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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
"Steven's incisive, encompassing, and invigorating portrait will deepen and revitalize appreciation for his genius."
"As a critic, and not a biographer, Ms."
"A well-researched work that goes beyond the great Buster Keaton to investigate the cultural milieu that Keaton was part of and helped to create."
"Stevens argues that Keaton's career arc mirrors America's evolving cultural tastes, making a strong case that 'Buster Keaton belonged to the twentieth century, and it to him.' Stevens also includes wonderful mini-biographies of Keaton's contemporaries, among them groundbreaking silent filmmaker Mabel Normand and vaudevillian Bert Williams, who inspired Keaton's own work."
"Stevens, in Camera Man takes an original and, in a way, more distanced approach to Keaton ..."
"Sometimes Stevens ventures too far afield ..."
"Stevens's acumen and analysis further elevate this book, offering insights and entertaining extrapolations on the myriad films and entertainment figures discussed within ..."
"Like the handsome, stone-faced performer himself, Camera Man has wide appeal."
"She goes on long discourses through the life of Keaton's colleagues and contemporaries, like Roscoe Arbuckle or F."
"Readers hungry for details of how Keaton made his pictures should look elsewhere."
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