Buster Keaton Rides Again (1965)

This film is a documentary about the filming of one of Buster Keaton's movies: The Railrodder (1965).

Director:

John Spotton

Writer:

Donald Brittain (commentary)

Stars:

Buster Keaton, Eleanor Keaton, Gerald Potterton

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Buster Keaton	...	Self
Eleanor Keaton	...	Self
Gerald Potterton	...	Self (director of 'The Railrodder')
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Kane	...	Narrator (voice)

Storyline

This film is a documentary about the filming of one of Buster Keaton's movies: The Railrodder (1965).

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Plot Keywords:

reference to roscoe 'fatty' arbuckle | reference to buster keaton | film history | silent filmmaking | comedy filmmaking | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Biography

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The running time of this documentary is more than double the length of the film that it profiles.

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Goofs

The barker car is seen heading from and then heading towards the Liberty Cafe between shots.

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Connections

References Christmas Cracker (1963)

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Soundtracks

Happy Birthday
(uncredited)
Written by Mildred J. Hill and Patty S. Hill

User Reviews

Keaton sings!

Yes, he does. We get to hear him put on his Irish accent too.

John Spotton and his crew from the NFB were there in 1964 as Gerald Potterton and his own NFB crew were filming Buster Keaton in his title role as "The Railrodder".

He see Keaton and Potterton as they conceive gags familiar to many Canadians -- of my generation, certainly -- from that funny colour short and wonderful Canadian travelogue. The latter was perhaps the real reason we were shown "The Railrodder" as Wolf Cubs, by our Akela at a pack gathering of the early '70's, if memory serves. (As a little boy, I consequently thought Keaton was Canadian.)

Probably the most valuable point about this documentary is that we see Keaton's actual uncredited role in the making of the Potterton film, as writer, director, and even producer. It was probably natural given his seniority and cinematic experience, and we get to see it, a little bit anyway, as it really happened. Keaton, in general, comes across as a wise old man of the movies, anecdote-filled and a little puckish. Keaton, in "The General", comes across as hilarious, and this film includes some extended sequences from that 1927 gem.

As a point of interest, John Spotton as a name is most familiar around these parts these days as the John Spotton Theatre, the cinema located in the National Film Board building downtown at the corner of John and Richmond. (Stop by the next time you're in Toronto -- that neighbourhood is on the tourist itinerary.)

Details

Official Sites:

NFB (english) [Canada]

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 October 1965 (USA)

Also Known As:

Buster Keaton bei der Arbeit

Company Credits

Production Co:

National Film Board of Canada (NFB)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

55 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1