keaton, the Marx Bros. Chaplin, etc had a revival with the younger generations. I remember watching them all, and still do. Hopefully this will happen again as the originals were masters at their work and deserve to be remembered.

[@jeanesingsjazz]

The greatest physical comedian of all time.

[@marcusvachon845]

@5:05 when Buster Keaton is by the water coming from the water tower, he actually broke his neck. However, he did not know this. He would find out a year later when he went to a doctor for migraines.

[@peacenow4456]

Loved BILL in NORTHERN EXPOSURE

[@centaureg]

I am always incredibly pleased to see this genius of early American cinema and particularly physical comedy get the attention he so richly deserves. IMHO he was the greatest performer of his kind. Certainly equal in many regards to Chaplin. That he is still copied so many years after the height of his career is no real surprise. There will never be another one quite like him. Thank you.

[@AceRamone]

I wish kids today would take an interest in film history and learn about such masters.

[@zoecunningham3019]

First, Buster. Then Charlie. No body has been able to come close to their exceptional comedic talents. Over 1/2+ century , not 1 who compares. Pinnacles of their exceptional skills

[@MothGirl007]

Harold Lloyd was also amazing and always gets overlooked - he was fabulous and I much prefer him to Chaplin.

[@professorbutters]

@@MothGirl007 I don’t know that I prefer him, but I love Safety Last. If you see it in a theatre with a lot of people, you can hear the gasps. Everyone’s on the edge of their seats. And he’s doing that climb with half a hand missing.

[@xjp1998]

also if you listen to some of Buster's interviews he says they only did the stunts once. If it did not work the first time they moved on. He never did a stunt twice.

[@oobrocks]

Buster wasn't a great actor...he was a great director...he didn't write scripts...he made up his scripts in his head...yes a genius!

[@lilivonshtup3808]

I beg to differ on his acting. His eyes expressed his character's feelings without ever changing his facial expression, which is not easy to do.

[@oobrocks]

Your right

[@Flux_Flow]

Buster made a cameo appearance in the JOHN WICK - CHAPTER 3 PARABELLUM movie. I couldn't believe it. Paying homage to the master.

[@funny3272]

Correspondent David Pouge missed the major reason why Buster Keaton turned into an alcoholic...Buster lost the rights to his works due to bad contracts with MGM. If Buster had listened to Charlie Chaplin and joined United Artists at it's creation, he wouldn't of became an alcoholic. Peter Bogdonovich did a complete documentary called "The Great Buster" which explains Buster's complete life story. Probably the best documentary of Buster's complete life.

[@lewstone5430]

Sounds interesting, I’ll have to watch it.

[@karenkaren3189]

The best is a three parter called A Tough Act to Follow

[@jacqudace]

@@karenkaren3189 Agree. It is on You Tube. All his films are free on KZbin except Spite Marriage, but it may still be free online. I think all his films with Fatty Arbuckle are also ( he smiles and laughs in a lot of those). As far as I know he never owned his studio films, Joe Schenk did.

[@busterkeatonvk]

@Funny32 He couldn't join United Artists - just because in the fall of 1927 his boss, Joe Schenck, quite by accident - the president of UA, closed his studio (where Keaton was only an employee) and left him with a choice - go to MGM (which was owned by Joe Schenck's brother, Nicholas) or be out of a job. Keaton supported a very demanding wife, their palace, two children, and four members of his own family - he needed money, so the advice of Chaplin and Lloyd could hardly do at least something here

[@DavidPogue]

Nope, I didn't miss it! See the video at 2:37! "In 1927, at the peak of his success, Keaton made what he later called “the worst mistake of my his life.” He joined the moviemaking machine known as MGM Studios-pre-scripted and highly regimented. His improvisational working habits, his creative freedom and his independent film career were over. "

[@maureen669]

I absolutely adore Buster Keaton. A brilliant physical comedian, his beautiful face that showed sadness and love and hilarity with just his eyes! I have every one of his films, biographies. I've been in love with him forever. They may replicate his infamous house-falling stunt, but they do it with light material, balsa wood or something; Keaton's stunt was meticulously planned, by every inch, because it was real housing material built for that set. If his meticulous planning didn't go as he exactly fine tuned it, the falling facade would probably have killed him. He KNEW this. That stunt is probably his most brilliant. He IS the GOAT.

[@stevensiferd7104]

@5:01 -- Several years after that water tank stunt, Keaton was having headaches and back pains. A doctor took x-rays and discovered that he had a healed broken neck. When the doctor asked him when he broke his neck, that stunt was the only one he could remember that hurt badly enough to qualify.

[@stevethevlogger]

Gave thumbs up but where are the captions, CBS??!

[@harsyakiarraathallah2222]

Prove that Independent Studios were the Right Way in Filmmaking since the Golden Age!

