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CHAPLIN-KEATON-LLOYD

(born) (years active) (died)

===========================================================================

CHARLES CHAPLIN

(b. 1889) (1914-1967) (d. 1977 @ 88y)

CHARLES CHAPLIN

(b. 1889) (1914-1967) (d. 1977 @ 88y)

===========================================================================

In 1965 Chaplin established his official filmography with the publication of his book, My Autobiography. The filmography consisted of 80 motion pictures released since 1914. Two years later, Chaplin produced his last film "A Countess from Hong Kong" (1967), his 81st entry. In 2010, an 82nd film was added with the discovery of "A Thief Catcher" (1914), an early Keystone film hitherto thought lost.

 

KEYSTONE FILM COMPANY (1914)

 

Charlie Chaplin was born April 16, 1889 in London, England to parents who were entertainers in the music hall tradition. After the early death of his father and the subsequent illness of his mother which resulted in her admission to an asylum, Charilie and his older half-brother Sydney were left to fend for themselves. Charlie was initially left in a London workhouse, and later a school for paupers, before securing an acting job in the theatre in 1903 at the age of 12. This early opportunity to learn the craft of acting eventually lead to Charlie's joining Fred Karno's comedic theatre group. It was as a featured player with Karno that Chaplin arrived in America for the first time in October 1910 for the first of five national tours between October 1910 and December 1913. In late 1913, Chaplin's act with the Karno Troupe was seen by Mack Sennett, Mabel Normand, Minta Durfee, and "Fatty" Arbuckle, and Sennett was impressed enough to hire him for his studio. Sennett did not warm to Chaplin right away, but Chaplin's pictures were soon a success, and he became one of the biggest stars at Keystone. Chaplin was given over to Normand, who directed and wrote a handful of his earliest films, but Chaplin did not enjoy being directed by a woman, and they often disagreed, but eventually worked out their differences and remained friends long after Chaplin left Keystone. Although Chaplin appeared as a swindler in his first Keystone film, and a keystone cop in his fourth film, he quickly introduced and eventually perfected his tramp character within his first few films. Chaplin's earliest films were directed primarily by Henry Lehrman, George Nichols, Mack Sennett, and Mabel Normand. Chaplin assisted with the writing of most of his pictures in an uncredited capacity from the very beginning, and eventually also assisted with directing in an uncredited capacity as well. Chaplin finally earned his first official directing credit on his 14th film "Caught in the Rain" (1914). His next official directing credit was on his 20th film "Mabel's Married Life" (1914), for which he also received his first official writing credit. Chaplin directed every single film from then on in which he starred. Chaplin appeared in a total of 36 films for Keystone Studios, all of which were produced by Mack Sennett. Most films are one-reelers.

 

1. [Short][DND]  Making a Living (1914)  (9/15 min)
2. [Short][DND]  Kid Auto Races At Venice (1914)  (11m)*
3. [Short][DND]  Mabel's Strange Predicament (1914)  (17m)
4. [Short][DND]  A Thief Catcher (1914)  (10m)
---> (see note #1)
5. [Short][DND]  Between Showers (1914)  (15m)*
6. [Short][DND]  A Film Johnnie (1914)  (15m)*
7. [Short][DND]  Tango Tangles (1914)  (12m)
8. [Short][DND]  His Favorite Pastime (1914)  (16m)
9. [Short][DND]  Cruel, Cruel Love (1914)  (16m)
10. [Short][DND]  The Landlady's Pet (1914)  (16m)*
11. [Short][DND]  Mabel At the Wheel (1914)  (18m)
12. [Short]  Twenty Minutes of Love (1914)  (7/20m)
13. [Short][DND]  Caught In a Cabaret (1914)  (16m)
14. [Short]  Caught In the Rain (1914)  (16m)
15. [Short][DND]  A Busy Day (1914)  (6m)*
16. [Short]  The Fatal Mallet (1914)  (18m)
17. [Short][DND] Her Friend the Bandit (1914) (16m) [LOST]
18. [Short][DND]  The Knockout (1914)  (27m)
19. [Short]  Mabel's Busy Day (1914)  (16m)
20. [Short]  Mabel's Married Life (1914)  (17m)*
21. [Short]  Laughing Gas (1914)  (16m)*
22. [Short]  The Property Man (1914)  (31m)*
23. [Short]  The Face On the Bar Room Floor (1914)  (14m)*
24. [Short]  Recreation (1914)  (7m)
25. [Short]  The Masquerader (1914)  (16m)*
26. [Short]  His New Profession (1914)  (16m)
27. [Short]  The Rounders (1914)  (11/16m)
28. [Short]  The New Janitor (1914)  (16m)
29. [Short]  Those Love Pangs (1914)  (16m)*
30. [Short]  Dough and Dynamite (1914)  (33m)*
31. [Short]  Gentlemen of Nerve (1914)  (16m)*
32. [Short]  His Musical Career (1914)  (16m)
33. [Short]  His Trysting Place (1914)  (32m)*
34. [FEAT]  Tillie's Punctured Romance (1914)
35. [Short]  Getting Acquainted (1914)  (16m)
36. [Short]  His Prehistoric Past (1914)  (12/22m)*

