MovieChat Forums > The Cameraman (1928) Discussion > Buster Keaton Collection/DVD restoration

Buster Keaton Collection/DVD restoration

posted 20 years ago by CHARLIE-89
12 replies | jump to latest

This is just to *highly* recommend the new Buster Keaton collection, particularly the beautiful restoration of THE CAMERAMAN.

This film was considered completely lost after the negative was lost by MGM in 1964, right after producer Robert Youngson had salvaged one or two sequences to use in his compilation, "MGM's THE BIG PARADE OF COMEDY".

In 1968, a 9.5mm print turned up in France, of absolutely horrible quality. This print was issued by Turner on video in 1991, and was still the only available video version up until the new DVD was just released.

In 1993, the film was going to be issued on laserdisc. However, it was held back at the last minute because a print with better quality had been discovered. Unfortunately, there were still parts missing, so these were filled in from the older 9.5mm version. This was cobbled together as the first "restoration" in 1993, and presented on laserdisc. It was far from perfect, but was still a vast improvement over the previously available version.

Shortly after the release of the laserdisc, a collector came forth, knowing of a near-pristine complete 16mm print. This was the version that came to be released on DVD. A new score was composed by Arthur Burrow, replacing the piano score that had previously accompanied the film. The older score has its fans, but it sounded technically too "old fashioned" for what was supposed to be a beautiful new restoration. Under the circumstances, the new score works fine.

It is now possible to see THE CAMERAMAN nearly as was intended. I say nearly only because it is still missing two sequences which are lost. They occur right after his attempts at filming the fire engine and ball game. The first scene involved a navy admiral who was about to come out of a hotel, but Buster mistakenly films the hotel doorman instead, missing the admiral completely. *In the 1991 video version, the very beginning of this scene is present but very incomplete. It was left in from the old 9.5mm version, but has been cut from all restorations because in the context of the film it makes absolutely no sense and really disrupts the flow of the film since it is an incomplete gag.
The other "lost" scene occurs just after this, when Buster attempts to film a boat launching, but is pulled into the water on a platform attached to the back of the boat just as the boat makes its journey out to sea.

Interestingly, all previous versions of THE CAMERAMAN ran 68 minutes, but the new restoration runs for 76 minutes. This is presumably due to proper speed presentation as opposed to any new footage.

At any rate, I can't recommend it highly enough.

[–] csu16387 20 years ago

The Cameraman is one of my favorite Buster Keaton films. It's sad that he never had the opportunity to display his brilliant talents the same at MGM as he did as an independent artist. I'm sure Buster had a few more masterpieces up his sleeve. I do plan on watching the new DVD soon, especially Spite Marriage. It's one of the few silent features of Keaton I haven't seen yet.

"Dry your eyes baby, it's out of character."

[–] matt-mj-richardson 20 years ago

Interestingly, these scenes did survive in a print held by the British comedian, entertainer and film collector Bob Monkhouse. Unfortunately in the late 70s his collection was unjustly confiscated by the police due to an supposed illegal importation issue. He was eventually cleared and his collection returned to him, but not before many items were destroyed including the complete print of The Cameraman and a lost Hitchcock silent.

Sad loss.

[–] kriege10 18 years ago

Cops should be made to pay for the crap they inflict on others. Of course, it wouldn't bring back the lost films, but it might make them think twice or thrice about doing things like this in the future. Was this in the UK or the USA, by the way? I can't even begin to say all that I have heard the police pull in America, down to ruining lives and destroying careers with no compensation.

[–] rgroff1 20 years ago

What a treat to see The Cameraman in a real theatre on a big screen! It was a very good print, too, but unfortunately still missing the boat-launch scene and the completion of the scene with the admiral. The pièce de résistance, however, is that the film was accompanied by two live musicians known as Dreamland Faces, Andy McCormick on saw and Karen Majewicz on accordeon, who live alternately in Rochester, NY, and Minneapolis (I believe). Karen also sang and "played" the Casio (for a few of the sound-effect noises).

The overall effect was positively charming. The duo played for the entire length of the film, matching the action perfectly with their score and lending the film a truly appropriate period feel. Karen's singing style is stunningly sweet and genuinely flapper, like Katherine Whalen of the Squirrel Nut Zippers, but more innocent and even a bit angelic. Her musical forte, however, is obviously the accordeon, an instrument she was introduced to by McCormick himself. And as for Andy, well, he has MASTERED the saw, period. I've never heard the musical saw played with such perfect pitch and theramin-like vibrato. But he can get wacky with it for the occasional goofy effect, too. And although he didn't sing during this performance, I've heard him croon through a megaphone a number of times, and you'd swear you were listening to a 78--imagined scratches and all.

The Dryden Theatre of the George Eastman House was easily three-quarters full when the gold curtain lifted majestically toward the ceiling, and the crowd was thoroughly engaged right from the beginning, laughing uproariously at the comedy genius of Buster Keaton. At times I completely forgot I was watching a movie that was over 75 years old; the settings, clothing, and attitudes of the time were constantly upstaged by Keaton's clever, hilarious, and surprisingly fresh (to this day) comedic sequences.

I sincerely hope someone recorded the Dreamland Faces' performance Friday night. It should be offered as a fresh, alternative score on a DVD someday!

[–] Studman_Productions 19 years ago

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] teejay6682 18 years ago

i didn't like cameraman as much as some of his pre-mgm stuff and i haven't watched the films on the mgm dvd and i've read they get worse and worse. sucks.

[–] Igenlode Wordsmith 18 years ago

It is now possible to see THE CAMERAMAN nearly as was intended. I say nearly only because it is still missing two sequences which are lost. They occur right after his attempts at filming the fire engine and ball game.

I think there may have been a third missing sequence (although perhaps it never made it further than the script?); I've seen a scene described where Buster attempts to film in an artillery range despite the "Keep Out! Danger" signs, and unsurprisingly gets blown up. The aftermath of this incident is what is probably depicted in an extant publicity still -- which I can't find on the Web: here's a rough scan I made http://curry.250x.com/Tower/Cameraman/mud.html -- although it may never have made it onto film.

~~Igenlode

Gather round, lads and lasses, gather round...

[–] vintage_houstonguy 18 years ago

wait.... was the Arthur Burrow score the one in TCM's restoration? the one with the beautiful piano score? TCM's restoration had a piano score in it...who did that music?

[–] whitdbd-1 17 years ago

'The Cameraman' being rated a 8.2 and not in the top 250, wondering how many votes do you need?

[–] sjl004 16 years ago

Is the film on a DVd such as Buster Keaton vol.2?

Thanks

http://us.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=4995990

Top 1000 Voter

[–] cmashieldscapting 13 years ago

That makes me beyond sad. Those police should be punished for having destroyed the best copy of a masterpiece! Thank God as much survived as has!