History Creator / BusterKeaton

* ''[[Film/{{Convict13}} Convict 13]]'' (1920)
* ''[[Film/{{Neighbors1920}} Neighbors]]'' (1920)

* ''Film/{{Cops}}'' (1922)

* ByWallThatIsHoley: TropeCodifier. Keaton didn't invent it (That honor actually belongs to the Creation Mythology of a native American tribe called the Pima), but the gag will always be linked to him.

* ByWallThatIsHoley: TropeCodifier. Keaton didn't invent it, but the gag will always be linked to him.

* PlaceboEffect: Keaton never figured out he was terminally ill. Possibly as a result, he remained lively to his final hours, pacing in his hospital room and playing cards with his friends.

* ''Film/TheRailrodder'' (1965)

* ''Film/SunsetBoulevard'' (1950) (cameo)

* ''[[Film/AroundTheWorldInEightyDays1956 Around the World in Eighty Days]]'' (1956) (cameo)

* ''Film/ItsAMadMadMadMadWorld'' (1963) (cameo)
* ''Film/BeachBlanketBingo'' (1965) (cameo)

* ''[[Film/AroundTheWorldInEightyDays1956 Around the World in Eighty Days]]'' (1956)

* ''Film/BeachBlanketBingo'' (1965)

[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/buster_keaton.jpeg]]

Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American comedian, actor, director, writer, and producer who is generally ranked alongside Creator/CharlieChaplin in the pantheon of [[UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfHollywood silent-era]] movie comedy. Keaton was the original screen [[TheStoic Stoic]] (also known as "[[FrozenFace The Great Stone Face]]"), and possibly the toughest man in show business history; during one film shoot, he ''broke his neck'' and continued with the day's shooting. Indeed, according to a popular urban legend, one Keaton himself actually cited as fact, Creator/HarryHoudini gave him his nickname when he was an infant; he had seen the young Keaton fall down a flight of stairs, and then easily getting back up again like nothing had happened, to which Houdini should have exclaimed "That was sure a buster!"

[[quoteright:315:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/buster_keaton.jpeg]]

Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American comedian, actor, director, writer, and producer who is generally ranked alongside Creator/CharlieChaplin in the pantheon of [[UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfHollywood silent-era]] movie comedy. Keaton was the original [[TheStoic Stoic]] (also known as "[[FrozenFace The Great Stone Face]]"), and possibly the toughest man in show business history; during one film shoot, he ''broke his neck'' and continued with the day's shooting. Indeed, according to a popular urban legend, one Keaton himself actually cited as fact, Creator/HarryHoudini gave him his nickname when he was an infant; he had seen the young Keaton fall down a flight of stairs, and then easily getting back up again like nothing had happened, to which Houdini should have exclaimed "That was sure a buster!"

[[quoteright:224:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Buster_Keaton_1573.jpg]]

-->-- '''James Agee''', ''LIFE'' magazine (5 September 1949)

* CoolTrain: Keaton loved trains, likely from growing up on them travelling from vaudeville house to vaudeville house. His masterwork, ''Film/TheGeneral'', is the story of a young confederate desperate to retrieve his cool train after it has been stolen by union forces. Worthy of an honourable mention is the small motorized railcar or "speeder" Buster uses to cross Canada in ''The Railrodder''.

Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton Jr. (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American comedian, actor, director, writer, and producer who is generally ranked alongside Creator/CharlieChaplin in the pantheon of [[UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfHollywood silent-era]] movie comedy. Keaton was the original [[TheStoic Stoic]] (also known as "[[FrozenFace The Great Stone Face]]"), and possibly the toughest man in show business history; during one film shoot, he ''broke his neck'' and continued with the day's shooting. Indeed, according to a popular urban legend, one Keaton himself actually cited as fact, Creator/HarryHoudini gave him his nickname when he was an infant; he had seen the young Keaton fall down a flight of stairs, and then easily getting back up again like nothing had happened, to which Houdini should have exclaimed "That was sure a buster!"

* AllJustADream: Used as a framing device in ''Film/SherlockJr". Unlike most examples it's made explicit up front.