[@geoffreylogsdon162]

Actually the day before the scene was filmed where the front of the house falls around him, Buster's wife had told him she wanted a divorce, and he stayed up most of the night drinking. He said his reaction was authentic because he really didn't care if it crushed him or not.

[@steiffbar]

Yep. And indeed, thank the gods he wasn't! His first wife was AWFUL. He did great the last time around, though, with Eleanor. They were soul mates.

[@JudgeCrater22]

Great CBS editing job that shows the great state of preservation of many of Keaton's silents.

[@whitneyjohnson5483]

I love Buster Keaton

[@petermot645]

Actors presently would not dare do repeatedly what Buster made a career out of. A genius !

[@gorillashop337]

I remember growing up in Queens,NY. I saw one his movies, I was captivated the man is a genius. 😮

[@jasonflay8818]

The General. The running the train bit by himself with logs on the railway. When he is done all this work and thinks it's over then something else happens and his look of shock and exasperation...... Gets me everytime

[@TheMikester307]

Born (by chance!) here in Kansas!

[@skyeslaton3435]

There will never be another buster keaton, keaton wasn't just a comedian but also a entertainer a guy who did crazy stunts and i mean death defying stunts

[@shackdaddy7106]

Buster Keaton was also a great teacher of comedy. His number one student. Lucille Ball. You may have heard of her.

[@emmgeevideo]

I recently saw a series of Buster Keaton commercials for Alka-Seltzer. At the end of each one he says something. The first one I saw really floored me. I didn't know he could talk!

[@jcgorritti]

I hope they cast Elijah Wood as Buster Keaton

[@marcdelente2456]

Génial Buster Keaton génie du 7ème arts son oeuvre est éternel et intemporel pour des siecles.

[@isentropic8279]

What an amazing comedic presence. Pure talent.

[@micheleondeck5373]

a classic

[@jacqudace]

Geez I love Buster as much as anyone, but what more is there to say? I have his autobiography and three other older biographies. I can't see me reading another. Obviously a great story and my favorite director.

[@busterkeatonvk]

A lot of, actually. Even after these two noew ones - it was such a complicated story

[@lilivonshtup3808]

Even though I have them all too, if it means drawing new attention to him and his movies, I'm happy.

[@steiffbar]

I strongly suggest "Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century" by Dana Stevens and James Curtis' "Buster Keaton: A Filmmaker's Life", both of which were published in 2022. Curtis, in particular, is a veteran biographer of famous film folks, especially his biography of James Whale, director of "Frankenstein".

[@geoffreylogsdon162]

Even Orson Welles said he was the best.

[@donalobrien7582]

BUSTER There was Only One absolute Genius, he was also the Greatest Bridge Card Player in the World apart from Everything else. Love the Guy my Hero.

[@echoecho3108]

Thanx so much for sharing! Buster Keaton. Née Joseph Francis Keaton IV. ('Buster' was a nickname given to him, after a tumble down a flight of stairs when he was only six months old. When he fell, everyone ran to help. Buster landed at the bottom of the stairs, shook his head, and sat up, miraculously unhurt, and a family friend, Harry Houdini [Yes. That Houdini], the Keatons' partner in The Keaton-Houdini Medicine Show, picked him up, and said, "That was sure a buster!" Back then, 'buster' meant a fall, or a bronco buster. It was not used as a name. Buster's dad said that 'Buster' would be a good thing to call his son, and the nickname stuck. When the four of them went into Vaudeville, Houdini became a solo act, and Buster and his mom and dad became The Three Keatons.) What a Man. He could do it All. And did! No CGI. What you saw was All Buster. So athletic. Wrote. Directed. Produced. Acted. Comedy. Drama. Composed, played, and sang. Danced, too. Conceived and executed stunts. Designed and built machines and props for gags. The famous watertower torrent broke his neck! ('Sherlock Jr.' --- Buster didn't account for such water pressure And he didn't know he'd broken his neck 'til, I think he said it was 13, years later at a routine exam when his doctor asked him when he broke his neck. Buster thought back and said he'd been knocked down hard by falling water, and hit his head on the train rail, and asked if that could be when it happened. The doctor told him it probably was.) And, oh, that well-known falling housefront bit! ('Steamboat Bill Jr.' --- He only had about a 2" clearance in that window frame. And the housefront weighed 1500 lbs.) The rocks and boulders he's often seen running from ('Seven Chances') may not have been real rocks, but those papier-maché props weighed up to 400 lbs. Quite impressive! The Great Stone Face. (Buster found out during his time in Vaudeville with his parents, that if he laughed during a bit, the audience didn't, so he trained himself to keep a straight face all the time.) The Greatest of All Time! A really Great guy. The true Iron Man: broke most every bone in his body, and kept going. And . . . He had pinpoint accuracy with a custard pie at 27 feet, even in his later years! RIP, darling Buster, and thanx so very much for the magic, music, and memories. (Yes. I absolutely adore Buster Keaton. For 70+ years now.)