ESSANAY FILM MANUFACTURING COMPANY (1915 - 1916)

 

Chaplin wrote, directed, and starred in 15 films for the Essanay Film Manufacturing Company, all produced by Jesse T. Robbins. Most films are two-reelers.

 

37. [Short]  His New Job (1915)  (32m)*
38. [Short]  A Night Out (1915)  (33m)
39. [Short]  The Champion (1915)  (33m)
40. [Short]  In the Park (1915)  (15m)
41. [Short]  A Jitney Elopement (1915)  (33m)
42. [Short]  The Tramp (1915)  (32m)
43. [Short]  By the Sea (1915)  (20m)
44. [Short]  Work (1915)  (27/33m)
45. [Short]  A Woman (1915)  (20m)
46. [Short]  The Bank (1915)  (33m)
47. [Short]  Shanghaied (1915)  (30m)*
48. [Short]  A Night In the Show (1915)  (30m)
49. [Short]  Burlesque On Carmen (1915)  (37/45m)
---> (see note #2)
50. [Short]  Police (1916)  (34m)*
64. [Short]  Triple Trouble (1918)  (23m)*
---> (see note #3)

MUTUAL FILM CORPORATION: LONE STAR STUDIOS (1916 - 1917)

 

Chaplin wrote, produced, directed, and starred in 12 films for the Mutual Film Corporation, which formed Lone Star Studios solely for Chaplin's films. All films are two-reelers.

 

51. [Short]  The Floorwalker (1916)  (20/24m)*
52. [Short]  The Fireman (1916)  (32m)*
53. [Short]  The Vagabond (1916)  (24m)*
54. [Short]  One A.M. (1916)  (34m)
55. [Short]  The Count (1916)  (34m)*
56. [Short]  The Pawnshop (1916)  (32m)
57. [Short]  Charlie Chaplin: Behind the Screen (1916)  (15m)*
58. [Short]  The Rink (1916)  (24m)*
59. [Short]  Easy Street (1917)  (19/24m)
60. [Short]  The Cure (1917)  (31m)
61. [Short]  The Immigrant (1917)  (20m)
62. [Short]  The Adventurer (1917)  (31m)*

CHARLES CHAPLIN PRODUCTIONS (1918 - 1967)

 

In 1918, Chaplin created 'Charles Chaplin Productions' and began producing his own films. From then on, Chaplin produced, wrote, and directed every film he starred in, as well as two additional films in which he stayed mostly behind the camera limiting his screen time to anonymous cameos. He also edited and composed the music for most of the films he produced. Between 1918 and 1923, Chaplin produced a total of nine films which he released through First National Pictures. Although Chaplin continued to make shorts with his own production company, he was also finally free to begin creating feature length films. Three of the nine films he distributed through First National Pictures were full length feature films: "Shoulder Arms" (1918), "The Kid" (1921), and "The Pilgrim" (1923). "The Pilgrim" was Chaplin's last film distributed through First National. 1922's "Pay Day" was Chaplin's second to last film distributed through First National, and the very last short film he made, comitting himself thereafter to producing only feature length films. On February 5, 1919 (a few years before the completion of his distribution deal with First National), Chaplin co-founded United Artists (UA) with D.W. Griffith and his close friends Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. Chaplin distributed eight pictures through United Artists beginning with 1923's "A Woman of Paris" and ending with 1952's "Limelight". In 1952 after attempting to return to the US after visiting the UK for the London premiere of "Limelight", the US government revoked his re-entry visa forcing Chaplin into exile in Europe. Chaplin's last two films "A King In New York" (1957) and "A Countess From Hong Kong" were produced in England and distributed through various companies. Chaplin starred in every film he produced/wrote/directed with three exceptions: "A Woman of Paris" (1923), "A Countess From Hong Kong" (1967), and the Lost Film "Woman of the Sea" (1926). After his exile from the US, Chaplin made his home and spent his final years in Vevey, Switzerland. He briefly and triumphantly returned to the United States in April 1972, with his wife, to receive an Honorary Oscar, and also to discuss how his films would be re-released and marketed. Charlie Chaplin died of natural causes in his sleep in Vevey, Switzerland on Christmas Day 1977.

