Buster Keaton's shorts.

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Product Description

Containing thirty-two films with a running time of over 740 minutes this collection documents Buster Keaton s short films between 1917-1923. Capturing Keaton s first steps in front of a camera this box set charts his early association with ex-Keystone Kop Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle through to starring in, headlining, and directing his own box office smash hits. Using Chaplin s old Hollywood studios in 1920, Keaton s sophisticated technical inventiveness coupled with his haunted-yet-handsome Stone Face persona, created a succession of the most timeless, classic comedy shorts ever realised. The Masters of Cinema Series is proud to present the following films in a four-disc box set, with audio commentary by Joseph McBride on six of the films, and a 180-page book: The Butcher Boy (1917) The Rough House (1917) His Wedding Night (1917) Oh, Doctor! (1917) Coney Island (1917) Out West (1918) The Bell Boy (1918) Moonshine (1918) Good Night Nurse (1918) The Cook (1918) Backstage (1919) The Hayseed (1919) The Garage (1919) The High Sign * (finished 1920, released 1921) One Week* (1920) Convict 13* (1920) The Scarecrow (1920) Neighbors (1920) The Haunted House (1921) Hard Luck (1921) The Goat (1921) The Playhouse* (1921) The Boat* (1921) The Paleface (1922) Cops* (1922) My Wife s Relations (1922) The Blacksmith (1922) The Frozen North (1922) Daydreams (1922) The Electric House (1922) The Balloonatic (1923) The Love Nest (1923) *features audio commentary

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #10764 in DVD
• Released on: 2006-11-20
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Formats: Box set, PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 4
• Running time: 700 minutes

Synopsis
32 short films including the acclaimed 'Cops', and 'The High Sign'.

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Customer Reviews

Fabulous films, appalling audio commentaries
In 1917 a 21 year old Buster Keaton walked on to a film set for the very first time and without a single retake made his screen debut in a comedy sketch in Arbuckle's 'The Butcher Boy'. This collection includes 13 of the 14 films that Arbuckle and Keaton made together (one remains lost) and all of the 19 independent shorts Buster made after getting his own studio in 1920. It charts Buster's early development as one of the greatest performers and directors in the history of film comedy. The films are wonderful, and if you don't already know them, you are in for a treat.

The accompanying book has some nice photos, as well as extracts from Buster's autobiography and interview transcripts, but most of it is given over to a discussion between three film writers which I didn't find particularly illuminating.

My big problem is with the audio commentaries. They are by one Joseph McBride, described as a 'film historian' but who seems to fancy himself a psychoanalyst. My advice is don't listen to them, because they will kill the comedy for you. If you must, treat them with caution. McBride is OK while he sticks to explaining the technical and creative aspects of the films and providing a little historical and sociological context. But when he moves into the realm of psychology he is on very shaky ground. His comments about Buster's personal life are, at best, speculative and, at worst, inaccurate and insulting. Take no notice of them. There are plenty of Keaton experts around who would have made a better job of this, and I'm surprised at Eureka Video's choice.

Get This set
If you are after the best restoration prints of the GREAT Buster Keaton short films than this is the set for you. It contains every surviving short he made solo and alongside Roscoe Fatty Arbuckle. All The shorts are in their most fullist versions and are accompanied by great musical scores.

The only downside to this set is that it does not contain his feature films. If you are after those I would purchase the 'Three Ages'/'College'/'Steamboat Bill Jr box set. These are of the best quality versions. I would also purchase 'The General' 2 disc dvd again as it contains the best available restored version of the film out there. And to complete his feature film set. I would purchase 'The Buster Keaton Chronicles' which contains the remaining feature films In as good quality as you can find.

It may be expensive to get all those sets, but what that when you can own the work of a genious. Especially this Shorts box set, beautifully and carefully made, with a great booklet with lots of information and of course it contains the films themselves in their best and most hilarious form.

genius
truly superb boxset of the master.the films are are good prints and the added book has wonderful information.most suprising are the arbuckle films,suprisingly inventive.great cameos from buster too.along with stan laurel and chaplin buster was the greatest.everyone should own this set.