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Buster Keaton first appeared on screen in 1917, in the Fatty Arbuckle
short The Butcher Boy. By the time he appeared in his last film, The Scribe,
in 1966, his name had graced the credits of over 150 films - some of them good, some of
them bad, a few of them awful but many of them classics.
The earliest films to feature Buster were Roscoe Arbuckle shorts; Buster
started with a small part in The Butcher Boy after the two men met by chance in 1917.
In 1920 the first Buster Keaton short (One Week) hit the screen. A string of shorts and features
followed over the next few years, with Spite Marriage marking the end of Buster's silent film career in 1929.
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While looking at
Buster's films, it's worth considering how prolific he and Arbuckle were in the early part of his
career.
Each red line on the chart represents a film release.
By the end of 1917, less than 9 months after first stepping in front of
a camera, Buster had appeared in 7 Arbuckle shorts, released by the Comique Film
Corporation. This tremendous rate of output continued in early 1918, slowing at the end of
the year and into 1919 when Buster was drafted into the army.
The second major burst of activity from the end of 1920 through to 1923
is the period in which Buster was releasing shorts through his own production company.
The releases from mid 1923 through to 1929 are Buster's silent features
- the release rate slowing down because of the length of the films.
Even taking into account the fact that before 1923 these films are all
'shorts' (about 20 minutes each), this still represents an amazing workload.
At 'peak times' you could see Buster in a new film every month.
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To attempt to list the entire Buster Keaton catalog is beyond the scope
of this site. If it's a complete filmography that you're after then you may be better off
with the printed page - try The Complete Films Of Buster Keaton
by Jim Kline, or The Sound Of Buster Keaton by David
Macleod, which concentrates on Buster's sound films. You can find information about these
and other Buster related offerings in the book section. Many of
the books listed include filmographies, some of them more accurate/complete than others.
Alternativley, check Buster's listing in the Internet Movie
Database, which includes writing and directing credits as well as over 100 film
appearances.
So what you see on the right is a complete listing of all of Buster's
silent shorts and features, along with a selction of highlights from the sound era. Alongside
his later film appearances, Buster's notable TV appearances
are also listed. Finally, notable documentaries are covered.
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Silent Films
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1917 |
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The Butcher Boy
Two reels. Comique Film Corporation.
Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle.
Released April 23, 1917. more
A Reckless Romeo
Two reels. Comique Film Corporation.
Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle.
Released May 21, 1917. more
The Rough House
Two reels. Comique Film Corporation.
Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle.
Released June 25, 1917. more
His Wedding Night
Two reels. Comique Film Corporation.
Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle.
Released August 20, 1917. more
Oh, Doctor !
Two reels. Comique Film Corporation.
Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle.
Released September 30, 1917. more
Fatty At Coney Island (aka Coney Island)
Two reels. Comique Film Corporation.
Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle.
Released October 29, 1917. more
A Country Hero
Two reels. Comique Film Corporation.
Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle.
Released December 10, 1917. more
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1918 |
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Out West
Two reels. Comique Film Corporation.
Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle.
Released January 20, 1918. more
The Bell Boy
Two reels. Comique Film Corporation.
Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle.
Released March 18, 1918. more
Moonshine
Two reels. Comique Film Corporation.
Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle.
Released May 13, 1918. more
Goodnight, Nurse
Two reels. Comique Film Corporation.
Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle.
Released July 6, 1918. more
The Cook
Two reels. Comique Film Corporation.
Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle.
Released September 15, 1918. more
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1919 |
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Back Stage
Two reels. Comique Film Corporation.
Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle.
Released September 7, 1919. more
The Hayseed
Two reels. Comique Film Corporation.
Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle.
Released October 26, 1919. more
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1920 |
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The Garage
Two reels. Comique Film Corporation.
Directed by Roscoe Arbuckle.
Released January 11, 1920. more
One Week
Two reels. Produced by Comique Film Corporation, distributed by Metro Pictures.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline.
Released September 1, 1920. more
The Saphead
Seven reels. Produced and distributed by Metro Pictures.
Directed by Herbert Blache.
