What do you think?
Rate this book
Buster Keaton Remembered
Known for his legendary "stone face" and incredible physical gags, Buster Keaton (1895-—1966) was a genius of silent-film comedy. Decades after their release, his movies remain unsurpassed marvels of comic invention and mechanical timing. In Buster Keaton Remembered, a unique illustrated survey of Keaton's career, Eleanor Keaton, his wife of 26 years, and film historian Jeffrey Vance provide a personal account of this icon of American cinema.
Drawing on professional papers, screenplays, studio records, and scrapbooks, the authors trace Keaton's beginnings in vaudeville, where he perfected his gags; his first silent shorts with Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle; the brilliant features he conceived, directed, produced, and performed in; and his later sound films for M-G-M and others. Fresh prints of classic film stills and never-before-published photos from the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, together with a lively, anecdotal text, offer a behind-the-scenes look at how Keaton came up with his hilarious ideas, choreographed his elaborate stunts, and crafted his films.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2001
6 people are currently reading
781 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 1, 2011
Fantastic photos.
No one man should be this photogenic. Not that I'm complaining...
No one man should be this photogenic. Not that I'm complaining...
September 16, 2011
One of the best silent film actors of all time.He was amazing in all of his films.
November 21, 2007
Keaton was one of a kind. He did all of his own stunts, engineered on the set, and when I watch a film with him in it, silent or not, it's always entertaining! This book engagingly reveals his professional and personal life.
July 26, 2012
A combination oversize coffee table book, photography archive, and biography, includes how to make a pork pie hat. Beautiful, beautiful photographs; stills made while making the movies, from the studios, from the Keaton family. And, a list of every television show he was on and all those minor movies he appeared in and for which he wrote gags; making it easy to look them up on You Tube.
August 16, 2020
Once you've seen a Keaton feature or short on the big screen there's a chance you'll want to learn more about him. My recommendation is to watch 3 or 4 of his features and as many of his shorts before diving into any of the biographies. Some of them cloud or obfuscate. None of them 'correctly' describe or recommend every single feature and short, and none quite prepare you for the creative athletic balletic majesty of the films when seen on the big screen.
In order I suggest: Ed McPherson (a fan's gentle overview), Buster Keaton Remembered (beautiful large format illustrated memoir by Buster's wife Eleanor), My Wonderful World of Slapstick (Keaton's autobiography), Rudi Blesh (good biog up to 1929), Kevin Sweeney's 'Interviews' compendium (fascinating detail on the film making) and finally, if you must, Tom Dardis (downbeat, depressing, alternative biog which refreshingly contains uncomfortable truths but so completely removes rose-tinting it quickly sours into a dull and cold-hearted economic, pragmatic assessment of a creative and athletic life).
Recommended films: http://imdb.com/list/NzLZZFMp3pA
In order I suggest: Ed McPherson (a fan's gentle overview), Buster Keaton Remembered (beautiful large format illustrated memoir by Buster's wife Eleanor), My Wonderful World of Slapstick (Keaton's autobiography), Rudi Blesh (good biog up to 1929), Kevin Sweeney's 'Interviews' compendium (fascinating detail on the film making) and finally, if you must, Tom Dardis (downbeat, depressing, alternative biog which refreshingly contains uncomfortable truths but so completely removes rose-tinting it quickly sours into a dull and cold-hearted economic, pragmatic assessment of a creative and athletic life).
Recommended films: http://imdb.com/list/NzLZZFMp3pA
June 6, 2021
While this impressive book from Mr. Vance and Mrs Keaton certainly will be of interest to Buster’s fans, it ought to be even more fascinating for film buffs.
The insight it delivers to just how Buster’s oeuvre came about, how important he was not just as an actor, but as a director, writer, engineer, and inventor, is stunning.
The very well-written texts also deliver unexpected insights. We learn, for example, that the person we saw as Buster on-screen was perhaps also often the same person off-screen. Mr. Keaton seemed to possess an inherent, quirky kind of humor that was most serious business for him; serious so that it may be brought through screens to the masses. Entertainment is much effort and this effort is worth much deliberation and obsession with perfect execution for Buster Keaton.
Even though this book will look well on any coffee table, it is meant to be seen and read in detail, best in a leisurely manner. The carefully chosen photo selection is exceptional and the restoration process applied both subtle and superb. The Japanese print of the book is outstanding and makes this a treasure, just as the filmography Buster left to us.
The insight it delivers to just how Buster’s oeuvre came about, how important he was not just as an actor, but as a director, writer, engineer, and inventor, is stunning.
The very well-written texts also deliver unexpected insights. We learn, for example, that the person we saw as Buster on-screen was perhaps also often the same person off-screen. Mr. Keaton seemed to possess an inherent, quirky kind of humor that was most serious business for him; serious so that it may be brought through screens to the masses. Entertainment is much effort and this effort is worth much deliberation and obsession with perfect execution for Buster Keaton.
