Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin are two of the most renowned figures in the history of silent cinema. Both were comedic geniuses who used the medium of film to create timeless masterpieces that continue to entertain audiences today. While they both made a significant impact on the genre of silent comedy, they did so in distinct and unique ways. Keaton's style was defined by his deadpan expression, athleticism, and expertly choreographed physical humor. Chaplin, on the other hand, was known for his comedic timing, pathos-filled performances, and ability to evoke both laughter and tears from his audience. In this essay, we will compare and contrast the styles of these two great comedians, examining the ways in which they used the tools of cinema …show more content…
The film heavily relies on visual gags and slapstick humor, with Chaplin's signature blend of pathos adding an emotional layer to the comedy. As I watch, I am impressed by the physical comedy and comedic timing on display in The Gold Rush. Meanwhile, in The General, Keaton takes a more straightforward approach to comedy, showcasing his impressive athleticism and daring stunts. Stellar set pieces and a more serious tone give The General a dramatic edge compared to The Gold Rush. Keaton's character is daring and competent, and this difference is reflected in the film's modern approach to comedy. Despite the differences in their comedic styles, both The Gold Rush and The General have a timeless quality that has helped cement their places as classic films. Both films feature standout performances from Chaplin and Keaton, with each bringing their own unique comedic style to the screen. While both films share similarities in terms of humor, physical comedy, and comedic timing, they each have their own distinct comedic style that makes them unique and worthy of …show more content…
Chaplin's camera work was usually stationary, relying on character movement to create humor. Keaton, however, incorporated more complex camera movements such as tracking shots and crane shots to add excitement to his films. Both Chaplin and Keaton were pioneers in their field and their different approaches to cinematography helped shape the comedic styles of their time. In conclusion, Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton were two of the most important figures in the history of silent comedy. Their unique and innovative styles continue to inspire filmmakers and audiences alike. Whether it was Chaplin's blend of pathos and humor or Keaton's deadpan expression and physical comedy, both men left a lasting impression on the film world. Their timeless masterpieces, Chaplin’s The Gold Rush, Keaton’s The General, and plenty of others by the two men individually are a testament to their talent and the impact they had on the world of cinema. The influence of these two comedians can be seen in the work of modern-day comedians, who continue to draw inspiration from their iconic
Many films of the silent movie era are melodramas, which was a term used back then purely as a descriptive word to describe a movie and not a ‘negative’ term the way we use the term today. Chaplin’s film is a melodrama that invokes the emotions of his audience. Some elements of melodrama are present in Chaplin’s film The Gold Rush, the characteristics of a melodrama aid in analysing how melodramatic a silent movie is. An element of melodrama is, a situation - an occurring conflict in the film created by the screenwriter to evoke an intense emotional response from the viewers.
In Buster Keaton’s silent film, The General (1927), Keaton plays a young man named Johnnie Gray. The film states Johnnie Gray has two loves: the attractive Anabelle Lee and his steam engine locomotive The General. Taking place during the Civil War, Johnnie Gray is forced to cross into enemy territory to save both Anabelle Lee and his steam engine, when the Northern army steals the train. Throughout the journey, the audience is greeted with the physical humor Gray’s antics and the subtle humor of the gender roles established in society. With the use of mise-en-scène and gender stereotypes, Keaton generates a humorous, entertaining film.
Both Gatsby and the Wizard of Oz shares similar qualities. Both characters want to change their life. The Wizard of Oz is pretending to be a great and powerful wizard when in reality he is just a man behind a curtain talking into a microphone. Meanwhile Gatsby is trying to change his life such that he does not want to be Gatz but instead he wants to be Jay Gatsby.
Comedian Jerry Seinfeld gave Richard Pryor the title as, "the Picasso of comedy and considers him to be the heart and soul of comedy." This archive was created by Scott Saul the editor and publisher of Richard Pryor 's Peoria compiled information from his biography called Becoming Richard Pryor. The archive is a jump into societies technological norms, a challenge to expose the work of a biography for the digital age. This rhetorical analysis of Richard Pryor 's Peoria archive is important because it preserves artifacts, or in many instances, the visual pieces, that reconstruct the worlds view of Richard Pryor 's childhood and adolescence. One critical question that Hollywood historians, comedy fans, and academic researchers commonly ask is how the materials within the archive offer a snapshot of Richard Pryor 's life and what items in the archive provide the most significant stories?
