Buster Keaton - Unforgettable scene - "Elevator chase"

From THE GOAT (1921)
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[@fransiscoscaramanga674]

the way he ran on the table, on top of his back, through the top of the door, all in one fluid motion,, no stunt double, no double takes, simply amazing........ 100 years later, were all still watching in amazement............he was one of a kind!

[@darkwood777]

Not sure you can say there were no retakes. We really don't know. They certainly would have practiced this multiple times, and probably filmed it a few more times before Buster got what he wanted.

[@geezermann7865]

I'm sure they had to practice that leap a few times to be sure they could do it for the camera. Remember that scene from another movie where the side of a house collapses on top of him, but he "fell through" the open window as it came down.

[@angeloflores2614]

ikr, just like a straight cartoon scene im awe!

[@SpartacusColo]

@@darkwood777 Perhaps he meant that it was all done in one, complete shot? As opposed to clips from different angles which may have made it appear as if it was all one, fluid motion, instead of the one, continuous shot that shows it to be one, continuous stunt.

[@jbtvt]

@@darkwood777 Legend is that if he didn't make something on the first take the gag would be cut. Legends aren't always true but something like this one isn't implausible to get first try

[@LiebensteinMovies]

Going down in the phone box is one of his best gags ever.

[@ElwoodPDowd-nz2si]

He got that from Get Smart.

[@saturninojosesuarezquintan7476]

Not only his, is one of the best gags in any movie :-)

[@majorneptunejr]

@@ElwoodPDowd-nz2si only this was over 40 years earlier

[@Red5tar66]

I once met a girl who went down in a phone box,

[@eyescreamcake]

I didn't even notice at first haha

[@χριστακηςχαραλαμπους]

Τhe father of parkour.The father of stunts.

[@aukua5512]

χριστακης χαραλαμπους Yes, he's really a true master of stunts, which even some of his stunts was so dangerous, that he broke one of his legs or ankles and his neck, which it was fractioned. But otherwise he is a parkour master as well, since he literally jumped across from the roof top of a building to get to the other side, but didn't grab on the the edge of the building but falls to a fire station. But actually that was done on fake building tops and the effects I the background look like that he is hundreds of feet in the air and the buildings was actually not that high up. But it looks like that he is more than a hundred feet in the air.

[@T.R.U.T.H..]

@@aukua5512 Thanks for letting us all know. I thought he did it for real from such a big height!

[@kilikus822]

@@creamwobbly I thought Georges Hebert was more of a founder of using your body and the environment as a gym environment. Wasnt it Belle who first started calling it Parkour and gave it more of a "transportation" focus than purely a workout routine?

[@xtiphuny89]

@@aukua5512 the first jump from building to building was done with real buildings. He meant to make that jump, but he didn't, so they used the take and came up with the firehouse gag to go with it. Im pretty sure he said it was a two story building, so yeah, not as high as they make it appear but still a decent drop.

[@Cinnimin]

i like how the number arrow is the thing that decides which floor the elevator is on

[@MichaelBradley1967]

Just an indicator. It's not supposed to work like this though.

[@Cinnimin]

@@MichaelBradley1967 yes

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Comedy of the absurd. Works well.

[@lukewagner5492]

Indeed it does. It's a well kept secret in the elevator industry. The push buttons inside are only for show. But they get angry if they find out that you know about this. I tried to manipulate the arrow in a tall building in NY and they showed me the way out.

[@ConstantlyDamaged]

It was actually something he wasn't happy with, by all accounts. He stopped doing that kind of "subversion of reality" gag after this skit.

[@Johnny53kgb-nsa]

99 year's ago! I bet Buster never imagined he would be still making us laugh for this long. Hilarious.

[@captblsisko]

He'll even make you laugh in the 32nd Century! (And possibly the 42nd, depending when that Star Trek: Short Treks takes place.)

[@markscarborough7580]

Made this KZbin video - a visionary!

[@Nacho-Mamma]

He was the master, and had the longest career!

[@42lookc]

The best part for me was when he ran over the table, Big Daddy's back, and dove out the transom window!

[@jamesbrice3267]

The Jackie Chan of his time.

