Powis Square Pictures have announced the UK DVD release of two titles on 12th January 2009. The inaugural releases from this new label are The Sadist from writer/director James Landis and Speak Easily, a talkie starring Buster Keaton......Speak Easily is presented in full screen with English 2.0 audio. There are no subtitles or extras.
Buster Keaton on DVD
- Cash Flagg
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Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
From DVD Times:
- Scharphedin2
- Joined: Fri May 19, 2006 7:37 am
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Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
First of all, thanks to Chris for reconstituting the initial post of this thread, which should help interested viewers in deciding which editions of Keaton's films to purchase, and how to approach a complete collection of his work on DVD.
I recently purchased the Looser Than Loose release of Buster Keaton: Educational Two-Reelers, and I have posted some stills in the Screen Captures thread.
These films are not thought of as Keaton's best, but they are still interesting and are in fact quite "silent" in their approach to comedy. As indicated, they are short films of 15-20 minutes, and all except one of the films are sourced from 16mm prints. As the stills show, the films look like 16mm transfers, which may add to the charm for some viewers, and very probably detract considerably from the viewing pleasure for others.
In all, the set contains 16 films, and as the index in the first post reveals, many of these shorts have appeared on various other releases as supplements, however, a handful are unique to this set, and I believe the quality on this release is often superior to that of previous transfers of these films. In addition, the set also features a number of other odds and ends as extras. Amongst other things, there are several sketches and appearances of Keaton in TV shows, and there is a short film by Mack Sennett ("Way Up Thar"), which features Myra E. Keaton and Louise Keaton.
I purchased the set directly from Looser Than Loose, and it is as far as I know the only way to purchase it. The transaction was without friction.
I recently purchased the Looser Than Loose release of Buster Keaton: Educational Two-Reelers, and I have posted some stills in the Screen Captures thread.
These films are not thought of as Keaton's best, but they are still interesting and are in fact quite "silent" in their approach to comedy. As indicated, they are short films of 15-20 minutes, and all except one of the films are sourced from 16mm prints. As the stills show, the films look like 16mm transfers, which may add to the charm for some viewers, and very probably detract considerably from the viewing pleasure for others.
In all, the set contains 16 films, and as the index in the first post reveals, many of these shorts have appeared on various other releases as supplements, however, a handful are unique to this set, and I believe the quality on this release is often superior to that of previous transfers of these films. In addition, the set also features a number of other odds and ends as extras. Amongst other things, there are several sketches and appearances of Keaton in TV shows, and there is a short film by Mack Sennett ("Way Up Thar"), which features Myra E. Keaton and Louise Keaton.
I purchased the set directly from Looser Than Loose, and it is as far as I know the only way to purchase it. The transaction was without friction.
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Re:
I've often wondered if the finale for the Marx Brothers' Go West was Buster's work, or at least featured some of his gags. The train/house gags with Harpo could not be more Keatonian. We know that Buster was involved with At the Circus (though to little avail--his ideas didn't suit the Brothers and there are hardly any memorable sight gags in the film), and in an early 70s interview Groucho did say that Keaton helped out with Go West. But Groucho's memory was obviously not at its best then, and the topic is still far from settled.Forgotten Goldfish wrote:Of course a totally complete Keaton would have to include not only everything I've mentioned above, but also the various 1930s-40s films which contain moments of "pure Keaton" because he gave backstage advice, even though he never appears in front of the camera.
- nsps
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Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
Does anyone know of a release of "Sherlock Jr" that contains the two shots missing from the Kino (especially the final pool shot)?
- DignanSWE
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Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
I was really shocked when I watched the extras on the special edition of "The Jazz Singer" last night -- "Hollywood Handicap" is one of the extras.
- dadaistnun
- Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2004 8:31 am
Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
There's a new dvd of Go West, The High Sign, and One Week featuring Bill Frisell's accompaniment. It's apparently only available through his website.
- nsps
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Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
Some clips from the Frisell DVD here.
However, I believe that the text is incorrect that Frisell scored six Keaton films and they will all be out on DVD. Seems he only did these three. Anyone know otherwise?
Has any one received/watched this disc yet? I'm curious about the source, transfer, etc.
However, I believe that the text is incorrect that Frisell scored six Keaton films and they will all be out on DVD. Seems he only did these three. Anyone know otherwise?
Has any one received/watched this disc yet? I'm curious about the source, transfer, etc.
- Antoine Doinel
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Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
Wow, those are great clips. I'll have to track these down.
- nsps
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Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
Did anyone ever get their hands on the Frisell DVD? Amazon doesn't have it in stock or show any signs of it becoming available.
Also, for the sake of this thread's completeness we should mention the release of the first silent Blu-ray in the US, Keaton's The General, which I commented on briefly in the Kino thread. Sherlock Jr. and Our Hospitality next!
Also, for the sake of this thread's completeness we should mention the release of the first silent Blu-ray in the US, Keaton's The General, which I commented on briefly in the Kino thread. Sherlock Jr. and Our Hospitality next!
- nsps
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Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
Kino has announced that they're releasing the Educational shorts as LOST KEATON, transfered from 35mm sources, so that should be an upgrade on the Looser than Loose releases (or bootlegs, as apparently the films are not in fact public domain). Also it appears that Steamboat Bill, Jr. will be the next blu-ray, rather than Sherlock, Jr./Our Hospitality.