[@steiffbar]

I cannot BELIEVE that Mangold is using the WORST "biography" of Buster Keaton to base this upcoming "biopic" upon. The author of "Buster Keaton: Cut to the Chase", Marion Meade, makes wildly outrageous claims about Keaton, gets facts totally wrong, uses a great deal of gossip and hearsay as "facts" and makes him out to be a pitiful man, when he was everything BUT. I wish Mangold would use the two latest (and ACCURATE) biographies as a basis for this film: "Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century" by Dana Stevens and James Curtis' "Buster Keaton: A Filmmaker's Life", both of which were published in 2022. And, of course, there is Buster's autobiography itself, "My Wonderful World of Slapstick". This great comic and cinematic icon deserves BETTER. Two examples of Meade's wild claims are that Buster was abused as a child by his father and that he was illiterate. Read those three references above to get the real story, particularly the one about his father. As for his alleged "illiteracy", one only has to look at extant examples of notes that Keaton wrote, the fact that was a cryptographer during WWI (and said he read the training manuals thoroughly, in contrast to most of the soldiers he knew), the fact that he liked mystery novels and so on to know that he was fully literate despite a lack of formal schooling. I wonder if his family has endorsed this drivel. Then again, what does one expect? It's Disney. 'Nuff said. Please - if you are interested at all in Buster (and you should be) - don't read this woman's book as your introduction to the life and films of this comic genius.

[@DTM-Books]

Hey, Mr Noodle! I know him because I have a toddler. But I also remember him from the Popeye movie.

[@65g4]

ive studied Keaton for a writing project i did and he was amazing. I also a very special dvd collectors edition with 3 films of his Steamboat bill sherlock jnr and The General

[@DualStupidity]

Very interesting how audience attitudes have changed. Nowadays most people don't mind seeing actors break character and laugh occasionally. Sometimes it feels like modern empathy is exceptionally rare in history.

[@jackmorrison7379]

The Buster Keaton fan groups and his remaining living relatives sure don't take kindly to any negative comments. On another channel I dared to say something negative about his appearance on a TV show. I dared to say Harold Lloyd was a nicer guy when he was a guest. Believe it or not they tracked me down after posting ranting endless attack comments to my comment, and called me at home to complain! Then they erased their own page. Keaton fans, chill out. I have free speech and too bad if you do not agree. Keaton left an enduring film legacy and deserves credit for his talent and work ethic. But I'm allowed to like another silent film comic who did his own stunts too, and was a humanitarian as well (Shriners Hospitals for children). No not the limey, the American from Nebraska with the glasses.

[@biologygirl91]

He is clearly amazing with all he could do on film: write, direct, produce, stunt…etc but I find that he was also very inspirational in his personal life - that he kept pushing forward and trying again and again just like the characters in his movies :)

[@emno5056]

yeah its a shame that his later jobs were lost. and he did some high-end stuff too. he was an alcoholic yes. but he kept working and did his thing. admirable, beautiful guy, and funny as all get out.

[@mgwilliams1000]

A comedian does funny things. A good comedian does things funny. Buster Keaton.

[@LuarIkot]

Great short documentary about Buster! Collects rare footage and lots of references. Big buster fan here! Trying to continue his legacy creating comedy shorts 🎥

[@sclogse1]

God.

[@MichaelBoyce-tm2vw]

Forget Ed Sullivan Buster was the Original!

[@KiranKumar-um2gz]

Hw much pain he must have dng stunts uff remind of Jackie chan

[@Vitte4]

To the Salon critic: the word is "mischievous".

[@brettwescott2793]

I like the character bill plays on SVU

[@lewstone5430]

Now I will watch some of his films, once I figure out where to find them.

[@DavidPogue]

Most of them are right here on KZbin, for free! Try "One Week" (only 20 min long) or "Sherlock Jr." for starters!

[@jennifersman7990]

There’s several dvd collections of his work too

[@KiranKumar-um2gz]

You should be proud great grand daughter

[@Enr227]

Wonderful third act!

[@Adr_Jim]

Still waiting for a movie on him

[@KiranKumar-um2gz]

MG...su

[@appnzllr]

Someone who works at Slate should know that "mishievious" is NOT A WORD.

[@alexkalish8288]

He was a great actor but Chaplin was 100 times better. They won't give him any credit and drove him out of the country - Limelight showed they loved each others work .

[@GrandpasOldMoviesChest]

He was not only a genius, but his athleticism was unbelievable... countless scenes where he risks his life and yet retains that stoic expression. There will never be another like him. May God bless this man.