“Before Edgar Wright and Wes Anderson, before Chuck Jones and Jackie Chan, there was Buster Keaton, one of the founding fathers of visual comedy. And nearly 100 years after he first appeared onscreen, we’re still learning from him,” Tony Zhou says, introducing his latest, excellent Every Frame a Painting video essay. “Today, I’d like to talk about the artistry (and the thinking) behind his gags.”
Indeed, “The Great Stone Face” was decades ahead of his time, crafting stunts that still hold up wonderfully today. So, how’d he pull it off? This essential 8-minute video looks at the different techniques and “rules,” so to speak, that Keaton adhered by. To name a few, he was insistent on using title cards only when necessary (240 was the average in the silent era, while the most he ever used was 56), he would “never fake a gag” (i.e., if he had to cut, he’d throw it out), and if the camera can’t see it, then the characters can’t either (which threw out logic, but added unprecedented entertainment).
In age where the various tricks employed by visual effects can attempt to cover up blockbuster failings, this video is a testament to just how right Buster Keaton got it a century ago. Check it out below, along with a playlist featuring 200 films, documentaries, and more from Keaton.
What did you think of the video essay? What’s your favorite film from Keaton?