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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
35 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
This is a beautiful documentary, created with special care by famous film historians Kevin Brownlow and David Gill, aided by the work of first class researchers. I think that everyone who has seen this video would say that it made them appreciate the films of Buster Keaton even more, as well as adding to their understanding of the silent era in general. This documentary charts most of Buster Keaton's career, including his Television work of the 1950s. A real gem is the previously unseen footage of a nearly bald Buster Keaton advertising shampoo. But Brownlow and Gill must be praised most for their brilliance at discovering and restoring old prints of films thought lost. The prime example on this tape is 'Hard Luck', a 2-reel film that Keaton named as one of his favourites. Another beautiful feature of this tape has to be the score by Carl Davis, who has written many wonderful things for TV (such as 'Silas Marner', 'Pride and Prejudice', 'The World at War') and films (including the restored print of 'Napoloen'and'The French Lieutenants Woman') I often find myself humming the opening music to this video, which I now very fondly associate with one of the most talented performers of the cinema.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Beautifully made, this three-part 150 minute documentary is essential viewing for anyone who loves, or is interested in Keaton's life and work. Copiously illustrated with extracts from his film and television work plus insightful and informative interviews with many people who knew him, including Raymond Rohauer and Buster's last wife, the lovely Eleanor Keaton. Superb original score by Carl Davis and intelligent narration takes you through Buster's life with great intelligence and sensitivity. The final moments are very moving. Only the packaging design leaves something to be desired, looking to my eyes rather drab and unenticing.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Here in the US, I first saw BUSTER KEATON: A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW on my local PBS station about twenty years ago. I recorded it and watched that grainy videotape over and over again, and since I never purchased the original VHS release, this was all I had. So when DVDs became popular, I eagerly awaited a release, especially after UNKNOWN CHAPLIN was released for Region 1. Time passed, there was no Region 1 release, so after I got a region-free DVD player and learned HARD ACT TO FOLLOW was available in Region 2, I took the plunge.
Sadly, my enjoyment at finally having this on DVD was marred by disappointment and annoyance at what appear to be inexplicable changes -- mostly deletions -- to the program. Below are some of the changes from what I remember of my tape of the original PBS telecast. I never saw the original VHS release but I doubt these changes would have occurred at that time:
--All onscreen titles, identifying film and TV show clips and persons speaking, have been removed. The only title remaining is at the end of Episode 3, where the dates of Buster's life are superimposed over a still photo. (One can go to YouTube and find clips of this program with the titles intact.)
--In Episode 3, an animation demonstrating how the "jump through the washerwoman" effect from SHERLOCK, JR. was achieved has been deleted. It was originally shown during an onscreen interview with Donald O'Connor, and now there is a noticeable film jump in the interview where the animation used to be.
--In Episode 3, a photo of Buster holding his honorary Academy Award has been deleted and replaced with a duplicated shot of a decaying film reel. (Metaphor perhaps?)
--In Episode 1, a "zero in" effect used to highlight Buster's minor additional role as a cop in a Fatty Arbuckle comedy has been removed.
--In Episode 1, a clip from SHERLOCK, JR. of Buster falling off the back of the motorcycle has been slowed down almost to slow motion, so that the action no longer syncs up with Carl Davis' orchestral punctuation.
--One of several DVD glitches throughout the series occurs in Episode 1 during a photo montage of the Fatty Arbuckle trial. We see a single frame of some elderly interviewee, who appears at no other time during the series. I don't even remember seeing him in the original telecast.
These may sound like nitpicky points, but are there any explanations for these alterations? Why has this wonderful program been butchered, for lack of a better word? I can only hope that, if and when Brownlow & Gill's HOLLYWOOD and/or HAROLD LLOYD: THE THIRD GENIUS is released, it will escape a similar fate.
***EDIT*** Apparently this DVD used a workprint of the documentary and NOT the final version. See Mr T Hamilton's comment below for details.
Sadly, my enjoyment at finally having this on DVD was marred by disappointment and annoyance at what appear to be inexplicable changes -- mostly deletions -- to the program. Below are some of the changes from what I remember of my tape of the original PBS telecast. I never saw the original VHS release but I doubt these changes would have occurred at that time:
--All onscreen titles, identifying film and TV show clips and persons speaking, have been removed. The only title remaining is at the end of Episode 3, where the dates of Buster's life are superimposed over a still photo. (One can go to YouTube and find clips of this program with the titles intact.)
--In Episode 3, an animation demonstrating how the "jump through the washerwoman" effect from SHERLOCK, JR. was achieved has been deleted. It was originally shown during an onscreen interview with Donald O'Connor, and now there is a noticeable film jump in the interview where the animation used to be.
--In Episode 3, a photo of Buster holding his honorary Academy Award has been deleted and replaced with a duplicated shot of a decaying film reel. (Metaphor perhaps?)
--In Episode 1, a "zero in" effect used to highlight Buster's minor additional role as a cop in a Fatty Arbuckle comedy has been removed.
--In Episode 1, a clip from SHERLOCK, JR. of Buster falling off the back of the motorcycle has been slowed down almost to slow motion, so that the action no longer syncs up with Carl Davis' orchestral punctuation.
--One of several DVD glitches throughout the series occurs in Episode 1 during a photo montage of the Fatty Arbuckle trial. We see a single frame of some elderly interviewee, who appears at no other time during the series. I don't even remember seeing him in the original telecast.
These may sound like nitpicky points, but are there any explanations for these alterations? Why has this wonderful program been butchered, for lack of a better word? I can only hope that, if and when Brownlow & Gill's HOLLYWOOD and/or HAROLD LLOYD: THE THIRD GENIUS is released, it will escape a similar fate.
***EDIT*** Apparently this DVD used a workprint of the documentary and NOT the final version. See Mr T Hamilton's comment below for details.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Unnecessarily Edited
Firstly this documentary is first rate stuff, very in depth and with interviews from those who knew Keaton personally. Read more
Published 15 months ago by PA BUTLER
An elightning view of an undoutebly great talent.
Most of us think of Buster Keaton and remember him in films such us The Navigator or The General,this great documentary sheds light on these and other of his great silent films. Read more
Published on 30 Jan 2010 by gabriel lopez
Buster magic
I first seen this 3 parter many years ago and was transfixed by it. To my knowledge it has never been repeated, and to finally purchase it on dvd and at such a great price is... Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2009 by Michael Jenkins
Not quite up to the standard of Unknown Chaplin, but easily the best...
From the same stable as the superb Unknown Chaplin and the legendary Hollywood series, this three-part 1987 TV series is easily the best documentary on the great stone-faced... Read more
Published on 12 Mar 2009 by Trevor Willsmer
Just about perfect!!
One of the most satisfying and enjoyable documentaries I've ever seen. I think the other reviewers have covered all the details for me already. Read more
Published on 2 Dec 2007 by J. Bryce
An Impossible Act to Follow!
Buster Keaton was a silent film comic, director and creative artist of genius, who through ill-luck, the stupidity of his bosses and changes in fashion (sound arrived), was... Read more
Published on 30 Dec 2006 by Paul Mason
BUSTER KEATON = CLASS ACT.
After having seen this documentary on Buster Keaton on ITV back in the 90's I was hooked,and was determined to catch up on the silent classics that were featured in this... Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2006 by S. A. MULLIN
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