- Joined
- Feb 8, 1999
- Messages
- 18,411
- Real Name
- Robert Harris
Decades ago, when I was teaching a film course, the question was raised as to whether Chaplin or Keaton was the better performer.
One could add Lloyd to that query.
I still don't believe there's an answer, as they're all so different, in their mechanisms toward comedy, and their production techniques, especially when one does a forensic examination of the way that Chaplin created his productions.
Keaton first appeared as a secondary player to Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, the occasionally obese comic (at points in his career, he tipped the scales at 350 pounds), whose career will be forever linked to a sensational murder trial. Arbuckle also shared the screen, early on, with Chaplin.
What's special about Kino's new Blu-ray collection of Keaton's work is that it's all together in a single high quality release for the first time.
With images mainly harvested from 35mm elements, and proper digital processing, many of the shorts are beautifully represented, while others have apparent nitrate decomp, scratches and other problems, that if handled digitally may well have created problems anew. In short, the condition of the shorts are what they are, and I'm thrilled to have them.
All are in the public domain, and I presume that at some point we may see another collection via Cohen, the entity that holds the rights to the Rohauer library, and many of Keaton's elements. Will some be better than what we're seeing here? Possibly.
Others will fall short, as some seen here, from Lobster Films, in association with Film Preservation Associates, are unique to that superb library.
Bottom line, regardless of what occurs in the future, this Kino edition is a treat for any self-respecting cinephile.
Numerical scores are not used below, as they aren't relevant here.
One of the most important silent releases of 2016.
For those who have never experienced Keaton's particular style of physical comedy, you're in for a huge treat.
Pass / Fail - Pass
Very Highly Recommended
RAH
One could add Lloyd to that query.
I still don't believe there's an answer, as they're all so different, in their mechanisms toward comedy, and their production techniques, especially when one does a forensic examination of the way that Chaplin created his productions.
Keaton first appeared as a secondary player to Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, the occasionally obese comic (at points in his career, he tipped the scales at 350 pounds), whose career will be forever linked to a sensational murder trial. Arbuckle also shared the screen, early on, with Chaplin.
What's special about Kino's new Blu-ray collection of Keaton's work is that it's all together in a single high quality release for the first time.
With images mainly harvested from 35mm elements, and proper digital processing, many of the shorts are beautifully represented, while others have apparent nitrate decomp, scratches and other problems, that if handled digitally may well have created problems anew. In short, the condition of the shorts are what they are, and I'm thrilled to have them.
All are in the public domain, and I presume that at some point we may see another collection via Cohen, the entity that holds the rights to the Rohauer library, and many of Keaton's elements. Will some be better than what we're seeing here? Possibly.
Others will fall short, as some seen here, from Lobster Films, in association with Film Preservation Associates, are unique to that superb library.
Bottom line, regardless of what occurs in the future, this Kino edition is a treat for any self-respecting cinephile.
Numerical scores are not used below, as they aren't relevant here.
One of the most important silent releases of 2016.
For those who have never experienced Keaton's particular style of physical comedy, you're in for a huge treat.
Pass / Fail - Pass
Very Highly Recommended
RAH