 

Distributed thru First National Pictures

 
63. [Short]  A Dog's Life (1918)  (40m)
64. ---> Essanay releases "Triple Trouble" (see note #3)
65. [Short]  The Bond (1918)  (11m)*
66. [FEAT]  Shoulder Arms (1918)
67. [Short]  Sunnyside (1919)  (34m)
68. [Short]  A Day's Pleasure (1919)  (25/18m)
69. [FEAT]  The Kid (1921)
70. [Short]  The Idle Class (1921)  (32m)
71. [Short]  Pay Day (1922)  (28m)
72. [FEAT]  The Pilgrim (1923)

Distributed thru United Artists

 
73. [FEAT]  A Woman of Paris (1923)
---> ANONYMOUS CAMEO ONLY
74. [FEAT]  The Gold Rush (1925)
75. [FEAT]  The Circus (1928)
76. [FEAT]  City Lights (1931)
77. [FEAT]  Modern Times (1936)
78. [FEAT]  The Great Dictator (1940)
79. [FEAT]  Monsieur Verdoux (1947)
80. [FEAT]  Limelight (1952)

Distributed thru other

 
81. [FEAT]  A King In New York (1957)
82. [FEAT]  A Countess From Hong Kong (1967)
---> ANONYMOUS CAMEO ONLY

CAMEOS

 

In addition to his own productions of "A Woman of Paris" (1923) and "A Countess From Hong Kong" (1967), Chaplin made cameo appearances (usually as himself) in the following films:

 

83. [Short][DND]  His Regeneration (1915)  (15m)
---> (see note #4)
84. [FEAT][DND]  The Nut (1921)
---> (see note #5)
85. [FEAT][DND]  Souls For Sale (1923)
---> (see note #6)
86. [FEAT] Hollywood (1923) [LOST]
---> (see note #7)
87. [Short][DND]  Camille (1926)  (33m)
---> (see note #8)
88. [FEAT][DND]  Show People (1928)
---> (see note #9)

UNCOMPLETED / UNRELEASED

 

Chaplin has several unfinished productions in his body of work.

 

89. [Short] Life (c. 1915-16) (??m) [LOST]
---> (see note #10)
90. [Short]  How To Make Movies (1918)  (16m)
---> (see note #11)
91. [Short]  The Professor (1919)  (7m)
---> (see note #12)
92. [Short]  Nice and Friendly (1922)  (11m)
---> (see note #13)
93. [FEAT][DND] Woman of the Sea (1926) [LOST]
---> (see note #14)

Key to abbreviations prepending movie titles:

LEGEND ---> [Short] = Short

LEGEND ---> [FEAT] = FEATure Length Film

LEGEND ---> [DND] = Chaplin "Did Not Direct" Film

 

NOTE #1 = Previously lost (and forgotten) film rediscovered in 2010. The film had fallen through the cracks and been so forgotten that the British Film Institute dropped from their Chaplin filmography in 1938, and Chaplin did not include in his own comprehensive filmography in 1965. Chaplin's only recollection of the film was hinted at in interviews for 'A Countess From Hong Kong' when he stated that he remembered playing a keystone cop early in his career. In the film, Chaplin appears as a keystone cop for about 3 minutes of the 10 minute film.

 

NOTE #2 = Charles Chaplin released this two reel comedy in 1915, shortly before leaving Essanay. That studio then padded the film with two more reels of unauthorized non-Chaplin material and re-released it as a four-reel film on April 22, 1916.

 

NOTE #3 = An unauthorized compilation film assembled by Director Leo White after Chaplin's departure from Essanay. It has many Chaplin directed scenes, including outtakes from "Police", one or two scenes from the unfinished/unreleased planned feature film "Life", and the borrowing of the end from "Work". Chaplin created footage was then combined with newly shot footage by White. Since Chaplin did not have legal control over the films made during his time with Essanay, he could not prevent its release. Although Chaplin did not authorize this film, he did include it in the filmography of his autobiography. Essanay strategically held the release of this film for two years to take advantage of maximized profits potential as Chaplin continued to shoot to worldwide fame.

 

NOTE #4 = Chaplin has an uncredited cameo role as a customer.

 

NOTE #5 = Chaplin has a cameo role but his footage supposedly does not appear in surviving prints. Surviving footage contains a sequence that features an unknown actor in Chaplin's tramp persona which many believe might actually be Chaplin intentionally doing a bad Chaplin impression.

