THE BUSTER KEATON STORY
US, 1957, 91 minutes, Black and white.
Donald O'Connor, Rhonda Fleming, Ann Blyth, Peter Lorre, Larry Keating, Richard Anderson.
Directed by Sidney Sheldon.
The Buster Keaton story is a modestly entertaining film about the great deadpan comedian. Commentators say that it does not necessarily reflect the details of his life. However, it highlights his vaudeville background, his entry into films and re-creates many sequences from his classics. It is an interesting evocation of Hollywood in the '20s, during the transition to sound, the early sound era.
Donald O'Connor is effective in the central role, especially with his acrobatic re-creation of Keaton's famous scenes. Ann Blyth is an attractive heroine. Rhonda Fleming has a guest role as an opinionated star. There is a momentary glimpse of Cecil B. de Mille whom Keaton does not recognise.
The film was co-written and directed by Sidney Sheldon. He had won an Oscar for The Bachelor and the Bobbysoxer in 1947. After a career in writing for screen and television, he moved into great success in writing bestsellers. The musical score is by Victor Young.
1. An entertaining film? Portrait of Buster Keaton? Of vaudeville and the transition to cinema? The times?
2. Black and white photography? The re-creation of old Keaton films? The use of silent techniques ? and the way that these were acted and filmed? The evocation of Hollywood? Musical score?
3. Audience interest in Buster Keaton? His impact in his time? Silent movies? Comedy, mime, pantomime? His later career? The background of his personal life? The portrait of a star and the familiar ingredients of self-centredness, success, failure, being loved and failing to return the love, drink?
4. Donald O'Connor's portrait of Keaton? The attempts made to make him look like Keaton? His vaudeville background? Hitting his head? The long years on the trail? His going to Hollywood? Getting into the studio? Meeting Gloria? Meeting Kurt? The humiliation when he acted the scene? His being employed by Lawrence Winters? The devotion of Gloria ? outings, style, his not recognising her love until too late? His attraction to Peggy Courtney, her use of him, the meal out and his bad manners, her engagement and his party? Success, the card-playing sequence and the good comments? His contract and starring and directing? His buying the mansion? His butler? Relationship with the studio? Greater success? Drinking? The failure of the romance? His sinking his money into films? Not recognising the transition to sound? His films failing? His drinking, Gloria marrying him, the strained life at home? Refusing a role in a talkie? His failure in understanding talkie techniques, his poor pronunciation? His playing baseball with the kids? His decision to go back to vaudeville? Success? Gloria joining him? An interesting portrait?
5. Gloria and her skill as Casting Director, the early encounters with Keaton, her low opinion of actors, loyalty to Winters, friendship with Tom? The outings with Keaton? His engagement to Peggy? Her going abroad? Her return he announcement of the engagement, her calling it off, rescuing him from prison, the marriage, housekeeping for him, her inability to save him, her joining him for the vaudeville act?
6. The Hollywood hierarchy, the sympathetic director, the agent, Kurt and his humiliating him on the set, trying to direct him in the talkie? The stars and their glamour? Peggy Courtney and her using people, her
engagement?
7. The film's comment on actors and their self-centredness? Their talent, self-assurance on the surface, interior insecurity?
8. The glimpse of Hollywood, film techniques, silent styles? The skill in Keaton's timing, acrobatics, sense of nonsense ? but with the deadpan face?
