“You have to give Buster a chance,” is Frank Scheide’s opinion as to why the silent film star remains a draw to a growing fan base, and yet a relative unknown quantity to many, including Iolans.
“People hear a movie is not only black and white but also silent, and they can’t imagine its appeal. But when they see a Buster Keaton film, they’re astounded,” said Scheide, a professor of communications at the University of Arkansas and a presenter at this weekend’s 19th annual Buster Keaton Celebration.
The accompaniment of live music adds a special dimension to the productions.
All day Friday and Saturday films and talks will feature Keaton and other Kansas filmmakers in recognition of the state’s sesquicentennial. The event takes place at the Bowlus Fine Arts Center and is free to the public.
KEATON HELD COURT during the early days of film. His physicality allowed him to do daring physical stunts, all the while maintaining a passive expression, invoking “oohs” and “ahs” not to mention belly-aching laughs from the unpredictableness of the situation.
A classic Keaton scene is where he stands in the doorway of a house as it comes crashing down around him, while he appears unfazed, maintaining a stone-faced expression.
Think Jackie Chan today, the martial arts expert who similarly performs amazing stunts with the mildest of expressions, letting the audience explode in amazement.
“Chan was a student of Chinese Opera,” Scheide said of the productions that featured a blend of singing, dancing and acrobatics.
“When Chan saw Keaton, he admired him as a fellow acrobat who could express himself through control of his body — including facial expressions.”
The great French mime Marcel Marceaux also studied Keaton’s exquisite body language, Scheide said.
Scheide says today’s film students admire Keaton productions on two levels.
“First as an actor. They like his perseverence, his pragmatism, his unique way of problem-solving,” Scheide said. “He’s really clever at getting himself in and out of unusual circumstances.”
“Students in production, meanwhile, look at the camera work involved and the editing of the film. Keaton was a great technician who knew how to use the camera to get different reactions.”
In his presentation at 9:20 Friday morning, Scheide will show a video of his 2008 interview with James Karen, a TV and movie actor who was close friends with Keaton and his wife, Eleanor.
Karen, 88, most recently starred in the movies, “Superman Returns,” and “Outlaw Trail: The Treasure of Butch Cassidy,” both in 2006.
Among his recollections of Keaton, Karen will also discuss the making of the documentary known as “Samuel Beckett’s Film,” a 20-minute undertaking by the Irish author and Keaton.
The documentary was Beckett’s first attempt at filmmaking as well as the occasion for his first trip to the United States in 1964.
“It’s rather controversial and had a mixed following,” said Schneide.
The most significant aspect of the film is its cinematography, Schneide said, which is “excellent.”
THE KEATON CELEBRATION begins at 9:15 a.m. Friday with Scheide, co-chairman of the event, giving introductory remarks.
Friday night films beginning at 7:30 p.m. are “The Balloonatic,” and “Chicago.”
Live music is provided Marvin Faulwell on the organ and Bob Keckeisen, percussion.