 

NOTE #6 = Chaplin has a cameo role as himself directing "A Woman in Paris".

 

NOTE #7 = Chaplin has a cameo appearing as himself. The film has become famous as having featured cameos of more than thirty famous Hollywood stars. However, the film is now considered a LOST FILM.

 

NOTE #8 = Chaplin has a cameo role playing a character named Mike. Footage is included as a supplement to the DVD release of Charlie Chaplin's "A Woman of Paris" and "A King in New York".

 

NOTE #9 = Chaplin has a cameo appearing as himself.

 

NOTE #10 = ESSANAY / Narrative Short-Feature / In 1915, Chaplin began work on "Life", his first feature-length comedy, but Essanay studio stopped production because production was taking too long and they desired quick turn around one-reel subjects to fill the voracious public demand for Chaplin's work. Although unauthorized by Chaplin, parts of "Life" were used in "Triple Double" and the Essanay compilation film "The Essanay-Chaplin Revue". It is assumed some of the footage is either lost or is buried in Chaplin's vaults.

 

NOTE #11 = Charles Chaplin Productions / Narrative Short / This film was never released for the general public. It was hidden in Chaplin's private vaults for forty years until he included some parts of it in his compilation 'The Chaplin Revue' in 1959. Reconstructed in 1981.

 

NOTE #12 = Charles Chaplin Productions / Narrative Short / Slated as a two-reeler, but never issued. Never released or even completed. Chaplin abandoned production after finishing only one scene. The remaining film is included in Unknown Chaplin and on at least one of the Limelight DVD releases.

 

NOTE #13 = Charles Chaplin Productions / Improvised Sketch / Made as a wedding present for Louis and Edwina Mountbatten who were on their honeymoon in California.

 

NOTE #14 = Charles Chaplin Productions / Narrative Short / The only time Chaplin produced a film in which he neither starred nor directed. Completed but never released. Chaplin had the negative burned on June 24, 1933. Some sources claim that a copy remained in the Chaplin vault until it too was burned by 'Oona Chaplin' in 1991. LOST FILM

 

 

===========================================================================

BUSTER KEATON

(b. 1895) (1917-1966) (d. 1966 @ 70y)

BUSTER KEATON

(b. 1895) (1917-1966) (d. 1966 @ 70y)

===========================================================================

COMIQUE FILM COMPANY - FATTY ARBUCKLE SHORTS (1917 - 1920)

 

Buster Keaton was born October 4, 1895 in Kansas. Keaton's comedic entertainment career began as part of his parent's vaudeville act "The Three Keaton's", which Buster started participating in when only 9 months old, and which was dissolved in 1917 (when Buster was 21) due to his father's alcoholism. After a brief stint in a Broadway show, a chance meeting with comedian Rosco "Fatty" Arbuckle led him to Hollywood following Arbuckle's invitation to play a small role in his next picture "The Butcher Boy" (1917). Arbuckle himself had left Keystone Studios earlier in 1917 to co-create "Comique Film Company" in partnership with independent producer Joseph M. Schenck. Keaton and Arbuckle hit it off becoming lifelong friends, and became a successful onscreen team working together on a string of 2-reel comedic shorts for Comique, which were distributed through Paramount Pictures. Under Arbuckle's mentorship, Keaton soon began assisting Arbuckle with writing and directing their films, even earning an official co-directing credit for "The Rough House" (1917). In 1919, Arbuckle accepted a multi-picture deal with Paramount, and bequeathed Comique to Keaton, who eventually renamed it "Buster Keaton Productions", a subsidiary of "Joseph M. Schenck Productions."

 

1. [Short]  The Butcher Boy (1917)  (30m)
2. [Short]  The Rough House (1917)  (22m)
3. [Short]  His Wedding Night (1917)  (19m)
4. [Short]  Oh Doctor! (1917)  (23m)
5. [Short]  Coney Island (1917)  (25m)
6. [Short] A Country Hero (1917) (20m) [LOST]
7. [Short]  Out West (1918)  (25m)
8. [Short]  The Bell Boy (1918)  (33m)
9. [Short]  Moonshine (1918)  (23m)
10. [Short]  Good Night, Nurse! (1918)  (26m)
11. [Short]  The Cook (1918)  (22m)
12. [Short]  Back Stage (1919)  (26m)
13. [Short]  The Hayseed (1919)  (27m)
14. [Short]  The Garage (1920)  (25m)

METRO PICTURES CORPORATION (1920)

 

Keaton's first post-Arbuckle-Keaton film was a feature film titled "The Saphead" (1920), which was directed by Herbert Blache & Winchell Smith, and produced by "Metro Pictures Corporation". Keaton was still under exclusive contract with Schenck but loaned to Metro for this film.

