The Cameraman (1928)

Hopelessly in love with a woman working at MGM Studios, a clumsy man attempts to become a motion picture cameraman to be close to the object of his desire.

Director:

Edward Sedgwick

Writers:

Clyde Bruckman (story), Lew Lipton (story),

Stars:

Buster Keaton, Marceline Day, Harold Goodwin

1 win.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Buster Keaton	...	Buster
Marceline Day	...	Sally
Harold Goodwin	...	Stagg
Sidney Bracey	...	Éditor (as Sidney Bracy)
Harry Gribbon	...	Cop

Storyline

After becoming infatuated with a pretty office worker for MGM Newsreels, Buster trades in his tintype operation for a movie camera and sets out to impress the girl (and MGM) with his work.

---

Plot Keywords:

police raid | policeman | motorboat | photographer | slapstick comedy | 

---

Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Family | Drama

---

Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 September 1928 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Kameramann

Filming Locations:

Balboa, Newport Beach, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

69 min 69 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Silent

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Selected for the 2005 National Film Registry.

---

Goofs

Near the end, when Sally and her Boss are watching the part of the tape filmed by the monkey, the shots of Luke bringing Sally to land change, as if the monkey had moved the camera. There's also some movement to fit the characters better, which couldn't be managed by an animal.

---

Quotes

Sally Richards: [advice to the aspiring cameraman] You must always grind forward... never backward.

---

Connections

Featured in Edge of Outside (2006)

User Reviews

Buster's "Annie Hall." A charming, fun romantic comedy.

Its sight gags may not be as funny, complex and clever as in Buster's independent films (The General, Sherlock Jr, Steamboat Bill Jr and others), but The Cameraman has probably the best romance of all his films, and is certainly one of the best directed. It has some wonderful sequences in it: the giant crane shot up and down the side of a gigantic stairway setpiece, contains probably the most impressive piece of direction. Buster's face was at its handsomest here, just before his excesses of the 30's. The version i saw had a fittingly gorgeous romantic score, which didn't hurt. Overall, The Cameraman is one of Buster's most charming, enjoyable films. And now one of my favourites.

If you've never seen a silent movie, i'd recommend this as a great place to start. Its such a welcoming, likeable movie. Visual humour does get much funnier than this - but the main source of joy in Keaton movies is Buster's irrepressibly likeable little character, here at his most likeable.