“GENIUS
AT LARGEâ€
By
Raymond Benson
Apparently,
the classic silent features of Buster Keaton are now in public domain, which
explains why more than one DVD/Blu-ray company can do individual restorations
and put them out for consumer consumption. For example, both Kino Video and
Cohen Film Collection have released “new restoration†Blu-ray packages of
Keaton’s films. Cohen sent Cinema Retro some review copies of theirs, so
this review reflects this group’s presentations of these wonderful films that
showcase a genius at large.
In
all three volumes, the titles underwent 4K restorations and look marvelous,
with audio options of 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 5.1 Dolby Digital. The
packaging on Volumes 2 and 3 indicate that the restorations were done by
Cineteca di Bologna at L’Immagine Ritrovata Laboratory in association with
Cohen Film Collection—one can assume that Volume 1 is the same.
VOLUME
1 contains The General (1926) and Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928), two
of Keaton’s most celebrated works. Note that The General’s release date
is often cited as 1927, when it was actually released in the U.S. Technically,
though, its premiere was in Japan (!), of all places, in December 1926.
IMDb designates the film’s release as 1926, while many American publications
will say 1927.
The
General (directed
by Keaton and Clyde Bruckman), despite featuring a Civil War-era story in which
the Confederates are the “good guys,†is an unequivocal comic masterpiece,
often named Keaton’s best picture. Keaton is a train engineer named Johnnie,
who is in love with Annabelle (Marion Mack) and a locomotive called the
General. Much of the tale involves Johnnie hustling to get his locomotive back,
as it has been snatched by the Union. Full of action and inventive comedy bits,
The General might be Keaton’s most technically ambitious picture, and
certainly his most expensive ($750,000, which was a huge sum back then).
Surprisingly, the film was not a hit at the time of release, and it set back
Keaton’s stock in the industry. It was only after years of film buff analysis
that The General was rediscovered and awarded the reputation it holds
today.
Steamboat
Bill, Jr.
(directed by Charles Reisner) contains many of the fabulous stunts for which
Keaton is known, such as when a house facade falls over and barely misses him
since he was standing precisely where an open window was positioned. Keaton is
William Canfield Jr., and his father “Steamboat Bill,†owns a luxury steamboat
that is in competition with Jr.’s girlfriend’s father’s ship. The movie is a
game of one-upmanship between the rivals, with the usual mis-matched romance
and action hijinks. Some may consider this sacrilege, but I prefer Steamboat
Bill, Jr. over The General!
Both
films feature orchestral scores by Carl Davis. Supplements are two shorts
seemingly excerpted from Peter Bogdanovich’s 2018 documentary, The Great
Buster—“Reflections on The General†and “Buster Keaton: The
Luminaryâ€, plus trailers for both films. Oddly, the illustrated inner booklet
contains the credits for Steamboat Bill, Jr. but leaves out The
General.
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