Silent Echoes: Discovering Early Hollywood Through the Films of Buster Keaton
by John Bengston, John Bengtson
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Book Summary Information
Author: John Bengston, John BengtsonEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1999-08
ISBN: 189166106X
Number of pages: 224
Publisher: Santa Monica Press
Book Reviews of Silent Echoes: Discovering Early Hollywood Through the Films of Buster Keaton
Book Review: A unique and engrossing pleasure
Summary: 5 Stars
Watching silent comedies, particularly those of Keaton, one can be lulled into a feeling that they take place in some parallel world, where it is always 1917-1928, people move faster, and the laws of physics are distorted so that men can jump through walls and cars can teleport. But as John Bengston reminds us in this invaluable book, Keaton's shorts and features were filmed in very real physical locations that still exist, and by searching them out provides not only a window on the past but a barometer of seven or eight decades of change. What Bengston has done here really requires a new name, as it combines the realms of photographer, 'urban archeologist,' archivist, geographer, and of course historian. His eye for architectural detail is acute, enabling him to pinpoint the location of a particular scene by triangulating (so to speak) between various photos and film shots, using one or two surviving details as reference points. The meticulous research that went into the book is daunting to contemplate, all to give the humble Keaton enthusiast a few hours of joy. Obviously, the book will fascinate fans of old Los Angeles as well, but I was particularly interested in the locations that went further afield. The General, for instance, was filmed all the way up in Cottage Grove, Oregon, in the greater Eugene area, while Steamboat Bill, Jr. was filmed in Sacramento, once a popular remote location during the silent era. Nabokov said that God is in the details and that is the reason for any and every Keaton fan to dive headlong into this unique, delightful, detail-obsessed book. Even the august Kevin Brownlow gives Bengston a tip of the hat, admitting in his forward that after scouting locations for his Keaton documentary---"despite all the resources of Thames Television and eager researchers, we did not find out nearly as much as Bengston did on his own." Could there be a better tribute?
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Summary of Silent Echoes: Discovering Early Hollywood Through the Films of Buster Keaton
John Bengtson has created a unique visual history of early Hollywood (as well as other parts of Los Angeles, and locations in the Northwest, Southwest, and New York City) as depicted in Buster Keatons classic movies. Combining images from Keatons films with archival photographs, historic maps, and scores of dramatic then and now photos, Silent Echoes reveals dozens of movie locations that lay undiscovered for nearly 80 years. Part time machine, part detective story, Silent Echoes presents a fresh look at the matchless Keaton at work, as well as a captivating glimpse of Hollywoods most romantic era. More than a book for film, comedy or history buffs, Silent Echoes appeals to anyone fascinated with solving puzzles or witnessing the awesome passage of time.Entertainers Books
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