Even though this book will look well on any coffee table, it is meant to be seen and read in detail, best in a leisurely manner. The carefully chosen photo selection is exceptional and the restoration process applied both subtle and superb. The Japanese print of the book is outstanding and makes this a treasure, just as the filmography Buster left to us.
April 16, 2020
This is a wonderful little coffee table book with reminisces from Buster Keaton's widow Eleanor. Her style is as dry, humorous, and unsentimental as any of Keaton's classic films. I was particularly fond of the afterword from silent movie historian Kevin Brownlow. He paints a great portrait of Keaton's candid manner.
I'm not one to really idolize the artists I like or necessarily wish to meet any of them, but Buster Keaton is the exception. He seems to have been the sweetest, humblest guy.
I'm not one to really idolize the artists I like or necessarily wish to meet any of them, but Buster Keaton is the exception. He seems to have been the sweetest, humblest guy.
March 16, 2008
best book ever.
January 6, 2008
This is a major collection of posed photos and movie stills from Buster Keaton's career. Even if you've never seen a Buster Keaton movie you'll marvel at the quality of the photography. This is a well-printed book.
February 7, 2017
I've been having a bit of a Buster Keaton run recently. There was a collection of his short films on Hulu that I was marathoning and I just became so fascinated with Old Stone Face. And we all know that I love biographies of actors. So I found this at the library and devoured it in a day. To be fair, there are a lot of photographs included, so it made for fast reading.
I knew some things: his beginnings in vaudeville, his dedication to his craft. But there was a lot about him that this book uncovered: his addiction to alcohol, his terrible two marriages and excellent final one, and his struggles with the studio system in the transition from silent to talking films. There are a lot of similarities to Charlie Chaplin, but like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, these two masters of comedy are so different, it's like comparing apples to oranges.
I really appreciated the in-depth look at his work, starting with the short films where Buster Keaton basically had complete creative control and later his creative decline as the Hollywood system boxed Keaton in and didn't allow him the space to create like he had in the past. I just felt so bad for him. He as a genius and to be type-cast as a clown and relegated to supporting roles when he was capable of so much more is just so sad. But much later in his life, he had a bit of a Renaissance, which I was glad to see. His work should be required viewing for any aspiring film aficionado.
I knew some things: his beginnings in vaudeville, his dedication to his craft. But there was a lot about him that this book uncovered: his addiction to alcohol, his terrible two marriages and excellent final one, and his struggles with the studio system in the transition from silent to talking films. There are a lot of similarities to Charlie Chaplin, but like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire, these two masters of comedy are so different, it's like comparing apples to oranges.
I really appreciated the in-depth look at his work, starting with the short films where Buster Keaton basically had complete creative control and later his creative decline as the Hollywood system boxed Keaton in and didn't allow him the space to create like he had in the past. I just felt so bad for him. He as a genius and to be type-cast as a clown and relegated to supporting roles when he was capable of so much more is just so sad. But much later in his life, he had a bit of a Renaissance, which I was glad to see. His work should be required viewing for any aspiring film aficionado.
February 25, 2013
Essential for any fan of Keaton. In my honest opinion, he was the best of the silent comedians, and this heavily illustrated retrospective of his life and career is a splendid tribute by his widow. Sadly, she too passed away, not long before the book went into print; I'm glad she completed this rememberance of one of the 20th Century's true artistic geniuses before she went.
October 19, 2007
There isn't much of a biography in this book, but it's really more of a photographic tribute to the life and work of one of the greatest silent comedians. The feeling is intimate and definitely for the fans. A beautiful book for anyone who adores Buster Keaton.
March 31, 2023
A handsome book loaded with movie stills, behind the scenes photos, promotional images and personal snapshots as well as a biography that's to the point but insightful and a thorough listing of every movie role and TV appearance. There are more ambitious Buster bios, certainly, that offer more context and other perspectives, but this one is useful and a pleasure.
May 15, 2020
I loved this book. Buster Keaton was THE comic genius of the silent era and an excellent director to boot. My favorite movies of his are Sherlock Jr., Our Hospitality, and Steamboat Bill Jr. The General is one of the most exquisitely beautiful movies ever filmed.
June 6, 2017
Loved the pictures and Eleanor's remembrances of her husband, Buster Keaton. This is a very thorough history of all his work and life events as well.
October 24, 2021
Excellent pictures, and some wonderful stories from Eleanor Keaton that I hadn't heard before.
June 13, 2021
Wonderfully written with amazing photos.
As a fan of Buster, this is beautifully done and a real tribute to the best comedian of all time.
As a fan of Buster, this is beautifully done and a real tribute to the best comedian of all time.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews