The Buster Keaton Story (1957)

An inaccurate retelling of the life of silent filmmaker and comedian Buster Keaton.

Director:

Sidney Sheldon

Writers:

Sidney Sheldon, Robert Smith

Stars:

Donald O'Connor, Ann Blyth, Rhonda Fleming

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Donald O'Connor	...	Buster Keaton
Ann Blyth	...	Gloria Brent
Rhonda Fleming	...	Peggy Courtney
Peter Lorre	...	Kurt Bergner
Larry Keating	...	Larry Winters
Jackie Coogan	...	Elmer Case
Richard Anderson	...	Tom McAffee
Dave Willock	...	Joe Keaton
Claire Carleton	...	Myra Keaton
Larry White	...	Buster - Age 7
Dan Seymour	...	Indian Chief
Michael Ross	...	Assistant Chief
Nan Martin	...	Edna - Larry's Secretary
Robert Christopher	...	Nick
Richard Aherne	...	Franklin

Storyline

Buster Keaton leaves his family vaudeville act for the movies. He starts out as a bit player but quickly becomes famous as he acts in and directs his own films. Casting director Gloria Brent is in love with him, but he favors a starlet. When she rejects him, he starts drinking, a problem which only worsens when sound destroys silent cinema and his career. Will Gloria's love and his desire to make people laugh win out?

---

Plot Keywords:

vaudeville comedian | silent movie actor | movie comedian | silent film star | character name in title | 

---

Taglines:

It's a blues - BUSTER!

---

Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1957 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Mann, der niemals lachte

Filming Locations:

Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,400,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Forum Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The character played by Rhonda Fleming seems to be a composite of Norma Talmadge, Mae Murray, and Gloria Swanson.

---

Goofs

The marquee advertises The Jazz Singer as being "all taking," which it was not, nor was it ever advertised as such.

---

Connections

References The Frozen North (1922)

User Reviews

Keaton Routines are the best part of the film

I'm sure that Donald O'Connor gave Buster Keaton the performance of his life as he would like to be remembered. It certainly wasn't anything close to the life of the real Keaton.

In his prime Keaton, Lloyd, Laurel, and Chaplin contended for being the greatest of silent screen comedians with most conceding Chaplin was best. The others are still remembered for their wonderful routines and for the fact that they survived and made the transition to sound. So did the real Buster Keaton, but not as a star.

The best part of the film is Donald O'Connor recreating some of the classic routines that Keaton did from the silent screen. No doubt Buster worked with O'Connor because he sure got them down quite well.

Ann Blyth and Rhonda Fleming played the women in Keaton's life composites of women he was actually involved with in real life. Peter Lorre has an interesting part as well as a director who Keaton runs roughshod over in his star days, but who Lorre rather subtly gets back at when the movies transition to sound.

In real life it wasn't as simple for Keaton as talking or not talking. When later on he did do the bit parts in films that he scorns on the screen when producer Larry Keating offers him a role, Keaton did have a voice that matched his stoic stone face.

One thing I disagree with. In his case it was right for him never to crack a smile, very much like George Burns. But people like Red Skelton were always laughing at their own material and the audience didn't seem to mind. Different attitudes get different latitudes.

The Buster Keaton Story is not a great film, but O'Connor does well in the role and I'm sure Buster liked it.