He is charismatic, talkative, and witty. Butch Cassidy uses his charm to try and talk his way out of difficult situations, and tends to come up with impulsive decisions to the problems that they face. The main way that this film differs from the classical Western film is that is has us cheering for the outlaws. Most Westerns follow the heroic cowboys in their pursuit to stop the outlaws, but in this film the tables turn. Butch Cassidy and Sundance’s personalities held us captive as we watched their pursuits.
Materialism is also seen in both the book and the movie. There are two main characters, who are shown in both medias, that represent materialism of the Jazz Age: Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan. For example, in the book it is evident that Gatsby is the star of New York. (CITATION FROM THE BOOK). The movie displays Gatsby as the star by putting him in many headlines of newspapers.
This proves that he was an accomplished actor and director to further influence America. Chaplin produced, directed, and composed music for his movies(Wolfram Alpha). He was the first actor to appear on Time magazine and he won an Oscar for the movie “Limelight” in the best music category(“10 Enduring Facts About Charlie Chaplin”).
Films and the actors that were casted in them changed the face of film
To summarize this essay, there are several points that highlight differences between the two films, yet the overall context of the film remains the same. One common theme that tends to drive the force between the reasoning in why the two films have varying aspects is because they were made for slightly different audiences at different times in society. Though both versions of the movie have small portions that vary from one another, the main emphasis is the same and both versions are loved by the
In his paper “The Cinema of Camp (AKA Camp and the Gay Sensibility”, Jack Babuscio states that the gay sensibility is a source of inspiration born out of a view of the world founded on social inequality. Considering this, he argues that the gay sensibility is a response to society's urge to identify and ultimately divide people, which has drawn attention to camp. Despite recognizing that it may be challenging to define camp because it can depend on one's own perspective and preferences, he does highlight elements important to camp that are unchanging, such as: irony, aestheticism, theatricality, and humor. The film The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a relevant example of Babuscio’s arguments in relation to camp and gay sensibility, as it demonstrates
While both films are considered to be the best of Buster Keaton’s body of work in the silent film genre. The General and Steamboat Bill Jr. have slight contrasts in their lighting. The cameras themselves, as well as the techniques and lighting effects, show the small gap in time between their release dates. Considering the films short span of time between the films’ respective completions, it comes as no surprise to find miniscule variance in the use of color, hard key lighting, and diffusion despite the fact the films treat the same subject.
The mood of the movie at this point shifts from dark and solemn to alive and talkative. The active dialogue and intonation used by the actors made the storyline interesting. For example, the news reporters exemplified the very image of a news reporter back in the day: curious, chatty, and amusing. Their somewhat boisterous nature is countered by unconventional lighting, as the audience hears their conversation but sees mostly shadows or just glimpses of their faces.
Like a gothic mastermind, Tim Burton incorporates dark, grotesque, child-like themes in his cinematic style. A director’s cinematic style is how their film is recognized and the techniques in their films to give their work value. Tim Burton is known for his unique cinematic style that has made his films one of a kind. Tim Burton’s style is made so unique through his use of sound tracking, lighting, and costuming for his films such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Edward Scissorhands. Tim Burton applies sounds such as background music and sound effects to add reality and emphasis to the film and to create a certain, precise moods.
Though in his autobiography Chaplin says that entertainment rather than social or political commentary was his primary motivation, a close analysis of his films clearly display a pattern of socio-political advocacy (Howe 46). In the “Modern Times” which was released in 1936, Chaplin used
Part of that delight comes from, of course, Chaplin himself. Watching Chaplin’s works we realise that he is one of the few artists of the twentieth century who is able to completely disarm a critic, challenge his sharpest faculties and still come out unscathed. The