July 13, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • Page 19 Buster Keaton featured in new short films collection by Dennis Seuling Practically everyone in the world has heard of or seen film clips of Charlie Chaplin, the man who dominated silent film comedy and entertained audiences for years. But working during the same period was another comedian, often lost in the vast shadow of Chaplin. His name: Buster Keaton. Joseph Frank Keaton VI was born in Kansas in 1895 and, when he fell down a flight of stairs unharmed at the age of six months, was given the nickname “Buster.” He and his parents appeared in vaudeville as The Three Keatons until he found his way into movies in 1917, debuting in a Fatty Arbuckle comedy. He stayed with Arbuckle through 15 two-reelers (20-minute shorts) until making his first feature, “The Saphead” (1920), which made him a star. By 1921, he had his own production company and was turning out features and shorts. “Buster Keaton: The Short Films Collection” (Kino International) contains 19 two-reelers made between 1920 and 1923 that show Keaton’s masterful way of setting up elaborate gags, some of which were quite dangerous. The plots are simple and merely set up sight gags, slapstick, and comic stunts with Keaton -- the perennial victim of circumstance -- at their center. “One Week” (1920) features newlyweds, played by Keaton and Sybil Seely, who receive an unassembled prefab house as a “Cops” (1922) is the ultimate chase film that starts with one bit of misunderstanding and escalates into an entire police force out to capture innocent Keaton, whom they believe is a terrorist. The action never stops as Keaton performs some wildly perilous stunts. Known as “The Great Stone Face,” Keaton never cracked a smile, despite the comic chaos going on around or caused by him. That long face and porkpie hat became identified with Keaton throughout his career. Available in both Blu-ray and DVD, “Buster Keaton: The Short Films Collection” contains many special features, including 15 visual essays illustrated with clips and stills by Keaton experts; alternate and deleted shots from three shorts; a collection of clips from slapstick films influenced by Keaton’s work; and an eight-page booklet with an essay by a Keaton biographer. All the films are newly mastered in HD from archival elements and look great in Blu-ray. “Barney’s Version” (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment) is a character study featur- Buster Keaton, who was known for elaborate sight gags in silent comedies. wedding gift. A jealous rival mischievously changes the numbers on the house parts. The result: a comic nightmare of a building that spins in a gentle breeze, with secondstory doors that lead nowhere and holes in the roof. To further complicate matters, the lovebirds have assembled the house over a set of railroad tracks. A sight gag involving a racing steam locomotive has a double visual punch line, both hilarious and completely unexpected. ing a tour-de-force performance by Paul Giamatti as a politically incorrect man who meets the love of his life at his wedding. She is not the bride. Essentially a candid confessional told from Barney Panofsky’s point of view, the film covers three decades and two continents as it takes viewers through the different acts of his odd history. There is his first wife, the redheaded Clara (Rachel Lefevre), an openly unfaithful free spirit with whom Barney briefly lives a bohemian life in Rome. The second Mrs. Panofsky (Minnie Driver) is a wealthy Jewish princess who shops and talks incessantly, hardly noticing that Barney isn’t listening. It is at their lavish wedding that Barney meets and starts pursuing his true love, Miriam (Rosamund Pike), who becomes his third wife and the mother of his two children. With his father, Izzy (Dustin Hoffman), at his side, Barney takes us through the many highs, and quite a few lows, of his long and colorful life. A true romantic, Barney is capable of all kinds of sneaky (continued on Crossword page) Bistro Ristorante PRIVATE ROOM FOR PARTIES AND SPECIAL OCCASIONS Open Daily at Our Old Location: 97 W. ALLENDALE AVE, ALLENDALE Lunch Available On Our Patio 7 Days a Week Starting at $9.95 Right Across the Street! 96 W. ALLENDALE AVE, ALLENDALE Newly Remodeled. Beautiful Decor. Same Owners. Same Great Menu! Available On Our Patio Reservations Suggested for Parties of 6 or More OUR NEW LOCATION Complete Lunch Mon-Fri $9.95 BYOB at Both Locations Tel: 201-327-6556 Fax: 201-327-6679 www.mezzalunanj.com