* BadassAdorable: No matter how much of a ButtMonkey he appears, he still can kick ass and is not afraid of ridiculously dangerous situation. In ''Film/TheCameraman'' he stands in the middle of a gang fight to shoot news material on it ''and provokes the gangsters to get better pictures''.

* ChaseScene: A Keaton trademark, his masterpiece ''Film/TheGeneral'' is essentially one long chase scene. And his many foot chases reveal that in his younger, fitter days Keaton was a world class sprinter, fast enough to make normal scenes look undercranked.

* CoolTrain: Keaton loved trains, likely from growing up on them traveling from vaudeville house to vaudeville house. His masterwork, ''Film/TheGeneral'', is the story of a young confederate desperate to retrieve his cool train after it has been stolen by union forces. Worthy of an honourable mention is the small motorized railcar or "speeder" Buster uses to cross Canada in ''The Railrodder''.

* DoomItYourself: ''Film/OneWeek'' is about a pair of newlyweds attempting to assemble a prefabricated house, not realizing Buster's rival has re-labeled all of the boxes.

* IconicOutfit: His pork-pie hat, simply refered to as "[[NiceHat The Hat]]". Actually, it was a result of Keaton having originally wanted to wear pork-pie straw hats in his films, but he soon discovered that they were simply too fragile to survive the stunts and slapstick he performed. So instead, he created a more durable imitation, by modifying a fedora. The title-page and chapter-heading illustrations of his "as-told-to" autobiography, ''[[https://i.pinimg.com/originals/85/37/2a/85372ad5e4adf192fda214844ce33ea0.jpg My Wonderful World of Slapstick,]]'' are a drawing of his eyes and The Hat. '''Just''' his eyes and The Hat.

* ''Theatre/AFunnyThingHappenedOnTheWayToTheForum'': Buster Keaton played the role of the blind old man Erronius in the screen version. It was one of his last movie roles. He was dying of cancer. He did his own stunts. He was Awesome. Unfortunately, there was one stunt he couldn't do: The jogging through the chariot race scene was too strenuous for him and had to be done by a stunt double. So the only time he was ever doubled was his last stunt on his last film. Reportedly the entire cast and crew were in tears
-Only a small correction; Buster was technically doubled twice in his entire career, though being Buster, the other time he was sort of his own stuntman. In Sherlock Jr during the motorbike chase when Buster pilots a bike while sitting on the handlebars, the guy playing the rider of the bike wouldn't complete his own fall or fear of being hurt. Buster had the scene shot from behind, dressed up as the rider and had a third stuntman stand in for Buster's on the handlebars solely for the sake of this shot. Buster completed the fall and what is seen in the finished film is Buster-as-driver falling from the bike and then a cut back to the shot of Buster as Sherlock trying to pilot the bike.

* MadeofIron: A Real life example with Keaton, where from childhood he was carrying out stunts and physical gags that would require three times a man's normal strength and stamina.

Eventually, when the act's fortunes declined and Joe got too drunk and disorderly to work with safely[[note]] Speaking of safety, Keaton repeatedly stated in interviews that he never suffered an injury as a result of being thrown; their act was designed to look improvised and violent, but in reality was quite planned and controlled.[[/note]], Buster Keaton struck out on his own. He got into film with his good friend, [[Creator/FattyArbuckle Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle]], then one of the top comedy movie stars. Following Fatty's tragic fall from grace, Keaton formed his own production company, starring in and directing some of the most innovative comedy films of his day. From this period, his full-length film ''Film/TheGeneral'' is still considered one of the best silent films ever made. He was also never afraid of new technology: for instance, for a major silent movie star at the dawn of sound films, he ''wanted'' to get into them right away. After his company was dissolved, Keaton signed a contract with {{Creator/MGM}}. Charlie Chaplin warned him against signing beforehand, and Keaton would indeed later came to seriously regret this decision, repeatedly calling it not just the biggest mistake of his career, but his ''life''. The best of his MGM films are the silents ''Film/TheCameraman'' and ''Film/SpiteMarriage''. He then began making sound pictures in which he was often teamed with JimmyDurante.[[note]] Unlike many silent film stars who were ruined because their voices were odd or otherwise did not match their images, Keaton's strong barritone voice and vaudeville-honed acting and singing skills allowed him to make the transition without much difficulty. He was even a great dancer, as one would expect from his acrobatic skills, though he rarely got a chance to display that on screen. Still, there was contention between him and MGM in this area. Keaton generally liked the idea of doing talkies, and especially relished the idea of getting to experiment with sound in his pictures, but noted that he was more of a physical comedian and "not a joke-teller", and absolutely hated pun-based comedy, and as such he wanted his voice to used in measure and his lines to be few and far between. MGM, meanwhile, wanted to him to primarily star in dialogue-heavy {{farc|e}}ical comedies, which Keaton absolutely hated.[[/note]]

