Buster Keaton, the shorts collection, 1917-1923

Author

Buster Keaton

Call Number

• BLU-RAY COMEDY (CEN)

Edition

Blu-ray version.

Languages

Silent films with English intertitles and musical accompaniment.

Performers

Buster Keaton, Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, Al St. John

Publication Information

New York, NY : Kino Classics, [2016]

Physical Description

5 videodiscs (738 minutes) : sound, black and white and color tinted ; 4 3/4 in.

Audience

Not rated.

Summary

"A five-disc collection of Keaton's 32 extant silent short films, presented in 2K restorations, newly scanned using archival film elements from around the world. This set includes the short comedies that Keaton made with pioneering silent comedy genius Roscoe Arbuckle, as well as all 19 of his independently-produced silent shorts that have cemented his reputation as one of silent cinema's most unique and respected artists. BUSTER KEATON: THE SHORTS COLLECTION includes 13 of the Roscoe 'Fatty' Arbuckle comedies produced between 1917-1920, in which Keaton co-starred alongside Arbuckle and Al St. John. In these formative works, Keaton honed his craft performing for the camera, and learned the art of filmmaking from Arbuckle, an extremely gifted comedy performer and director who, at the time, was second only to Chaplin among the screen's most popular clowns. The set also showcases all 19 of Keaton's independently-produced silent shorts, made between 1920 and 1923, including such classics as One Week, which follows the disastrous efforts of Keaton and his new bride to put together a prefabricated house; Cops, in which Keaton finds himself pursued by the entire city police force; and The Playhouse, a technical tour-de-force with Keaton playing all of the members of the cast (and audience) of a theatrical show. This edition also features the restored version of Hard Luck, Keaton's own favorite of all his short comedies, which includes the 'missing' ending with the final sight gag intact. These films, all of which were co-directed by Keaton, show him emerging as a fully-formed film artist, demonstrating both his remarkable slapstick abilities as a performer, and sophisticated visual style as a filmmaker. The films in this collection are presented with orchestral scores by Frank Bockius, Neil Brand, Timothy Brock, Antonio Coppola, Stephen Horne, Robert Israel, The Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, Dennis Scott, and Donald Sosin."--Provided by publisher.

Notes

Originally produced as individual motion pictures and released between 1917 and 1923.

Special features: 2K restorations, newly scanned (in 2K and 4K) from archival film elements ; orchestral scores by Frank Bockius, Neil Brand, Timothy Brock, Gunter Buchwald, Antonio Coppola, Stephen Horne, Robert Israel, The Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, Dennis Scott and Donal Sosin ; "The blacksmith" - newly rediscovered alternate version of the 1922 comedy, containing four minutes of previously unseen material ; "Coney Island" - alternate (politically incorrect) ending ; "My wife's relations" - alternate ending ; introduction by film preservationist Serge Bromberg (6 minutes) ; Life with Buster Keaton (1951, excerpt) - Keaton reenacts Roscoe Arbuckle's "Salomé dance" first performed in "The cook."

Contents

• Butcher boy Rough house His wedding night Oh doctor! Coney Island Out west

• Bell boy Moonshine Good night, nurse! Cook Back stage (1919)
• Hayseed Garage

• One week Convict 13 Scarecrow Neighbors Haunted house Hard luck

• "High Sign" Goat Play house Boat Paleface Cops My wife's relations

• Blacksmith Frozen North Electric house Day dreams Balloonatic Love nest