B-Take Buster

A few years ago I was excited by the claim that the original silent version of Harold Lloyd's feature Welcome Danger had been found. This turned out to be a bit of an exaggeration (it was just a reworked silent version of the talkie). But the latest on Buster Keaton, if not quite as thrilling, is true.

Back in the 20s, Keaton was a poor third to Chaplin and Lloyd when it came to popularity, but he's arguably the top clown today. And now Kino is releasing a new, two-disc DVD of one of his greatest, Steamboat Bill, Jr. In addition to the well known and worn out public domain version, they've uncovered an alternate version with different takes and angles. It was common practice in the silent era to have two cameras running side by side to create a different negative for overseas use. This isn't quite as earth-shattering as a whole new film, but it's still pretty amazing.

Kino is also releasing 16 shorts he made in the mid-30s for Educational Pictures. I've caught some of this stuff, which I feared would be quickies from a worn-out clown; it's true they're made cheaply and Keaton had seen better days, but he's still game and there are moments that make them well worth checking out--though only after you've seen his silent work.