Eventually, when the act's fortunes declined and Joe got too drunk and disorderly to work with safely[[note]] Speaking of safety, Keaton repeatedly stated in interviews that he never suffered an injury as a result of being thrown; their act was designed to look improvised and violent, but in reality was quite planned and controlled.[[/note]], Buster Keaton struck out on his own. He got into film with his good friend, [[Creator/FattyArbuckle Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle]], then one of the top comedy movie stars. Following Fatty's tragic fall from grace, Keaton formed his own production company, starring in and directing some of the most innovative comedy films of his day. From this period, his full-length film ''Film/TheGeneral'' is still considered one of the best silent films ever made. He was also never afraid of new technology: for instance, for a major silent movie star at the dawn of sound films, he ''wanted'' to get into them right away. After his company was dissolved, Keaton signed a contract with {{Creator/MGM}}. Charlie Chaplin warned him against signing beforehand, and Keaton would indeed later came to seriously regret this decision, repeatedly calling it not just the biggest mistake of his career, but his ''life''. The best of his MGM films are the silents ''Film/TheCameraman'' and ''Film/SpiteMarriage''. He then began making sound pictures in which he was often teamed with JimmyDurante.[[note]] Unlike many silent film stars who were ruined because their voices were odd or otherwise did not match their images, Keaton's strong barritone voice and vaudeville-honed acting and singing skills allowed him to make the transition without much difficulty. He was even a great dancer, as one would expect from his acrobatic skills, though he rarely got a chance to display that on screen. Still, there was contention between him and MGM in this area. Keaton generally liked the idea of doing talkies, and especially relished the idea of getting to experiment with sound in his pictures, but noted that he was more of a physical comedian and "not a joke-teller", and absolutely hated pun-based comedy, and as such he wanted his voice to used in measure and his lines to be few and far between. MGM, meanwhile, wanted to him to primarily star in dialogue-heavy {{farc|e}}ial comedies, which Keaton absolutely hated.[[/note]]

* In ''Film/ThePhantomMenace'', some of Jar-Jar Binks' antics, particularly during the Battle of Naboo, were modeled after Keaton's films, such as ''Film/TheGeneral''.

* IconicOutfit: [[NiceHat The Hat]]. The title-page and chapter-heading illustrations of his "as-told-to" autobiography, ''[[https://i.pinimg.com/originals/85/37/2a/85372ad5e4adf192fda214844ce33ea0.jpg My Wonderful World of Slapstick,]]'' are a drawing of his eyes and The Hat. '''Just''' his eyes and The Hat.

** In ''Film/OurHospitality'', Keaton plays an early-1800s dandy - riding an early, bumpy train, he keeps hitting the ceiling and crushing his top hat down past his eyes. He finally takes it off and replaces it with his usual flat hat.

Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton Jr. (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American comedian, actor, director, writer, and producer who is generally ranked alongside Creator/CharlieChaplin in the pantheon of [[UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfHollywood silent-era]] movie comedy. Keaton was the original [[TheStoic Stoic]] (also known as "[[FrozenFace The Great Stone Face]]"), and possibly the toughest man in show business history; during one film shoot, he ''broke his neck'' and continued with the day's shooting. Indeed, according to a popular urban legend, one Keaton himself actually cited as fact, Creator/HarryHoudini gave him his nickname when he was an infant; he had seen the young Keaton fall down a flight of stairs, and then easily getting back up again like nothing had happened, to which Houdini exclaimed "That was sure a buster!"

Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton Jr. (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American comedian, actor, director, writer, and producer who is generally ranked alongside Creator/CharlieChaplin in the pantheon of [[UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfHollywood silent-era]] movie comedy. Keaton was the original [[TheStoic Stoic]] (also known as "[[FrozenFace The Great Stone Face]]"), and possibly the toughest man in show business history; during one film shoot, he ''broke his neck'' and continued with the day's shooting. Indeed, according to a popular urban legend, one Keaton himself actually cited as fact, Creator/HarryHoudini gave him his nickname when he was an infant; he had seen the infant Keaton fall down a flight of stairs, and then getting back up again like nothing had happened, to which Houdini exclaimed "That was sure a buster!"

Joseph Frank "Buster" Keaton Jr. (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966) was an American comedian, actor, director, writer, and producer who is generally ranked alongside Creator/CharlieChaplin in the pantheon of [[UsefulNotes/TheSilentAgeOfHollywood silent-era]] movie comedy. Keaton was the original [[TheStoic Stoic]] (also known as "[[FrozenFace The Great Stone Face]]"), and possibly the toughest man in show business history; during one film shoot, he ''broke his neck'' and continued with the day's shooting.

Eventually, when the act's fortunes declined and Joe got too drunk and disorderly to work with safely[[note]] Speaking of safety, Keaton repeatedly stated in interviews that he never suffered an injury as a result of being thrown; their act was designed to look improvised and violent, but in reality was quite planned and controlled.[[/note]], Buster Keaton struck out on his own. He got into film with his good friend, [[Creator/FattyArbuckle Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle]], then one of the top comedy movie stars. Following Fatty's tragic fall from grace, Keaton formed his own production company, starring in and directing some of the most innovative comedy films of his day. From this period, his full-length film ''Film/TheGeneral'' is still considered one of the best silent films ever made. He was also never afraid of new technology: for instance, for a major silent movie star at the dawn of sound films, he ''wanted'' to get into them right away. After his company was dissolved, Keaton signed a contract with {{Creator/MGM}}. Charlie Chaplin warned him against signing beforehand, and Keaton would indeed later came to seriously regret this decision, repeatedly calling it not just the biggest mistake of his career, but his ''life''. The best of his MGM films are the silents ''Film/TheCameraman'' and ''Film/SpiteMarriage''. He then began making sound pictures in which he was often teamed with JimmyDurante.[[note]] Unlike many silent film stars who were ruined because their voices were odd or otherwise did not match their images, Keaton's strong barritone voice and vaudeville-honed acting and singing skills allowed him to make the transition without much difficulty. He was even a great dancer, as one would expect from his acrobatic skills, though he rarely got a chance to display that on screen. Still, there was contention between him and MGM in this area. Keaton generally liked the idea of doing talkies, and especially relished the idea of getting to experiment with sound in his pictures, but noted that he was more of a physical comedian and "not a joke-teller", and absolutely hated pun-based comedy, and as such he wanted his voice to used in measure and his his lines to be few and far between. MGM, meanwhile, wanted to him to primarily star in dialogue-heavy {{farc|e}}ial comedies, which Keaton absolutely hated.[[/note]]

Eventually, when the act's fortunes declined and Joe got too drunk and disorderly to work with safely[[note]] Speaking of safety, Keaton repeatedly stated in interviews that he never suffered an injury as a result of being thrown; their act was designed to look improvised and violent, but in reality was quite planned and controlled.[[/note]], Buster Keaton struck out on his own. He got into film with his good friend, [[Creator/FattyArbuckle Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle]], then one of the top comedy movie stars. Following Fatty's tragic fall from grace, Keaton formed his own production company, starring in and directing some of the most innovative comedy films of his day. From this period, his full-length film ''Film/TheGeneral'' is still considered one of the best silent films ever made. He was also never afraid of new technology: for instance, for a major silent movie star at the dawn of sound films, he ''wanted'' to get into them right away. After his company was dissolved, Keaton signed a contract with {{Creator/MGM}}. Charlie Chaplin warned him against signing beforehand, and Keaton would indeed later came to seriously regret this decision, repeatedly calling it not just the biggest mistake of his career, but his ''life''. The best of his MGM films are the silents ''Film/TheCameraman'' and ''Film/SpiteMarriage''. He then began making sound pictures in which he was often teamed with JimmyDurante.[[note]] Unlike many silent film stars who were ruined because their voices were odd or otherwise did not match their images, Keaton's strong barritone voice and vaudeville-honed acting and singing skills allowed him to make the transition without much difficulty. He was even a great dancer, as one would expect from his acrobatic skills, though he rarely got a chance to display that on screen. Still, there was contention between him and MGM in this area. Keaton generally like the idea of doing talkies, and especially relished the idea of getting to experiment with sound in his pictures, but noted that he was more of a physical comedian and "not a joketeller", and absoutely hated pun-based comedy, and as such he wanted his voice to used in measure and his his lines to be few and far between. MGM, meanwhile, wanted to him to primarily star in dialogue-heavy {{farc|e}}ial comedies, which Keaton absolutely hated.[[/note]]