[@cattycorner8]

42lookc oh- and then we were off to the races! I haven't LOL like that in AGES

[@kennethwalker4701]

@@jamesbrice3267 yep,and no fancy computer tricks and green back drops....real stunt men and also Tom Mix!!

[@DMBall]

Must have taken plenty of rehearsal.

[@jandoerlidoe3412]

That scene is just awesome

[@shashankshrivastava5818]

Buster Keaton an absolute genius. Hope cinema goers study him more and get to know how he has inspired modern film makers and films in general.

[@SirSSau]

It’s like watching a real life cartoon.

[@vernoncorv3862]

That elevator ejection at 4:27 could have gotten them the "Special Effects" Oscar that year....except the Academy Awards was almost ten years away.

[@cattycorner8]

1929?

[@planetX15]

@@cattycorner8 1921

[@tdevine3730]

Looks good 👍🏼

[@haroldrankin2683]

That was pretty high tech for the time!!!

[@grandlotus1]

Dig it! This stuff is SO original. There is a genuine surprise every 3 seconds for almost 5 minuets.

[@overout429]

He could do any thing and make it look simple. I understand he made up his own bits and handled his own stunts. Great artist.

[@connor48880]

When he started messing around with the arrow at the end, and he made it shoot the elevator out of the building, I started laughing really hard. Bravo Buster Keaton, you were truly a master of your craft.

[@nicktwyford]

That leap at 2 minutes in is astonishing. I had to rewatch that a few times as I picked my jaw up off the floor.

[@switchbuckle5th]

Check out more of Keaton's work, his physicality and athleticism was astonishing. There is a moment in one of his films in which he literally jumps from flat ground all the way over a full grown horse. It's inceedible.

[@RadicalCaveman]

I watched it at quarter-speed and you can see the other actor very briefly reposition himself to make it easier. It's not noticeable at full speed and the jump is still amazing.

[@zeeshanshaikh6372]

its impossible to watch these silent films while being silent

[@josedacunhafilho]

I would give anything, as a cinephile, to be able to watch scenes like this with the mind and spirit of audiences of the period when these films were just made. If they amaze us now, I cannot imagine the fascination 100 years ago, for they had to have been more transfixing than the most elaborate special effects scenes of modern films of today.

[@tihspidtherekciltilc5469]

Pretend you're 12 as that's what the average brain was equivalent to. His words not mine.

[@andres.e.]

@@tihspidtherekciltilc5469 I'm afraid a 12 year-old in the 1920's would be the equivalent of a 25 year-old today. ;-)

[@Radb707]

Considering his films didn't do well back then, I don't think you should give ANYTHING.

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

Buster Keaton did all of his stunts and paid with several fractures, including his neck. That escape he did jumping over the big guy is amazing. I much preferred his work over Chaplin. Another good star of the time was Harrold Lloyd.

[@deathsquadron3311]

so early 20th century versions of tom cruise and jackie chan

[@davidthedeaf]

@@deathsquadron3311 no, child.

[@arglebargle17]

Indeed, Lloyd and Keaton were far funnier. Chaplain's humor always seemed forced. The "I'm more clever than you" humor of Chaplain paled to the meme of the dog at the computer thinking "I don't know what I'm doing" version of humor from Keaton and Lloyd. With Keaton and Lloyd, you laugh because you fumble with them. (True of Laurel and Hardy.) With Chaplin, you can only laugh because you feel "inside."

[@CarSVernon]

One of the things I love about youtube is that you can find this kind of stuff a hundred years after they were made, even though it is hard to come across them anymore elsewhere. Even for film fans, yeah Buster Keaton did get mentioned in film magazines etc, but now this kind of stuff just gets lost in the constant oversaturation of what came out this year that people have to pretend is great.

[@smadaf]

But we don't have to pretend. We can stop pretending. We can tell the world that the emperor has no clothes on.

[@MrDriftspirit]

yeah so true! i celebrate everyday that there ist KZbin! But ist often a Clinch Not to click litter Videos or to get torn into negative Videos. anyhow. thanks universe that there ist KZbin

[@scopex2749]

I love the way he bangs a nail in the elevator floor pointer as if it stops it! 😂😂😂😂

[@flyingspirit3549]

And then twists the floor pointer to cause the elevator to fly out the top of the building!

