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Camera Man: Buster Keaton, the Dawn of Cinema, and the Invention of the Twentieth Century
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About This Book
From the chief film critic of Slate comes a fresh and captivating biography on comedy legend and acclaimed filmmaker Buster Keaton that also explores the evolution of film from the silent era to the 1940s.As one of the most famous faces of silent cinema, Buster Keaton was and continues to be revered for his stoic expressions, clever visual gags, and acrobatic physicality in classics such as Sherlock Jr., The General, and The Cameraman. In this spirited biography, every aspect of Buster Keaton's astonishing life is explored, from his humble beginnings in vaudeville with his parents to his meteoric rise to Hollywood stardom during the silent era. Based on vigorous research of both Keaton and the film industry, it also delves into the dark sides of fame, such as Keaton's ill-advised businesses deals and alcoholism, to his unexpected resurgence in the 1940s as his contributions as both an actor and director were finally celebrated. This is a fascinating and uniquely astounding look at both the classic era of Hollywood and one of its most beloved stars.
Reviews
"But even Keaton's stone face, which shows seemingly nothing, becomes more legible as Stevens teases out the interior life of this man."
"Steven's incisive, encompassing, and invigorating portrait will deepen and revitalize appreciation for his genius."
"Stevens devotes more space to Charlie Chaplin's 1952 Limelight, a plodding film in which Keaton has only a small role, than some of Keaton's directorial gems."
"Stevens offers a series of pas de deux between Keaton and other personages of his time, who shared one or another of his preoccupations or projects."
"But Stevens is sharper when she focuses on such ancillary phenomena as the emergence of serious film criticism ..."
"Though its historical wanderings read as windingly as one of Keaton's famous chase scenes, Camera Man redeems details from Keaton's life that previous biographers have misread or glossed over ..."
"Stevens dives into subjects many Keaton admirers have merely sideswiped, notably the painful ethnic and racial jokes in his films ..."
"Stevens's acumen and analysis further elevate this book, offering insights and entertaining extrapolations on the myriad films and entertainment figures discussed within ..."
"She goes on long discourses through the life of Keaton's colleagues and contemporaries, like Roscoe Arbuckle or F."
"Combining the same ingredients that made Keaton's movies indelible—an elegant narrative, humor, and pathos—Stevens's account isn't one to miss."
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