Staff Book and Media Recommendations

Luci Seem is a Library Specialist at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Buster Keaton Collection: The Cameraman; Spite Marriage; Free and Easy

Keaton's films are full of gags and pratfalls, but it was his stoic face, comedic timing, and sometimes death defying physical comedy that gave his movies the Keaton signature. The Buster Keaton Collection has movies filmed under the restrictive contract he had with MGM, and denote the beginning of the decline of his career, but still contains one of his best works. The two other works included are well done and show Keaton's acting ability, as well as a snapshot of the coming of age of Talkies.

The Cameraman
As his first movie after signing with MGM, The Cameraman is an uplifting escapist film. Keaton's character, and the hero of the film, is a street-corner tintype photographer looking for a way to impress a young lady. In his attempts to gain her attention the camera is used as an appendage of Keaton, creating an extension of physical comedy. There is also a view into experiments in early cinematography when his newsreels showing an ocean liner going down a thoroughfare is viewed. A resurrected, organ-grinder's, dancing monkey captures photography that wins the fair maiden’s heart and secures the Cameraman a job at the newsreel service.

Spite Marriage
Although Keaton wanted to make his first talkie with Spite Marriage, MGM did not want to relinquish their sounds stages for a comedy. At the release it did include a step toward talkies, with synchronized music and sound effects.

In Spite Marriage Keaton portrays a favorite character, Elmer. Here Elmer is a trouser presser who borrows clothes from the tailor’s shop so he can attend the theatre every night. He hasn’t missed a performance, and has a comedy of errors that finally brings him to the attention of the actress in the leading role.

To spite her leading man the actress proposes marriage to Elmer. On their wedding night she gets drunk and passes out. In the scenes that follow Dorothy Sebastian, the actress playing his bride, shines in her ability to become a ragdoll to Keaton’s choreography.

The second half does have good physical comedy, but it is clear that Keaton is not in charge of production or direction. Larry Weingarten, the producer, won the battle for the complicated second half of the film. But we can all be grateful that Keaton won the war by keeping in the bedroom scene. It is physical comedy at its best.

Free and Easy
Buster returns to his character Elmer, this time as a talent agent for Miss Gopher City. He accompanies his client and her mother to Hollywood. Physical comedy is not left behind in Free and Easy as Elmer is pursued across film sets by the studio gateman. Keaton also gets to show his audible skills as Elmer gets a walk on part and tries to say the line, "The queen has swooned." Several retakes are made as he enters the room to declare, "The quoon has sweened." There are still several moments of silent genius where Keaton recreates the look that gave him the legendary moniker "stone face."

Reviewed October 2011