 

15. [FEAT]  The Saphead (1920)

BUSTER KEATON PRODUCTIONS & MGM SILENTS (1920 - 1929)

 

Keaton's greatest success occurred in the 1920's with a string of 31 silent films which Keaton had creative control over, including either directing or co-directing (sometimes in an uncredited capacity). "Buster Keaton Productions" (a subsidiary of "Joseph M. Schenck Productions") produced the first 29 films, and MGM produced the final two. Between 1920 and 1923, Keaton produced, wrote, directed, and starred in nineteen short films (1 was a sole directing credit, 14 were co-directed with Edward F. Cline, two were co-directed with Malcolm St. Clair). Starting with 1923's "Three Ages", Keaton produced, directed, and starred in twelve feature length films (4 were sole directing credits, 4 were co-directing credits with 4 other directors, and the last 4 were "uncredited" co-directing credits with 3 other directors). Keaton had a writing credit on only 3 of these 12 features. With Keaton's approval, Schenck sold Keaton's contract to MGM in 1928, where he made the last two of his silent films and began making sound films, but also where he quickly lost creative control of his films.

 

Buster Keaton Productions SHORTS

 
16. [Short]  One Week (1920)  (19m)
17. [Short]  Convict 13 (1920)  (20m)
18. [Short]  Neighbors (1920)  (18m)
19. [Short]  The Scarecrow (1920)  (19m)
20. [Short]  The Haunted House (1921)  (21m)
21. [Short]  Hard Luck (1921)  (22m)
22. [Short]  The High Sign (1921)  (21m)
23. [Short]  The Goat (1921)  (23m)
24. [Short]  The Play House (1921)  (23m)
25. [Short]  The Boat (1921)  (26m)
26. [Short]  The Paleface (1922)  (20m)
27. [Short]  Cops (1922)  (18m)
28. [Short]  My Wife's Relations (1922)  (22m)
29. [Short]  The Blacksmith (1922)  (20m)
30. [Short]  The Frozen North (1922)  (17m)
31. [Short]  The Electric House (1922)  (20m)
32. [Short]  Daydreams (1922)  (18m)
33. [Short]  The Balloonatic (1923)  (22m)
34. [Short]  The Love Nest (1923)  (20m)

Buster Keaton Productions FEATURES

 
35. [FEAT]  Three Ages (1923)
36. [FEAT]  Our Hospitality (1923)
37. [FEAT]  Sherlock, Jr. (1924)
38. [FEAT]  The Navigator (1924)
39. [FEAT]  Seven Chances (1925)
40. [FEAT]  Go West (1925)
41. [FEAT]  Battling Butler (1926)
42. [FEAT]  The General (1927)
43. [FEAT]  College (1927)
44. [FEAT]  Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)

MGM SILENT FEATURES

 
45. [FEAT]  The Cameraman (1928)
46. [FEAT]  Spite Marriage (1929)

MISC. SILENT CAMEOS

 

Keaton is known to have had quick-take uncredited cameos in at least 3 silent Fatty Arbuckle films.

 

47. [Short]  A Creampuff Romance (1917)  (23m)
---> (aka "A Reckless Romeo")
---> (see Note #1)
48. [FEAT]  The Round-Up (1920)
---> (see Note #2)
49. [Short]  The Iron Mule (1925)  (13m)
---> (see Note #3)

Key to abbreviations prepending silent movie titles:

LEGEND ---> [Short] = Short

LEGEND ---> [FEAT] = FEATure Length Film

 

NOTE #1 = IMDb Cast Credit: "Undetermined Role (uncredited)"; IMDb Trivia says film "shows Buster Keaton smiling and laughing"; IMDb User Review says "it was believed that Buster Keaton might have appeared in [this film, but it] was made just before he joined Arbuckle's Comique crew, but even without Buster this movie is a treat".

 

NOTE #2 = IMDb Cast Credit: "Indian (uncredited)"; An IMDb User Review says "Buster Keaton (unbilled) does one spectacular pratfall that's more astonishing than funny ... and that's it".

 

NOTE #3 = IMDb Cast Credit: "Indian (uncredited)"; An IMDb User Review states they had difficulty positively identifying Keaton among the Indians.

