Buster Keaton and Stunts

Joseph "Buster" Keaton was given his nickname at the age of 6 months by Harry Houdini because he was clumsy (IMDB). His ability to be so clumsy became a talent and led him to become such a skilled stuntman. Check out Keaton's full Bio here at IMDB. While watching Buster Keaton’s films in class, I was taken aback by the amount of realistic stunt work that was performed. From falling off of moving trains, to hanging from a branch over the edge of a waterfall, Keaton appears to be a master stuntman. Although I was impressed with the realism of the stunts performed, I thought that they must have been somehow faked. However, after conducting research on the subject, I found that Keaton actually performed all of his own stunts, and in some cases he even acted as a stunt double for other actors in his films who refused to take such serious risks.

In the silent film era, many stunts were performed by the actual actors and not by doubles. I was very surprised by this, since stunts in today’s films are most often performed by doubles. Read more about stunts in the silent film era here. Although camera trickery was heavily used in the silent film era, Keaton's risky stunts, such as the waterfall scene in Our Hospitality, were not faked. One reviewer of his films commented that sometimes the camera man couldn’t even bear to watch what was being recorded. I think the stunts are truly incredible, given the limited safety technology and knowledge that was available during that time period. This site has an excellent review of the film Our Hospitality.

Most actors in today's films do not put themselves in such genuinely dangerous situations. Current stunts are often simulated by digital technology and/or performed in highly controlled environments. Keaton's stunts, and the fact that we find humor in them, make him unique in the silent film comedy genre. It is also interesting to note that he was not always left unharmed after these acts. When visiting a doctor to have x-rays, the doctor found that his neck had broken and healed itself. Take a look at this site for more information about Keaton's career and his unique stunt work ethic.

He is often remembered for his physical comedy. He set the stage for comedy stunt work, and this likely influenced the genre as a whole. For a great summary of Keaton's life an impact on the film industry, read this blog post: Great Filmmakers: Buster Keaton.