[@ashleys1145]

2:00 he's probably the only person who could do that at that time, even now very few could

[@stevecarter8810]

A bunch of Chinese acrobats could have. Jackie Chan was one of the last generation of those

[@ashleys1145]

@@stevecarter8810 i mean the only actor.

[@djhenyo]

@@stevecarter8810 Jackie Chan wasn't alive during the silent film era.

[@darkwood777]

Harold Lloyd could have. He did many amazing stunts.

[@stevecarter8810]

@@djhenyo right. But Chinese acrobats existed.

[@johnmitchelljr]

I fell in love with Mr. Keaton in late 60's with my first film. No turning back with the genius. I hope people get the same inspiration now. He was also a decent person. Thanks for sharing.

[@christopherwhippy3181]

Buster Keaton, a man way ahead of his time and to think this never gets too old to watch.

[@benjaminperth337]

Well, that was worth a 1920's nickel. To whom do I send the 5-cents?

[@joemartin1253]

I find this more entertaining than most of today's movies or television!

[@ptaylor4923]

The initial escape from the room is wonderful.

[@MrTrackman100]

That leap throw the transit window is incredible! Had to be perfectly timed to make it through. Quite and athlete!

[@rhyfelwrDuw]

Absolutely brilliant - the comedic timing was perfect! There was something fabulous about silent movies!

[@SymphonyBrahms]

Silent movies are wonderful. The genius of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. The glamour and acting of Gloria Swanson. The sexy handsome vibe of Rudolph Valentino. And the brilliance of directors like Cecil B. DeMille.

[@scottouellette9411]

The Houdini of the stunt and comical world. He was a Master of his craft.

[@TheRKae]

Interesting that you should say that! Did you know that Keaton's father traveled with Harry Houdini in the Keaton Houdini Medicine Show Company?

[@charlieharper886]

Supposedly Houdini was actually the person who first gave him the nickname "Buster". He watched two year old Joseph fall down some stairs, ran over and dusted him off and when he saw that he didn't have so much as a scratch on him he laughed and said something to the effect of, "That was a real buster!" The name stuck.

[@uppitywhiteman6797]

Thanks for digging these up. Never appreciated BK before.

[@timm_3r]

That dive through the window above the door after stepping over dinner and onto dad was glorious.

[@spazimdam]

I wonder if Buster Keaton is studied at stunt school. If there even is such a thing, it should be required. Physical genius he was.

[@spaceracer23]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKO8ep1oe6ygg6M

[@spazimdam]

@@spaceracer23 Thanks.

[@SymphonyBrahms]

He was self trained, and he invented all of his stunts himself.

[@taoliu3949]

He came from a family of circus performers. His father basically trained him for stunts as a child.

[@spazimdam]

@@taoliu3949 Ah that explains a lot.

[@MyLateralThawts]

As a kid in the 70’s, I spent a few years in Germany, where I was introduced to silent comedies such as this. What was different and a little surprising, was that the weekly show dispensed with the piano music, added snazzy jazz instead, added sound effects, got rid of the title cards and added a narrator. I thought it was great. When I came back to Canada and saw the traditional methods, I was a little disappointed. I really am surprised no one else has taken this approach.

[@kittywampusdrums4963]

I always rewind and watch that part where he jumps out the top of the window from the dude's shoulders. Wow.

[@cattycorner8]

Kittywampus Drums The whole thing *shifts* at once - it's really brilliant

[@petermaxwell2965]

I loved this era, everyone kept their stupid mouths shut !

[@aukua5512]

Peter Maxwell I agree. I'm only 14 years old and I seriously love this era a lot. :) Everyone can be annoyed by that, it's on them.

[@victormalyar9200]

Silence is golden but there's no such thing as a perfect solution, If someone is blind they can't hear what is said in a silent film.

[@larvancioramos9748]

So build the TIME MACHINE, you ARENT better for watching old videos D O R K.

[@l.5832]

I'm hearing impaired so I love watching this stuff. I don't miss anything like I do with talking movies.

[@Brentstarga]

So freaking CLEVER!!!

[@tomitstube]

'the goat' is a brilliant and funny film, you can watch the whole thing at its wikipedia page "the goat (1921 film)" if you haven't seen it you should treat yourself, one of keaton's best imho. and don't forget to donate to wikipedia for all the great (free) work they do.

