Bahnfahrt mit Buster Keaton

One year before his death in 1966, Buster Keaton, although far from the great popularity he enjoyed for the better part of the 1920's, squandered with the advent of sound under the autocratic rule of a studio that had no clue whatsoever how to use a man as talented as Buster, who had proved with THE CAMERAMAN (his first film for MGM after Jo Shenck sold his contract) to be absolutely unbeatable when left to his own devices and his own team of gagmen, the genius of silent cinema came on stage one last time for a final bow. THE RAILRODDER and the other short film he did the same year for Alan Schneider and Samuel Beckett, FILM, the first a joyous celebration of a legend, the other a sad, thoughtful examination of a man and myth; taken together, they form a great tribute to a great figure of cinema.

Although the style, the train setting, and a lot of the gags are a throwback, intentional homage, to some of Buster Keaton's most famous moments (THE GENERAL first among them), unlike the short films that made him a star in the 20's, this time Buster shares the stage. Vying for attention and getting it are both the Canadian countryside, open prairies and mountains, and the beautiful photography. To be appreciated for its cinematic merits as well as Keaton's presence, The Railrodder is a purely enjoyable, not particularly funny, but pleasant, warm, sympatico short film. And even in his old age, Buster has lost none of his stonefaced charm, that boyish naivety and oblivion to danger.

OK. This is far from Buster Keaton's best work (The General, Seven Chances), but it just goes to show you the mastery of a style all but lost. With the insights of "Buster Keaton Ride's Again", this short silent film gives us not only a look into the past, but an art form that was almost lost forever. For 70 years young, Buster Keaton showed that age means nothing. He did all his own stunts on the rail line, and some were quite dangerous, even if he downplayed it.

Yes, this was more like an ad for "See Canada By Rail", but it doesn't take away from the magic and inspiration of the site comedy he gives us. The gags are almost all pure Keaton.

It's a fun, light-hearted ride, no more than can be expected in a 20 minute short film. And being in color, perhaps younger viewers will allow themselves to get caught up in the magic. One taste of this, and perhaps classics like the General will be next on a young viewer's list.

Sad, in a way. Here's the greatest comedian of the silent era (sorry, Chaplin fans, but you're just wrong, okay?) showing that he can still cut it, never mind how old he might be.

Film appears to be an advert for Canada (probably is), but is still a joy. A endless series of inspired sight-gags as Buster sails calmly through the wilderness on a railroad buggy. The dexterity, poise and, above all, quiet dignity of the man shine through.

Pity the world forgot about him for so long.

The history books tell us that the death knell for silent films was sounded with The Jazz Singer in 1927, and that, with the exception of a few holdouts such as Chaplin, the form was all but dead by 1929. Buster Keaton was one of many actors of the silent era who was forced to move into sound. He was a moderate success, but never maintained the success he enjoyed as a silent comic. The Railrodder, released in 1965, was a wonderful homecoming for Keaton to the world he left behind -- that of the silents.

Of course, The Railrodder isn't completely silent. There is a wonderful (if slightly repetitious) soundtrack, and sound effects, and it's in color. But otherwise, Keaton is completely on form as an Englishman who decides to see Canada, swims the Atlantic Ocean (don't ask), arriving in Nova Scotia where he accidentally hijacks a one-man maintenance rail vehicle with a seemingly infinite supply of tea, eggs, and other necessities of life - not to mention fuel - and takes off on a whirlwind trip across the country.

The scenery is Keaton's co-star on this adventure, though his character is too busy doing laundry, shaving, making breakfast, and even going hunting, to notice much of it.

Fortunately, much of the scenery Keaton's character passes hasn't changed much over the last 40 years, which has given the movie a timeless quality.

An interesting sidenote to this production is that the NFB produced a behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the film. Entitled Buster Keaton Rides Again, the documentary is several times LONGER than the film it is profiling!

Whether you are a fan of Canadian history, of railroads, or of silent movies, The Railrodder is a film you simply must see at least once -- but preferably, many times.

The film that I was really reminded of here turned out to have been Powell and Pressburger's "49th Parallel" -- a slice through almost exactly the same set of coast-to-coast scenery. I had no idea I could recognise Canada subconsciously like that...

"The Railrodder" is an amiable and slightly surreal travelogue, which bears a resemblance at times to a live-action version of the adventures of the Road Runner or other cartoon antics: e.g. a massive freight train vanishes into one end of a tunnel, a small railcar enters the other, and the sound of an almighty smash-up is heard from within... to unexpected result! However, despite this and the featuring of a dialogue-free Buster Keaton in the principal role (one he must surely have relished, given the emphasis on his beloved trains) it isn't really a comedy as such, but more of an off-beat ode to the Canadian landscape. There are at least two laugh-out-loud gags to treasure, though: the very typical Keaton-solution to rain in one's teacup, and the arrival of an equally intrepid voyager from the Pacific coast.

An odd little light-weight piece, on the whole amusing.