Category Archives: Silent Films

The Great Stone Face—-Wasn’t

Posted on March 2, 2024 by Nearly Nonchalant

On All Hallow’s Eve, we quite naturally watched Buster Keaton’s 1921 two-reeler, The Haunted House. And of course, there on camera, displayed in all his glory, was The Great Stone Face, as Keaton is known far and wide. Yet I … Continue reading →

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What! No Fun?

Posted on April 10, 2023 by Nearly Nonchalant

Finally, I have seen ALL of 1933’s What!  No Beer? starring Jimmy Durante and a sadly demolished Buster Keaton. How did this gobbler ever look good on paper?  We had to choke it down in five-minute segments.   Where to … Continue reading →

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Dances With Cooks: Busterthon

Posted on March 12, 2023 by Nearly Nonchalant

I could babble on about how much I love Buster Keaton in Comique’s The Cook … so I will. This 1918 two- reeler, distributed by Paramount, was shot at Long Beach, California. In addition to Buster, it contains Roscoe ‘Fatty’ … Continue reading →

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The Scarecrow: Proof

Posted on February 28, 2022 by Nearly Nonchalant

The Scarecrow, Metro, 1920, is probably my favorite Buster Keaton two-reeler. Written and directed by Buster Keaton and Edward F. Cline, with cinematography by the great Elgin Lessley, The Scarecrow stars Buster Keaton, Big Joe Roberts, Sybil Seely, Joe Keaton … Continue reading →

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Meet Me Tonight In Dreamland

Posted on September 28, 2021 by Nearly Nonchalant

Dreamland. There was a song by that name, which may (or may not!) be about the actual Coney Island attraction. But silent films are the realm of dreams: travels through time and space , floating across your eyes. Imagined voices, … Continue reading →

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Steamboat Bill Jr: The Prestige

Posted on March 22, 2021 by Nearly Nonchalant

With the face of an angel, the form of an acrobat, and the soul of a storyteller, Joseph Frank ‘Buster’ Keaton has left an indelible impression on the hearts of film buffs the world over. But there’s more. As in: … Continue reading →

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Busterbooks

Posted on September 23, 2020 by Nearly Nonchalant

 Two out-of-print masterpieces, well worth the search.  The Lebel book (which looks yellow here, but the cover’s actually sage green, a nice touch considering the image with Brown Eyes  from 1925′s Go West) is like reading a love letter, even if … Continue reading →

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(From one of my favorite blogs, about one of my favorite silent comedians):The Lively Al St. John: An Appreciation — Silent-ology

Posted on August 24, 2020 by Nearly Nonchalant

Have you ever had an actor who grew on you? Someone you really didn’t care for at first, but who finally won you over? For me, it was a comedian you may or may not have heard of: Al St. … Continue reading →

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Full Frontal Genius

Posted on June 15, 2020 by Nearly Nonchalant

Buster Keaton has been quoted as saying, ‘You can’t be a genius in slap shoes.’ I disagree. You can be a genius in far worse. I am a Keaton fan from so far back I own an 8mm copy of … Continue reading →

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Squirrels!

Posted on June 13, 2020 by Nearly Nonchalant

“If Roscoe (’Fatty’) Arbuckle aimed his two-reelers at 12-year-olds, then MGM aimed their Buster Keaton talkies at squirrels.” —-Professor Bunky

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