[@feralbluee]

thank you so much!!!!!! he’s always been my favorite and you’ve kept the original music :) (so many of these use such awful music, i can’t watch them.)

[@TheFreshSpam]

Great work of Buster and his crew. But I find it funny and sad that over 100 years ago they had higher quality

[@MegaMartinxo]

Genius!!

[@Axgoodofdunemaul]

Note the old tech: hydraulic or pneumatic elevator. I don't think they went seven stories high. Buster Keaton: nobody better, except Chaplin, maybe.

[@TheRealLaughingGravy]

I don't think Chaplin holds up as well today. Show Chaplin and Keaton to a modern audience that is unfamiliar with both, and I think they'll laugh art Keaton but find Chaplin too slow and cloyingly sentimental. Chaplin was of his time; Keaton is timeless.

[@nigel900]

Outstanding! Unfortunately, 175+ addicted to excessive amounts of CGI were not impressed, and gave a resounding Thumbs Down...

[@christopherwheeler688]

The idea that the indicator arrow controls the lift is superb.

[@abc64pan]

I bet people tried that in real life and wondered why it had no effect on the elevator. LOL

[@cekojuna6930]

When this scene alone has more personality and more story than most of the movies made in the last 5 years.

[@kesharisuthar3268]

This is March 2023 and Buster Keaton is hugely hilarious and fun-filled with his surprisingly amazing stunts and antics even after 100 years. 😀😀😁😁😆😆

[@Rusty_Gold85]

100 years later Penny and Sheldon moved into the building

[@lahire1295]

That is much more fascinating than many modern movies, effort and talent will always be above money grabbers.

[@8-bitsteve500]

A legend then and forever.

[@greenwich1754]

I was definitely born at the wrong time. I want to go back....WAY back!

[@theresaholguin699]

Me to

[@jeffyoung3635]

Why do all of there voices sound like a piano .....

[@aukua5512]

Jeff Young This is a silent movie, so there were not any audible recordings during the time. But they put subtitles on the screen that they're talking to each other. But the very first movie to have sound is "The Jazz Singer" (1927). By 1929, sound in films are starting to become popular. In silent movies, they mainly would have piano soundtracks.

[@jeffyoung3635]

Aukua , thank you my friend.Be safe -

[@iandalziel7405]

There was just Mike Hammer writing at the time, he was a 'stand-up guy', no 'grand pretensions' But highly strung, in an 'Ivory League' kinda way...

[@declamatory]

What was the reason for the chase in the first place?

[@sircompo]

I was wondering just that. I'm guessing a breach of table etiquette (starting before the host or ladies). Table manners were strictly enforced back then 😉

[@rupe53]

@@sircompo ... I am going to guess he's trying to date the young gal and he's with the family to have a meal... but father doesn't agree. (over my dead body)

[@sircompo]

@@rupe53 That certainly sounds more likely!

[@fredneecher1746]

Such a joy to hear a real silent movie piano accompaniment again!

[@theoyancey]

not sure why they started fighting but this was good nonetheless

[@sarahdee374]

That's what I was wondering, did I miss why the big guy hated BK so much?

[@miranisilva532]

THE BEST OF THE BEST: BUSTER KEATON

[@DenitaArnold]

The Goat -- fist Buster Keaton movie 🎥 I saw. Great!

[@stvp68]

The Cameraman was mine 💖

[@ellentravers7889]

Brilliant. My favorite comic actor from the era. What an inventive mind. What a fluid, graceful body with almost unerring instincts. He was so handsome, too.

[@Armafly]

I wonder how long we do have to wait for another Buster Keaton.

[@jakepullman4914]

Assuming time is cyclical, 36,779,999,900 years, give or take.

[@isupportyou9929]

As amazing as Jacky Chan today.

[@janetgray2184]

Jackie Chan was inspired by Keaton. By the way, Diane Keaton was Busters kid.

[@iandalziel7405]

@@janetgray2184 - No she wasn't/isn't. Did you check first before commenting?

[@misst.e.a.187]

@@janetgray2184 Not true

[@darkwood777]

@@janetgray2184 Diane Keaton is a stage name that came from her mother's side of the family. Her real name is/was Diane Hall, but the name Diane Hall was already in use by another actress.

