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Short biography of buster keaton
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Biographies of Buster Keaton
Buster Keaton, Charles Samuels, My Wonderful World of Slapstick (USA: De Capo Press, 1982). Easily the most personal account of the silent film star, this indispensable book was co-written by Keaton himself. While it's not the most objective source - Keaton's memory or interpretation of certain events is rather unclear - it's an enjoyable and well-written memoir; offering some key facts and recollections. He delves quite a bit into his family life, dispelling some rumours and ruminating at length about his early years in the family vaudeville act (wherein he would perform the dangerous and creative stunts that became his trademark). From his later association with fellow silent film star Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, through to his breakthrough as a leading man in early Hollywood, the book covers some fertile ground. It is, however, frustratingly brief - only touching the surface. Keaton glosses over the troubles he faced (such as his broken first marriage, or his clinical depression), making the book incomplete. My Wonderful World of Slapstick is most notable for providing an insight into Keaton's creative process - the formation of a visual gag for instance - and the writing makes his voice clear. We are given the impression that Keaton was a man without pretension, and his sense of humour remained intact toward the end of his life. While the lack of focus on his key films disappointed many critics, the book represents his only recorded memoir.
Eleanor Keaton, Jeffrey Vance, Buster Keaton Remembered (USA: Harry N. Abrams Inc., 2001). Equally personal, due to the involvement of his widow Eleanor, Buster Keaton Remembered traces his career and background in more depth. Detailing his rise from two-re...
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...d=3363). A comprehensive review of Keaton's most famous work. Brooke chooses to highlight the star/director's technical achievements, and his place as a true innovator of American comedy cinema. The writer notes: "Keaton's control of this material is masterly throughout, whether it's the large-scale set-pieces (including what was then the single most expensive shot in film history) or the smaller, more intimate moments, such as the iconic image of a lovesick Keaton sitting on the metal bar joining the wheels of his train, oblivious to the fact that it's starting to move". As with other critics, Brooke is all-too aware of Keaton's influence on filmmaking.
Internet Movie Database: Buster Keaton (USA: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000036/). The IMDb entry for Keaton includes a biography, trivia, and his complete filmography ranging from director, to actor, to producer.
Tim Burton: Exuberant, unique, witty, with his movies bring smiles to faces all around, young and old. The talents this man has are numerous; the films directed flawlessly.
J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye depicts a short span in the life of a
raises about art. And this is for the best; after all, the film is a comedy.
In my seemingly never-ending quest to fill in the glut of blind spots in moviegoing history, I tackled my first Marx Brothers’ film, 1933’s “Duck Soup.” As some of you may have realized, comedy isn’t my favorite genre simply because it frequently fails to make me laugh. Nevertheless, I continue to watch supposedly rib-tickling films in an effort to develop more of a taste for the genre. While I did find “Duck Soup” amusing, I cannot say I found it funny.
--clockwork orange... at times I wish I had those eye-lid clamps for some of my classes, that and bottle of visine, too. it's a nicely designed page, with lots of information on his films. I forgot he was the one who directed dr. strangelove, a personal classic of mine.
The noir style is showcased in Sunset Boulevard with its use of visually dark and uncomfortable settings and camera work, as well as its use of the traditional film noir characters. In addition, the overall tone and themes expressed in it tightly correspond to what many film noirs addressed. What made this film unique was its harsh criticism of the film industry itself, which some of Wilder’s peers saw as biting the hand that fed him. There is frequent commentary on the superficial state of Hollywood and its indifference to suffering, which is still a topic avoided by many in the film business today. However, Sunset Blvd. set a precedent for future film noirs, and is an inspiration for those who do not quite believe what they are being shown by Hollywood.
As stated by Robin Williams, “You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it” (brainyquote.com). Robin Williams was a self-acclaimed comedian and actor. His work in many movies and his comedy shows made him an icon for people everywhere. Throughout his life he brought smiles and happiness to everyone who watched him. Exploring Robin Williams early life, career, and death can help one gain a deeper understanding of his life and struggles.
He received the People’s Choice Award of Favourite Comedic Movie Actor because of films like “50 First Dates”, “Grown Ups”, “Just Go with It”, “That’s My Boy” and “Grown Ups 2”.
From the lavish mansions of Hollywood stars to the cigarette smoke filled offices of broke screenwriters, the 1950 noir movie Sunset Boulevard remains a timeless classic with a stunning story of an actress gone mad, and a screenwriter just trying to squeak by. This film is the first pre-1960’s flick that has left me with a feeling of awe. The first word that comes to mind after the credits begin to roll is just“wow!”. I was struck by the intriguing plotline and brilliant execution of the story. Not only is the film a classic for its gripping story, and twisted power dynamics, it also shows amazing camera work and brilliant acting.
Sunset Boulevard has had a huge impact on other filmmakers. Many filmmakers still use many of the quotes from Sunset Boulevard today. Sunset Boulevard is a film that represents one of the biggest milestones in film history, silence to sound. Sunset Boulevard also is a great example of the style; film
The success in Pal Joey started his numerous cooperation with Stanley Donen. Kelly and Fred Astaire were considered as the brain and heart of the drama. His success in Singin’ in the Rain made him known to the world. He was remembered by his excellent dancing skills and natural humor in his performance. He received many awards from Hollywood for his contributions to the performance industry.
Many people believe Marlon Brando was the greatest actor of the 20th century. His life was filled with wonderful, interesting, but also encountered troubling times. Marlon Brando was a rebellious boy who later grew up to be known as the “world’s greatest actor.”
Sight gags are an essential part of comedy, especially the silent comedies of Charlie Chaplin's time. A sight gag is a visual form of comedy. In this form of comedy, the actors rely on the way the audience perceives the actions on screen for humor. This could include a misunderstanding by characters or a misrepresentation of an everyday object. In order to make the gag work, the actor must use smooth, visible actions to convey his or her point. Noel Carroll outlines six different types of sight gags in the book, Comedy/Cinema/Theory. In this paper, I will talk about each gag and give examples from the three Charlie Chaplin films that we have watched.
One of America's finest playwrights, Eugene Gladstone O'Neill's great tragedies were greatly influenced by his own experiences with his dysfunctional family. He used these occurrences to craft one of the most successful careers in the earliest 20th century, earning countless awards including the Nobel Prize for Literature, four Pulitzer Prizes, Antoinette Perry Award and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award. Out of all of these Greek-like tragedies there emerged his only comedy, Ah, Wilderness!; a period piece set in his summer home of New London, CT. O'Neill referred to this play as the "other side of the coin", meaning that it represented his fantasy of what his own youth might have been, rather than what he believed it to have been (as seen in his magnum opus, Long Day's Journey into Night). These two plays are his two most auto-biographical plays, Long Day's Journey dramatizing his family, and Ah, Wilderness! paralleling it.
Barsam, Richard. Looking at Movies An Introduction to Film, Second Edition (Set with DVD). New York: W. W. Norton, 2006. Print.