 

 

*************** KEATON IN SOUND ERA ***************

SOUND ERA FILMS (1929 - 1966)

 

MGM FEATURES (1929 - 1933)

After completing two silent films for MGM, Keaton's began his sound film career with an additional eight films for MGM. His first MGM talkie was "The Hollywood Revue of 1929" (1929), MGM's lavish spectacle showcasing (in many cases for the first time) the speaking and singing voices of the major stars of the MGM studio at the time, although ironically (and to comic effect) Keaton remained stonefaced and silent during his two bits in the film, including during the last act of the film when the entire roster of stars are locked arm and arm singing the new hit tune "Singin' In The Rain." As the camera pans down the long line of singing and smiling MGM stars locked arm in arm, the camera stalls on Keaton to show him intentionally looking out of place as he remains tightlipped and stonefaced looking back and forth at his jubilant co-stars. Although he had first billing in each of his MGM sound films (with the exception of Hollywood Revue), he did not direct any, and continued to lose creative control of his films as his personal life devolved into chaos with divorce proceedings and alcoholism. Three different language versions were created of Keaton's first three MGM sound films in which he starred. To accomplish this, after filming a scene in English, Keaton and his co-stars had to redo each scene by phonetically reciting the dialogue in Spanish for the second version, and either French or German for the third version. His last three MGM films teamed him with Jimmy Durante. MGM released Keaton from his contract in 1933.

 

MGM Ensemble Talkie

 
50. The Hollywood Revue of 1929 (1929)

English + Spanish + French-or-German

 
51. Free and Easy (1930)
52. Doughboys (1930)
53. Parlor, Bedroom, and Bath (1931)

Misc.

 
54. Sidewalks of New York (1931)

with Jimmy Durante

 
55. The Passionate Plumber (1932)
56. Speak Easily (1932)
57. What! No Beer? (1933)

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EUROPEAN INTERLUDE (1933 - 1934) & MEXICAN INTERLUDE (1946)

Keaton's last starring role in an American produced feature film was "What! No Beer?" (1933), his last with MGM before the termination of his contract in 1933. Keaton would have star billing in only another three feature films after 1933, all foreign produced films. In the interim between Keaton's MGM and Educational Productions contracts, Keaton accepted an offer to make an independent feature film in Paris "Le Roi des Champs-Elysees" (1934), after which he remained in Europe to star in a second feature film in England "The Invader" (1935), which was released in the US in 1936 as "An Old Spanish Custom." Eleven years later, Keaton had his very last star billing in a feature film in ''El Moderno Barba Azul'' (1946), a Mexican science fiction comedy film which was released in the US as "Boom In The Moon".

 

58. The King of the Champs-Elysees (1934)
59. The Invader (1935)
60. Boom In the Moon (1946)

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EDUCATIONAL PRODUCTIONS SHORTS (1934-37)

Upon Keaton's return to Hollywood from Europe, he made a screen comeback staring in a series of 16 two-reel comedies for Educational Pictures, half of which Keaton had a hand in directing. Most of these are simple visual comedies, with many of the gags supplied by Keaton himself. When the series lapsed in 1937, Keaton returned to MGM working behind the scenes as a gag writer.

 

61. The Gold Ghost (1934)  (20m)
62. Allez Oop (1934)  (21m)
63. Palooka From Paducah (1935)  (20m)
64. One Run Elmer (1935)  (19m)
65. Hayseed Romance (1935)  (19m)
66. Tars and Stripes (1935)  (20m)
67. The E-Flat Man (1935)  (20m)
68. The Timid Young Man (1935)  (20m)
69. Three On a Limb (1936)  (18m)
70. Grand Slam Opera (1936)  (20m)
71. Blue Blazes (1936)  (17m)
72. The Chemist (1936)  (19m)
73. Mixed Magic (1936)  (18m)
74. Jail Bait (1937)  (18m)
75. Ditto (1937)  (17m)
76. Love Nest On Wheels (1937)  (20m)

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COLUMBIA PICTURES SHORTS (1939-41)

In 1939, Columbia Pictures hired Keaton to star in ten two-reel comedies, running for two years. The director was usually Jules White, whose emphasis on slapstick made most of these films resemble White's Three Stooges comedies.