Released October 18, 1920.
Based on the play The New Henrietta by Winchell Smith. more
Convict 13
Two reels. Produced by Comique Film Corporation, distributed by Metro Pictures.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline.
Released October 27, 1920. more
The Scarecrow
Two reels. Produced by Comique Film Corporation, distributed by Metro Pictures.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline.
Released November 17, 1920. more
Neighbors
Two reels. Produced by Comique Film Corporation, distributed by Metro Pictures.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline.
Released December 22, 1920. more
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1921 |
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The Haunted House
Two reels. Produced by Comique Film Corporation, distributed by Metro Pictures.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline.
Released February 10, 1921. more
Hard Luck
Two reels. Produced by Comique Film Corporation, distributed by Metro Pictures.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline.
Released March 16, 1921.
An incomplete print of this film was discovered in 1987 - previously it was thought to
have been lost forever. So the filmography in some older books lists it as 'missing', even
though this is no longer the case. more
The High Sign
Two reels. Comique Film Corporation.
Directed by Buster Keaton & Eddie Cline.
Released April 12, 1921.
The first 'Buster Keaton' two reeler filmed, this was made in 1920 but not released until
1921 because Buster wasn't happy with releasing it as his first starring short - he didn't
think it was good enough. more
The Goat
Two reels. Produced by Comique Film Corporation, distributed by Metro Pictures.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Mal St Clair.
Released July 14, 1921. more
The Electric House (destroyed)
Work on this film stopped when Buster broke his leg in an accident on the set. All of
the film that had been shot was destroyed.
The Playhouse
Two reels. Produced by Comique Film Corporation, distributed by First National.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline.
Released October 6, 1920. more
The Boat
Two reels. Produced by Comique Film Corporation, distributed by First National.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline.
Released November 1921. more
The Paleface
Two reels. Produced by Comique Film Corporation, distributed by First National.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline.
Released January 1922. more
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1922 |
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Cops
Two reels. Produced by Comique Film Corporation, distributed by First National.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline.
Released March 1922. more
My Wife's Relations
Two reels. Produced by Comique Film Corporation, distributed by First National.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline.
Released May 1922. more
The Blacksmith
Two reels. Produced by Comique Film Corporation, distributed by First National.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Mal St.Clair.
Released July 21, 1922. more
The Frozen North
Two reels. Produced by Buster Keaton Productions Inc., distributed by First National.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline.
Released August 1922. more
The Electric House
Two reels. Produced by Buster Keaton Productions Inc., distributed by Associated First
National.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline.
Released October 1922. more
Day Dreams
Three reels. Produced by Buster Keaton Productions Inc., distributed by First National.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline.
Released November 1922. more
The Balloonatic
Two reels. Produced by Buster Keaton Productions Inc., distributed by Associated-First
National.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline.
Released January 22, 1923. more
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1923 |
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The Love Nest
Two reels. Produced by Buster Keaton Productions Inc., distributed by Associated-First
National.
Directed by Buster Keaton.
Released March 1923. more
Three Ages
Six reels. Produced by Buster Keaton Productions Inc., distributed by Metro Pictures.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Cline.
Released September 24, 1923. more
Our Hospitaliy
Seven reels. Produced by Buster Keaton Productions Inc., distributed by Metro Pictures.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Jack Blystone.
Released November 19, 1923. more
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1924 |
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Sherlock Jr
Five reels. Produced by Buster Keaton Productions Inc., distributed by Metro Pictures.
Directed by Buster Keaton.
Released April 21, 1924. more
The Navigator
Six reels. Produced by Buster Keaton Productions Inc., distributed by Metro Pictures.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Donald Crisp.
Released October 13, 1924. more
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1925 |
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Seven Chances
Six reels. Produced by Buster Keaton Productions Inc., distributed by Metro-Goldwyn.
Directed by Buster Keaton.
Released March 11, 1925. more
Go West
Seven reels. Produced by Buster Keaton Productions Inc., distributed by Metro-Goldwyn.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Lex Neal.
