When I saw Buster Keaton’s The General in a friend’s basement on Super 8, I realized something special about silent comedy – something rich, imaginative, and real. It was like I was looking at time through the eyes of my parents and grandparents. From the rough-house slapstick of Mack Sennett to the growing grace of Chaplin, from Buster Keaton’s daring imagination to Harold Lloyd’s American enthusiasm, and from the childlike nature of Harry Langdon to the worldly-wise Raymond Griffin, I discovered they were also talking to me about what is truly funny in life, plus the impressive qualities of a good 2x4. We’ll watch and discuss the early American films that still influence comedy today. We’ll also examine film preservation and why so many of these great films are still with us when so many others have disappeared. Complete films and compilations will be viewed and discussed every week.
Recommended Reading: Brownlow, Kevin, (1976) The Parade’s Gone By. Kerr, Walter,(1975) The Silent Clowns.
