CINEMA: KEATON THE MAGNIFICENT

THE GREAT FILM COMEDIAN'S CENTENARY BRINGS TRIBUTES GALORE

Nothing is less funny these days than the state of movie comedy. The Hollywood farces dominating the world's screens are sad affairs populated by TV stars playing dumb. The notion of laughter as a worldwide language is dormant, presumed dead. So what's a viewer to do?

Watch Buster Keaton, in the 19 short films and 11 silent features he made between 1920 and 1928. Watch his beautiful, compact body as it pirouettes or pretzels in tortured permutations or, even more elegantly, stands in repose as everything goes crazy around it. Watch his mind as it contemplates a hostile universe whose violent...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!