The Fall of Buster Keaton: His Films for Mgm, Educational Pictures, and Columbia

Born into a family of vaudevillians, Buster Keaton made his first film appearance in 1917 at the age of 21. By the early 1920s, he had established himself as one of the geniuses of silent cinema with such films as Sherlock, Jr. and The Navigator and his 1925 work, The General, placed at number 18 in the American Film Institute's poll of the 100 greatest features, the highest ranked silent film on the survey. But with the advent of sound in the late 1920s, silent stars like Keaton began to fall out of favor and the great comedian's career began to decline. In The Fall of Buster Keaton, James Neibaur assesses Keaton's work during the talking picture era, especially those made at MGM, Educational, and Columbia studios. While giving some attention to the early part of Keaton's career, Neibaur focuses on Keaton's contract work with the three studios, as well as his subsequent work as a gagman, supporting player, and television pitchman. The book also recounts the resurgence of interest in Keaton's silent work, which resulted in a lifetime achievement Oscar and worldwide recognition before his death in 1966. This fascinating account of an artist's struggle and triumph during the more challenging period of his career will be of interest to anyone wanting to learn about one of film's most influential performers.

About the Author :
James L. Neibaur is a film historian and educator, who has written hundreds of articles including over 40 essays in the Encyclopedia Britannica. He is the author of several books on film, including Arbuckle and Keaton: Their 14 Film Collaborations (2005) and Chaplin at Essanay: A Film Artist in Transition, 1915-1916 (2008).

Review :
With Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd, stone-faced Buster Keaton ranked among the top silent film comic geniuses. The other two were astute businessmen who retained their fabulous wealth and reputations, while Keaton fell off the map in the early 1930s. He went on to make two-reel comedy shorts for Educational Pictures and then Columbia, films that he later dismissed as 'crummy.' Neibaur (Chaplin at Essanay: A Film Artist in Transition, 1915-1916) summarizes the plots and sometimes the critical reception of each, as well as the films Keaton made at M-G-M and those he appeared in until his death....The greatest value in this book is a reevaluation of the films' merits. Keaton's legions of fans will enjoy this book. The Fall of Buster Keaton...marches in chronological order through Keaton’s MGM and post-MGM performances, dutifully trying to find a trace of his old spark. [A] key strength of Neibaur's books is that there are in-depth recaps of the MGM, Educational and Columbia films Keaton made. A plus for readers is that Neibaur debunks a common perception that the Educational and Columbia shorts were all artistic failures. In fact, the author serves to rehabilitate Keaton's talkie shorts' image by extolling the virtues of short films such as 'Allez Oop,' 'One-Run Elmer,' 'The Gold Ghost,' 'Jail Bait,' (Educational) and 'Pardon My Berth Marks,' 'Pest From the West,' 'Nothing But Pleasure,' (Columbia) and a few others. The author makes a convincing case that Keaton needs to be re-evaluated as a talkie comedy shorts talent. ... We should appreciate the love that produces books of this dedicated scholarship. For those interested in the body of Keaton’s work in its entirety, The Fall of Buster Keaton is a good read that addresses parts of Keaton’s career that many other books gloss over or completely ignore.