MovieChat Forums > The Cameraman (1928) Discussion > very subtle throwaway gags

very subtle throwaway gags


So subtle that nobody has commented on them. We watched the movie last night and afterward, I asked Mrs. Figg if she got the bit about the door. No, she hadn't. Three times or four times Buster's camera breaks the glass in the front door. The next time he goes in the office there are heavy metal grates on both sides of the glass.

Buster is filming closeup the two tongers struggling on the ground. There is a knife on the sidewalk. Buster stops cranking, leans over and puts the knife in one fighter's hand and goes back to filming the now much more dramatic struggle. I assume that was Buster's sly comment about objective news reporting.

reply

I didn't notice the grates on the door, but I did notice the putting the knife in the guy's hand. Priceless, classic Keaton.

My favorite little Keaton joke that everybody misses is in Cops. I had to do research before I got it. Buster takes the horse to a goat gland specialist -- a quack who promises to, shall we say, "enhance male performance" via implanting goat 'nads into the man.

Buster looks at how frisky the horse has become, gives the most fleeting glance to his junk, then goes back into the building.

reply