Released November 1, 1925. more
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1926 |
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Battling Butler
Seven reels. Produced by Buster Keaton Productions Inc., distributed by
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Directed by Buster Keaton.
Released September 19, 1926. more
The General
Eight reels. Produced by Buster Keaton Productions Inc., distributed by United Artists.
Directed by Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckman.
Released February 5, 1927. Some sources quote a release date of December 26, 1926. more
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1927 |
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College
Six reels. Produced by Buster Keaton Productions Inc., distributed by United Artists.
Directed by James W. Horne.
Released September 10, 1927. more
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1928 |
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Steamboat Bill Jr
Seven reels. Produced by Buster Keaton Productions Inc., distributed by United Artists.
Directed by Charles Riesner.
Released May 1928. more
The Cameraman
Eight reels. Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Directed by Edward Sedgwick.
Released September 22, 1928. more
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1929 |
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Spite Marriage
Nine reels. Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Directed by Edward Sedgwick.
Released April 6, 1929. more
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Selected Sound Films
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Hollywood Cavalcade (1939)
Buster's first appearance in a major studio film for ten years. more
San Diego, I Love You (1944)
Not one of Buster's greatest, but noteable nonetheless for being one of the few films in
which you can see him smile. more
Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Buster plays a very brief cameo alongside Gloria Swanson, Cecil B. de Mille and Erich
von Stroheim. more
Limelight 1952
The only film in which you can see Keaton and Chaplin together. more
Around The World In 80 Days (1956)
Buster again has a small role, this time the co-stars include Marlene Dietrich, Frank
Sinatra, John Gielgud, Shirley MacLaine and Peter Lorre. more
It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963)
With only a small role to start with, Buster's part almost disappeared completely when
the original running time of 192 minutes was cut to 154 minutes. more
The Railrodder 1965
A return to former glories, this wonderful silent short follows Buster on a rail jouney
across Canada. more
A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum (1966)
Buster's last appearance in a major film. more
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Noteable TV Appearances
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The Buster Keaton Comedy Show (1949)
Broadcast live, with a live studio audience in attendance, this series of programmes is
unfortunately no longer in existance - with the exception of one programme. Consisting of
sketches, Buster reprised many of the gags from his early work.
The Buster Keaton Show (1950-51)
A second TV series - no longer broadcast live, and with no audience. All of this series
still exists, and some has been released on video.
The Adventures Of Mr Pastry (1955)
Filmed in 1955 at the Nettlefield Studios, Walton-On-Thames, near London. This was a
rare British television appearance for Buster in a programme made as a pilot for a series
that never took off. Although made for ITV in 1955, it wasn't actually screened until June
1958, and has remained unseen for almost forty years until it was recently
're-discovered'.
This Is Your Life (1957)
Buster was the 'surprise victim' of Ralph Edwards in 1957.
The Twilight Zone (1961)
Buster appeared in an episode entitled ONCE UPON A TIME.
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Compilations and Documentaries
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Buster Keaton Rides Again (1965)
55 minutes. A documentary film crew followed Buster throughout the making of The Railrodder
and this is the result - an engaging and timely film, made only a few months before
Buster's death, and offering insight into Buster's working methods.
more
The Great Stone Face (1968)
90 minutes.
more
Buster Keaton : A Hard Act To Follow (1987)
150 minutes. A brilliant three part documentary, now available on DVD.
The Golden Age Of Buster Keaton (1975)
100 minutes. A compilation featuring clips from a host of Buster's
silent films - with added sound effects. It's a strange thing indeed to hear the sound of
a steam engine while watching clips from The General! Produced by Raymond Rohauer,
technical advisor Mrs Buster Keaton.
Paul Merton's Silent Clowns : Buster Keaton (2006)
55 minutes. First transmitted BBC Four, 25th May 2006, UK. Part One of a four part series on silent clowns, presented
by comedian, TV presenter and Keaton fan Paul Merton. A good introduction for those new to silent cinema, Merton's
enthusiasm for and knowledge of the subject matter are more than evident. The other three parts of the series focused
on Charlie Chaplin, Laurel & Hardy and Harold Lloyd.
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