 

77. Pest From the West (1939)  (20m)
78. Mooching Through Georgia (1939)  (19m)
79. Nothing But Pleasure (1940)  (20m)
80. Pardon My Berth Marks (1940)  (20m)
81. The Taming of the Snood (1940)  (20m)
82. The Spook Speaks (1940)  (18m)
83. His Ex Marks the Spot (1940)  (18m)
84. So You Won't Squawk (1941)  (20m)
85. General Nuisance (1941)  (17m)
86. She's Oil Mine (1941)  (17m)

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SUPPORTING ROLES & TV SHOWS (1940 - 1966)

Keaton's personal life stabilized with his 1940 marriage. After completing his contract with Columbia in 1941, he supported himself playing character roles in both "A" and "B" feature films, appearing on stage in Europe and the United States, and continuing to write gags for MGM, as well as 20th Century-Fox. A highly successful 1947 performance at Cirque Medrano in Paris helped rehabilitate his reputation, and critics and the public rediscovered Keaton in 1949 following a cover story in Life magazine on great clowns of the silent movies. Keaton began his television career in 1950 with "The Buster Keaton Show" on a local Los Angeles station and the nationally televised "Life with Buster Keaton" in 1951. He then spent the last 17 years of his life with a series of much cherished guest shots in television shows. While working in television, the now sober star also made his way back into supporting roles in major films. Keaton found himself in increasing demand in the '60s, appearing in several of American International Pictures' "Beach" musicals (in which he was allowed to work up his own gags), and a number of television ad campaigns. Buster Keaton died of lung cancer on February 1, 1966.

 

Feature Films (Keaton in Supporting or Cameo Roles)

 
87. Hollywood Cavalcade (1939)
88. New Moon (1940)
89. The Villain Still Pursued Her (1940)
90. Li'l Abner (1940)
91. Forever and a Day (1943)
92. San Diego I Love You (1944)
93. That's the Spirit (1945)
94. That Night With You (1945)
95. She Went To the Races (1945)
96. God's Country (1946)
97. El Colmillo de Buda (1949)
98. The Lovable Cheat (1949)
99. You're My Everything (1949)
100. In the Good Old Summertime (1949)
101. Sunset Boulevard (1950)
102. Limelight (1952)
103. L'incantevole nemica (1953)
104. Around the World In 80 Days (1956)
105. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1960)
106. It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963)
107. Pajama Party (1964)
108. Beach Blanket Bingo (1965)
109. How To Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965)
110. Sergeant Dead Head (1965)
111. Two Marines and a General (1966)
112. A Funny Thing Happened On the Way To the Forum (1966)

 

Short Films & Documentary Feature (Starring Keaton)(or in cameo#)

 
113. The Slippery Pearls (1931)  (20m)#
---> Star-packed promotional fund raising short for TB sanitarium
114. La Fiesta de Santa Barbara (1935)  (19m)#
---> Keaton included in ensemble of MGM's contract players
115. Paradise For Buster (1952)  (39m)
116. Un duel a mort (1952)  (15m)
117. The Triumph of Lester Snapwell (1963)  (22m)
118. The Railrodder (1965)  (24m)
119. Buster Keaton Rides Again (1965)  (55m)
---> Documentary Feature about filming of "The Railrodder"
120. Film (1965)  (20m)
121. The Scribe (1966)  (30m)

 

Feature Film from TV Show (Starring Keaton)

 
122. The Misadventures of Buster Keaton (1950)
---> compiled from episodes of "Life with Buster Keaton"

 

Biography Documentary (Peter Bogdanovich)

 
123. The Great Buster (2018)

TV Shows & Episodes [not checkable]

 
124. "The Buster Keaton Show" (1950) (TV Series)
---> Keaton starred in all 26 episodes (30m each)
125. "Life with Buster Keaton" (1951) (TV Series)
---> Keaton starred in all episodes (# unknown) (30m each)
126. "Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Presents" (1953-57) (TV Series)
---> "The Awakening" (7/14/1954) (TV Episode) (30m)
127. "The Best of Broadway" (1954-55) (TV Series)
---> "The Man Who Came to Dinner" (10/13/1954) (TV Episode) (60m)
128. "The Eddie Cantor Comedy Theater" (1955) (TV Series)
---> "Strange Little Stranger" (10/10/1955) (TV Episode) (30m)
129. "Screen Directors Playhouse" (1955-56) (TV Series)
---> "The Silent Partner" (12/21/1955) (TV Episode) (30m)
130. "Producers' Showcase" (1954-57) (TV Series)
---> "The Lord Don't Play Favorites" (9/17/1956) (TV Episode) (90m)
131. "You Asked for It" (1950-59) (TV Series)
---> "untitled episode" (2/16/1958) (TV Episode) (30m)
132. "Playhouse 90" (1955-61) (TV Series)
---> "No Time at All" (2/13/1958) (TV Episode) (90m)
---> "The Innocent Sleep" (6/5/1958) (TV Episode) (90m)
133. "The Adventures of Mr. Pastry" (6/21/1958) (TV Special)
---> UK TV Special (30m)
134. "The Donna Reed Show" (1958-66) (TV Series)
---> "A Very Merry Christmas" (12/24/1958) (TV Episode) (26m)
135. "Sunday Showcase" (1959-60) (TV Series)
---> "After Hours" (2/7/1960) (TV Episode) (60m)
136. "Twilight Zone" (1959-64) (TV Series)
---> "Once Upon a Time" (12/15/1961) (TV Episode) (25m)
137. "Route 66" (1960-64) (TV Series)
---> "Journey to Nineveh" (9/28/1962) (TV Episode) (60m)
138. "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" (1962-63) (TV Series)
---> "Think Mink" (1/16/1963) (TV Episode) (30m)
139. "Burke's Law" (1963-66) (TV Series)
---> "Who Killed 1/2 of Glory Lee?" (5/8/1966) (TV Episode) (60m)
140. "The Man Who Bought Paradise" (1/17/1965) (TV Special)
---> UK TV Special (60m)
141. "The Donna Reed Show" (1958-66) (TV Series)
---> "Now You See It, Now You Don't" (2/11/1965) (TV Episode) (30m)

