movie world

As a pioneer of cinema and a king of the silent era, Buster Keaton needs no introduction. Holding his own alongside names like Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd, the 'great stone face' had a unique style of physical comedy that is as technically impressive as it is hilarious.

Though the public taste in comedy has largely moved away from straightforward slapstick, largely because of the introduction of sound, his influence stretches from Orson Welles to Johnny Knoxville, and the films he directed and starred in remain captivating nearly a century later. In this second volume of his early work released by Eureka, you can find three classics of silent comedy: The Navigator (1924), Seven Chances (1925) and Battling Butler (1926). While they're all undeniably products of the time - some are more flawed than others - each one is a piece of film history, and they all provide a fascinating insight into the evolution of the cinematic absurd.

2xBD50 + BD25 | 1080p AVC | 201 min | 89.2 Gb + 3% rec
Language: English Intertitles
Subtitles: none
Genre: Action, Comedy, Romance, Sport

The Navigator (1924, dir. Buster Keaton & Donald Crisp)

Wealthy Rollo decides to marry his sweetheart Betsy and sail to Honolulu, but she rejects him so he decides to go alone but boards the wrong ship, the “Navigator” owned by Betsy’s father which he’s just sold to a country at war. Unaware of this, Betsy also boards the ship to look for her father, whom enemy spies capture before cutting the ship loose. It drifts out to sea with Rollo and Betsy each unaware of there being anyone else on board...

Extras:

-- Commentary - this archival audio commentary was recorded by critics Robert Arkus and Yair Solan and initially appeared on Kino Video's North American release of The Navigator.

-- Boats, Brides, and Boxers - new visual essay created by critic and author David Cairns. (35 min).

-- Of Buster, Boats, Other Seacraft, and Working on The Navigator - a vintage program about the production of The Navigator and Buster Keaton's legacy created by critic Bruce Lawton. In English, not subtitled. (9 min).

-- Trailer - original trailer for the recent 4K restoration of The Navigator. (1 min).

Seven Chances (1925, dir. Buster Keaton)

Jimmie is the junior partner in the brokerage firm of Meekin and Shannon which is nearly bankrupt. An attorney presents him his grandfather’s will leaving him seven million dollars, though it also says that he will only get the money if he’ married by 7pm on his 27th birthday – which happens to be that very same day! Having no luck with his sweetheart, Mary Jones, Jimmie is persuaded by Meekin to try proposing to other women to save them both from ruin or possibly even jail...

Extras:

-- Commentary - in this new commentary, film historians Joel Goss and Bruce Lawton deconstruct Seven Chances and discuss the film's conception and placement in Buster Keaton's body of work.

-- What! No Spinach? - presented here is a short comedy directed by Harry Sweet in 1926. With stars Harry Sweet and Gale Henry. With music. (20 min).

-- Trailer - original trailer for the recent 4K restoration of Seven Chances. (1 min).

Battling Butler (1926, dir. Buster Keaton)

Alfred’s father wants him to make a man of himself so sends him on a hunting and fishing trip. He doesn’t catch or shoot anything, but he does fall in love with a mountain girl. When her father and brother laugh at this, his valet tells them that he is Alfred “Battling” Butler, the championship fighter. From there, the masquerade must be maintained...

Extras:

-- Interview with Irwin Allen - in this archival audio interview, Buster Keaton discusses the very early stages of his acting career as well as some of the more recent films he had made at the time. The interview was conducted in 1945. In English, not subtitled. (7 min).

-- Interview with Arthur Friedman - in this archival audio interview, Buster Keaton discusses the evolution of his acting career with Arthur Friedman. The interview was conducted in 1956. In English, not subtitled. (32 min).

-- Interview with Robert Franklin - in this archival audio interview, Buster Keaton discusses his personal life -- providing some very interesting information about his parents as well -- and acting career with Robert Franklin. The interview was conducted in 1958. In English, not subtitled. (56 min).

-- Interview with Herbert Feinstein - in this archival audio interview, Buster Keaton again provides a broad summation of his personal life and time in the film industry. The interview was conducted by Herbert Feinstein in 1960. In English, not subtitled. (48 min).

-- Interview Studs Terkel - in this archival audio interview, Buster Keaton shares his thoughts on the art of acting and the evolution that cinema was undergoing, the impact he and Charlie Chaplin had on comedy, and the future of filmmaking. The interview was conducted by Studs Tewrkel in 1960. In English, not subtitled. (38 min).

-- Trailer - original trailer for the recent 4K restoration of Battling Butler. (1 min).