[@Ekkie101]

I just saw a movie called "She Went to the Races" in which Keaton had an unbilled walk on as a bellboy tripping over luggage.

[@Rolf_Venz]

youtube recommended this to me 100 years after release.

[@juanfernandez820]

Keaton irrepetible.

[@houdannycomedymagic8642]

Still crazy-funny after all these years!!!

[@malgorzatagangestad8078]

Am yust 13 but love him so much hes so funny

[@imnotmelvin3]

Genius!

[@domdolittle]

Buster Keaton & Charlie Chaplin were always present while growing up, it is now with nostalgia watching old footage of their performance that I got to realize how lucky we were...

[@Stotter123]

why is it so good, even after more than 100 years

[@almeggs3247]

Beautiful thanks

[@archer0770]

STILL FUNNY

[@JasmineSurrealVideos]

Just beautiful. Balletic, clever and physical, and I love Busters obvious joy and love of animals, in fact I think he loved them more than people, which makes him all the more enticing. In real life too. Such an exquisite looking man as well.

[@daveidmarx8296]

I've always wished that Jim Parsons (of Big Bang Theory) would've played Keaton in something. They definitely share a resemblance.

[@cactus9362]

MUITO BOM CARA, CRIATIVO, ENGRAÇADO E TECNOLÓGICO. PRA ÉPOCA CLARO.

[@BillyBronco73]

Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Stan Laurel. Touched with genius.

[@garethbeare7319]

Keaton attended Laurel's funeral in 1965. They were pals in their later years. Keaton himself died a year later.

[@patrickalpha1315]

... and Charlie Chaplin.

[@doktorzappergeck492]

How did you manage to make the video quality lower than almost 100 years ago? Not complaining, just asking.

[@doktorzappergeck492]

Neither did he film in 240p and add compression artefacts in post production.

[@ksteiger]

It was all shot in 35 mm and had as much resolution as a modern 35 mm print. I never get this concept where people think silent films should look like crap. And yeah pretty much EVERYBODY shot in 8K. Why do you think they scanned Wizard of Oz in 8K??? Because there IS that much detail.

[@OFFICIAL_VIDEO_AWARDS]

Ken Steiger they used Technicolor cameras for wizard of oz. Because you compared the two means you should keep your Nancy mouth shut.

[@whirledpeas1182]

outwestlawns fairly certain technicolor is post production

[@wallycleaver8267]

Uploaded with tin cans and string.

[@paulgschannel]

Leonard and Penny look so different in these early episodes.

[@jadenprice1463]

i'm still confused on why the man was so angry at him XD

[@xCorvus7x]

What's written on the sign at the end that makes him go inside?

[@l.5832]

I can't make out the second word but it is to the effect "You provide the girl, we will furnish the home" It is a furniture store.

[@xCorvus7x]

@@l.5832 Oh, so the joke is him taking it literally. Thanks.

[@alyssabrown-washington5361]

The first part where he shrunk into the seat has me laughing already! 🤣

[@wolfganggugelweith8760]

He was a genius person!

[@pgp]

I thought they were all one family and the dad was an abusive father, only later did I get the in-law angle. Thank God it didn't turn darker than my imagination lol

[@margaretjiantonio939]

He was really brilliant. I saw him on candid camera once & he was hysterical. The things he do with a few props was amazing.

[@300pzl]

extremely witty.

[@amarteville426]

Géant! ET ALORS, LA MUSIQUE AU PIANO... TOP !!

[@paddle_shift]

I see a lot of Jackie Gleason in the big daddy actor.

[@bradleyhowell4155]

I remember when I that came out. I had just turned 30.

[@charliebockover]

You win this thread

[@hardwirecars]

i cant imagine does that mean you got to see the wild west and im thinking about it because i just saw tomb stone again the other day were you around when wyatt and doc were?

[@المجتمعاتالسرية]

100 years!

[@BobABooey.]

The CG is incredible.