Eventually, when the act's fortunes declined and Joe got too drunk and disorderly to work with safely[[note]] Speaking of safety, Keaton repeatedly stated in interviews that he never suffered an injury as a result of being thrown; their act was designed to look improvised and violent, but in reality was quite planned and controlled.[[/note]], Buster Keaton struck out on his own. He got into film with his good friend, [[Creator/FattyArbuckle Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle]], then one of the top comedy movie stars. Following Fatty's tragic fall from grace, Keaton formed his own production company, starring in and directing some of the most innovative comedy films of his day. From this period, his full-length film ''Film/TheGeneral'' is still considered one of the best silent films ever made. He was also never afraid of new technology: for instance, for a major silent movie star at the dawn of sound films, he ''wanted'' to get into them right away. After his company was dissolved, Keaton signed a contract with {{Creator/MGM}}. Charlie Chaplin warned him against signing beforehand, and Keaton would indeed later came to seriously regret this decision, repeatedly calling it not just the biggest mistake of his career, but his ''life''. The best of his MGM films are the silents ''Film/TheCameraman'' and ''Film/SpiteMarriage''. He then began making sound pictures in which he was often teamed with JimmyDurante.[[note]] Unlike many silent film stars who were ruined because their voices were odd or otherwise did not match their images, Keaton's strong barritone voice and vaudeville-honed acting and singing skills allowed him to make the transition without much difficulty. He was even a great dancer, as one would expect from his acrobatic skills, though he rarely got a chance to display that on screen. Still, there was contention between him and MGM in this area. Keaton generally like the idea of doing talkies, and especially relished the idea of getting to experiment with sound in his picture, but noted that he was more of a physical comedian and "not a joketeller", and absoutely hated pun-based comedy, and as such he wanted his voice to used in measure and his his lines to be few and far between. MGM, meanwhile, wanted to him to primarily star in dialogue-heavy {{farc|e}}ial comedies, which Keaton absolutely hated.[[/note]]

Eventually, when the act's fortunes declined and Joe got too drunk and disorderly to work with safely[[note]] Speaking of safety, Keaton repeatedly stated in interviews that he never suffered an injury as a result of being thrown; their act was designed to look improvised and violent, but in reality was quite planned and controlled.[[/note]], Buster Keaton struck out on his own. He got into film with his good friend, [[Creator/FattyArbuckle Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle]], then one of the top comedy movie stars. Following Fatty's tragic fall from grace, Keaton formed his own production company, starring in and directing some of the most innovative comedy films of his day. From this period, his full-length film ''Film/TheGeneral'' is still considered one of the best silent films ever made. He was also never afraid of new technology: for instance, for a major silent movie star at the dawn of sound films, he ''wanted'' to get into them right away. After his company was dissolved, Keaton signed a contract with {{Creator/MGM}}. Charlie Chaplin warned him against signing beforehand, and Keaton would indeed later came to seriously regret this decision, repeatedly calling it not just the biggest mistake of his career, but his ''life''. The best of his MGM films are the silents ''Film/TheCameraman'' and ''Film/SpiteMarriage''. He then began making sound pictures in which he was often teamed with JimmyDurante.[[note]] Unlike many silent film stars who were ruined because their voices were odd or otherwise did not match their images, Keaton's strong barritone voice and vaudeville-honed acting and singing skills allowed him to make the transition without much difficulty. He was even a great dancer, as one would expect from his acrobatic skills, though he rarely got a chance to display that on screen.[[/note]]