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- matrixschmatrix
- Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 11:26 pm
Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
More details. I'm happy to see this, and happy to know that Kino's going to continue putting their Keaton out on blu, but it seems too bad that it's stepped back a bit from the Sherlock Jr release- two features might have been too much to hope for, but it would have been great if they'd gotten another commentary (especially another Kalat!).
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Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
I think Hospitality could sell by itself, but the remaining features (College, Go West, Butler, Navigator), most likely will be combined in one way or another - hopefully with Seven Chances as a main featurematrixschmatrix wrote: two features might have been too much to hope for
- knives
- Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:49 pm
Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
In this case I doubt there would have been much room, considering this is DVD too, for a second feature. After all this is about as long, maybe longer, than the two that were left to themselves. Plus we get a short and a total re-edit of the film that amount to another 70 some odd minutes.
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- Roger Ryan
- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2010 12:04 pm
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Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
LOADED with HOURS of Special Features (TBD)!
This statement has me intrigued. I'm thinking that both films might have commentary (the easiest way to get to a couple of hours of special features) plus I'm sure we'll see a shooting locations featurette. What else?
This statement has me intrigued. I'm thinking that both films might have commentary (the easiest way to get to a couple of hours of special features) plus I'm sure we'll see a shooting locations featurette. What else?
- denti alligator
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- Aspect
- Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2011 3:36 pm
Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
That's what I thought too. Fortunately, there is. Yay!denti alligator wrote:No Blu?
- matrixschmatrix
- Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 11:26 pm
Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
Wow, I just watched The Cameraman on the TCM set, and the picture quality and commentary are fine but my God, that's the worst score for a silent movie I've ever heard. It telegraphs all the jokes, mickey mouses the shit out of everything, and is so wildly distracting that I couldn't enjoy the movie properly until I turned it off- it's like the version of The Gold Rush with Chaplin's narration. Is there a release with a different score out there?
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- Joined: Sat Jun 07, 2008 3:31 am
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Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
As The Cameraman is one of the two Warner-owned Keaton silents, I imagine any non-R1 legitimate release would have that score too. Ben Model has created an alternative theatre organ score which can be downloaded or bought on disc for about $5 and synched with the TCM release, available here. I haven't heard it - personally, I dislike organ scores, especially for comedies, but many of his other scores are very much to my taste.
The Cameraman used to be televised with a piano score I much preferred but there was a lot of distortion on it. Incidentally, I have a 1990s German TV recording which includes about 20 seconds of footage missing from the Warner disc. As it's part of one of the lost scenes, I guess they thought the film played better without it.
The Cameraman used to be televised with a piano score I much preferred but there was a lot of distortion on it. Incidentally, I have a 1990s German TV recording which includes about 20 seconds of footage missing from the Warner disc. As it's part of one of the lost scenes, I guess they thought the film played better without it.
- matrixschmatrix
- Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 11:26 pm
Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
That's a really neat site, thanks. I'll probably pick up a couple of things from there- Model's not my favorite, but I never found his work obnoxious, so it seems like it would definitely be an improvement for The Cameraman.
I can understand why the Warner disc wouldn't include incomplete scenes in the main feature, but it would be nice if they'd put them in with extras. Ah, well.
I can understand why the Warner disc wouldn't include incomplete scenes in the main feature, but it would be nice if they'd put them in with extras. Ah, well.
- knives
- Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:49 pm
Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
It seems we don't have a proper Keaton thread to post this so I'm just laying it down here. Anyways all month TCM has been going through his films replaying the usual suspects over and again, but they have managed a few oddities including a lot of the unreleased MGM features and I have to say going against reputation they're not bad. Okay a few definitely are stinkers, but none on the level of Free and Easy. In fact I think Doughboys which played last night is really great and on the level of his best silent work and one of the best if not the best war comedy I've seen. There's not as many physical gags or visual puns as I would like (though an early swinging by chandelier sequence is very good), but the vocal comedy is shockingly good and the story possibly the strongest of his career. Nothing else has matched that so far very clearly being B work of his, but there's still a good number of gags and Keaton in general seemed to adapt well compared to reputation.
- Ashirg
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- Location: Atlanta
Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
Warner Archives already announced Doughboys, Sidewalks of New York, and What! No Beer? for November 8.
- knives
- Joined: Sat Sep 06, 2008 6:49 pm
Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
The first two are range from okay to great, but that last one is fairly dire. The transfers if they're using the same are all excellent.
- Roger Ryan
- Joined: Wed Apr 28, 2010 12:04 pm
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Re: Buster Keaton on DVD
I wish I could agree with you, but there's no way I could endorse DOUGHBOYS as good Keaton. It might be one of his better films from the 30s, but the direction is poverty row terrible and Keaton himself is barely going through the motions (and possibly intoxicated during some of it). There's a few snappy lines of dialogue, but it takes forever for the film to go anywhere. Also, the print quality was very mediocre. I still have THE PASSIONATE PLUMBER and WHAT! NO BEER? to watch (I'm not holding out any hope for these), but so far I'd say that PARLOR, BEDROOM AND BATH strikes me as the most watchable from this period.knives wrote:The first two are range from okay to great, but that last one is fairly dire. The transfers if they're using the same are all excellent.