[@Weltaz]

ahaHAHAHAHAHA

[@leonblum7898]

YO LO CALIFICARÍA UN ''COMEDIANTE GENIAL''A PESAR DE QUE ''CHAPLIN''REUNÍA TODO ÉSO Y ERA MÁS ''TESTIMONIAL''.-2 VERDADEROS ''INCUNABLES''.-MUCHAS GRACIAS,''INTER-PATHÉ''

[@FunnyCallsPrank]

Camera trickery was on another level, 120+yrs ago Buster called clever editing movie making, meanwhile today Chris Angel calls it "magic"

[@jaywinters2483]

This is what is called a speakeasy. Silent movie. My grandmother was World War I generation and she used to play the piano at the theater in Corning New York at Fox theater

[@JohnPiperBoots]

Amazing ahahah thanks fpr sharing this. Wish we had a time machine to be observers of history in real time. LOL 👍😀

[@dickJohnsonpeter]

Can someone tell me why that fat guy got mad in the first place? He just suddenly became furious at him for no apparent reason at all.

[@ViralTuber]

I already knew the modern movie "Maryada Ramanna" (2010) from India is based on the movie "Our Hospitality" (1923) by Buster Keaton. But now I've just randomly run across this scene from "The Goat" (1921) which is also copied in "Maryada Ramanna". The person behind "Maryada Ramanna" must have studied and loved Buster Keaton. Their love of Keaton worked out well for them, since "Maryada Ramanna" is a fun and entertaining movie. Obviously a direct borrow from Keaton: original stunt = 2:03 copied stunt = kzbin.info/www/bejne/hZnQgIdpe86Ml8k BTW, you can catch the full movie "Maryada Ramanna" (excellent comedy/musical with a classic Hollywood pedigree) at the clip link I provided.

[@brakeduster]

Buster is a phenomenon. It never occurred to me before, but at 1:22 to 1:35 that intense look is the spitting image of young Al Pacino.

[@FloatingOnAZephyr]

Can anyone make out the sign at the end? I can't quite read it.

[@FloatingOnAZephyr]

You furnish the girl, we furnish the home?

[@fransiscoscaramanga674]

100 years later, try finding a physical comedic actor who can replicate some of Busters stunts...... you ain't gonna find one......he was amazing.....

[@lesnyk255]

Brilliant. Take note, "Dumb and Dumber" - THIS is how it's done.

[@boboften9952]

Details.... This Is Part Of A Longer Sequence Where The Father In Law And Buster Keaton Have Already Come To Blows . This Is Why The Father In Law Is Seeking Revenge . Buster Is Invited To Tea At The Financees , But Doesn't Know Who Her Father Is . Thank You Tube .

[@randyrc53]

Thank source!

[@magmasunburst9331]

There are over 500 full length feature silent films on youtube. My favorite is The shock with lon chaney.

[@boboften9952]

There Is An Interview Of Buster Keaton , Talking , Saying , About The Stunts . It's Filmed While On A Train . Good Insight Into How The Stunts Worked . " On You Tube "

[@joeskis]

Can't have praying before you eat scenes or men carrying women scenes anymore. Buster needs cancelling.

[@alexrodgers9247]

That scene looks like the front desk, stairs, and elevator (behind door) that was used in I Love Lucy. They were on their European tour, in Italy, Rome I think. They were booked on the top floor of the ‘cheap Fred’ hotel, and trying to call back to NY to tell little Ricky Happy Birthday. They had to run up and down the Stairs a hundred times due to broken elevator. Then Lucy has a cute little Italian bambino (boy) wanting to shine her shoes….but, missing little Ricky she tells the little boy to get his friends and come to her/their room for a birthday party for lil Rick in-absentia Ahhh simpler times, all pre-mask mandates. Does it look familiar to anyone else?

[@juliusvalentinas]

Great video, but shitty crappy digitization? Why? Even from 8mm film GAMAFIX gets 2K quality since year 2007 !

[@graniteman62]

Who is better than Buster Keaton, no other great film comic including Chaplin could what Keaton could d do no way, Chaplin wasn't the acrobat nor as physical as Keaton, he played pathos and sympathy which buster never did, even harold Lloyd who didn't do many stunts like Keaton, buster is the greatest silent film star

[@yves-noel-mariegonnet1043]

A very big thank you for making these old films available to us! We watch them and re-watch them with Pleasure! Un très grand Merci de nous rendre disponible ces vieux films! On les regarde et les re-regarde avec Plaisir!