The Buster Keaton Story

The Buster Keaton Story, released in 1957, is biographical drama that celebrates the life of one of Hollywood's early comedic geniuses, Buster Keaton. Starring Donald O'Connor in the titular role, this film provides a loose approximation of Keaton's life with major focus on his comedic persona and professional career more than his personal life, painting an affectionate tribute to the silent era star.

The film begins with a quick overview of Buster's childhood, growing up in a vaudevillian family where he was introduced to the art of slapstick comedy early on—a pivotal element that would dictate his comedy style in later years. Young Buster's enactment of stunts and falls sparkles with wit, conveying a subtle allusion to the silent-film comedic charm that made the actual Buster Keaton a star.

Donald O'Connor, popular for his performance in 'Singin' in the Rain,' plays Buster as a passionate and dedicated character with the right mixture of affability and ambition. O'Connor's performance draws the audience into the world of Buster, as he seems to capture the feel of Keaton's physical comedy in a likeable manner. His spunk, passion and physical agility shines throughout the film, even as he familiarizes viewers with Keaton's signature stunts in an effectively comical way.

In the movie, Ann Blyth plays the role of Gloria Brent, a fictionalized love interest for Buster Keaton. Their tenderly depicted romance is a narrative switch from Buster's career progression, giving the drama a romantic subplot that adds dimension to Buster's character.

The movie also stars Rhonda Fleming as Peggy Courtney, a character not based on any real figure from Keaton's life, but rather a composite of various women Keaton would have interacted with throughout his career. This inclusion of fictional characters in the biopic may deviate from factual accuracy of Buster Keaton's life, but it paints a captivating narrative for the movie.

The Buster Keaton Story provides a sort of panoramic view of the golden era of Hollywood. It lightly touches upon Keaton's stardom, his accomplishments, as well as his lows. A significant part of the film is devoted to the production of Keaton's silent films. Here, the audience is given a peek into the world behind the camera, with studio politics, the hustle bustle of movie making and the ingredients that churned out the comic marvels.

The film captures the shift in cinema from silent era to talkies. Although it doesn’t delve too deep into Keaton's struggle with this transition, it showcases enough to make the audience feel his dilemma and fear at the prospect of an industry-wide shift. Fans of film history will appreciate this aspect, which illustrates the unprecedented changes in the film industry of the time.

Despite its errors in terms of historical accuracy, the essence of Buster Keaton's comedic brilliance is preserved thanks to Donald O’Connor's dedicated performance. The film's production quality and art direction does an impressive job of transporting viewers to the 1920s—a time when comedy was innocent, unspoken and extremely physical. Watch out for the recreated sequences of Keaton's silent films, as these moments offer a nostalgic glimpse into classic cinema.

While the script and dramatic license might gloss over some of Buster Keaton’s darker challenges, these are overshadowed by its achievements in bringing light-hearted comedy to life and an earnest depiction of Keaton’s life on and off the screen.

Directed by Sidney Sheldon, The Buster Keaton Story is a moderately paced movie that has peerless performances, a solid dose of comedy, and a narration that truly reflects the period it's set in. Sheldon, a leading figure in the American entertainment industry, uses his storytelling prowess to create an engaging tale that stands as an homage to Keaton.

While the most faithful of Buster Keaton fans may take issue with the film’s departures from Keaton’s true biography, the humor and heart in The Buster Keaton Story transcend historical discrepancies, serving as a testament to the timeless appeal of Buster Keaton’s comedic genius. It’s a light, entertaining watch that offers a warm tribute to one of silent era’s greatest stars.