 

TV Show Episodes I've Seen

 
128. Screen Directors Playhouse: The Silent Partner (1955)

===========================================================================

HAROLD LLOYD

(b. 1893) (1913-1947) (d. 1971 @ 77y)

HAROLD LLOYD

(b. 1893) (1913-1947) (d. 1971 @ 77y)

===========================================================================

SILENT ERA SHORTS (as Extra & Supporting Roles) (1913 - 1915)

 

Harold Lloyd was born April 20, 1893 in Nebraska. With the encouragement of an acting friend, Lloyd and his father moved from Nebraska to San Diego when Lloyd was a teenager. Lloyd continued to perform and received stage training while in San Diego, and upon learning that the Edison Company was looking for extras at San Diego's Pan American Exposition, he was successful in winning his first role as a movie extra. After shooting his four-second film debut as an Indian in "The Old Monk's Tale," Harold set his sights on a career in the movies and moved to Los Angeles. He was successful in gaining roles as extras and bit players at Universal after sneaking onto the Universal lot by sidling up to and mixing in with a noontime crowd of actors and extras as they returned to the studio from lunch. Within the next couple of years Lloyd moved from Universal to Mack Sennett's Keystone Studios. Lloyd met fellow struggling actor Hal Roach early on, who after inheriting a substantial amount of money began a small production company dedicated to making comedic shorts which he named Rolin Films (later renamed Hal Roach Studios). Roach contacted Lloyd with an invitation to join his new studio.

 

Edison Studios (1913)

 
1. The Old Monk's Tale (1913)  (UnCred)
2. The Twelfth Juror (1913)  (UnCred)
3. Hulda of Holland (1913)  (UnCred)

Universal Studios (1913 - 1915)

 
4. Rory o' the Bogs (1913)  (UnCred)
5. Sealed Orders (1914)  (UnConf)
6. Samson and Delilah (1914)  (UnCred)
7. The Sandhill Lovers (1914)  (UnCred)
8. The Patchwork Girl of Oz (1914)  (UnCred)
9. The Greater Courage (1915)  (UnConf)

Keystone Studios (1913 - 1915)

 
10. Cupid In a Dental Parlor (1913)  (UnConf)
11. His Chum the Baron (1913)  (UnConf)
12. A Little Hero (1913)  (UnConf)
13. Twixt Love and Fire (1914)  (UnConf)
14. Hogan's Romance Upset (1915)  (UnCred)
15. Love, Loot and Crash (1915)  (UnCred)
16. Social Splash (1915)  (6th Blg)
17. Miss Fatty's Seaside Lovers (1915)  (4th Blg)
18. Court House Crooks (1915)  (UnCred)
19. A Submarine Pirate (1915)  (7th Blg)

Hal Roach Studios (1915)

 
20. Pete, the Pedal Polisher (1915)  (UnConf)
21. Close-Cropped Clippings (1915)  (UnConf)
22. Beyond His Fondest Hopes (1915)  (UnConf)
23. From Italy's Shores (1915)  (UnCred)
24. Into the Light (1915)  (3rd Blg)

"Hal Roach Studios" was actually called "Rolin Films" Studios before 1921.

 

Status of Non Starring roles are established with following abbreviations amending film titles:

LEGEND ---> (UnConf) = Unconfirmed Performance (i.e. Unproven Extra or Bit Player)

LEGEND ---> (UnCred) = Uncredited Performance (i.e. In Cast as Uncredited Extra or Bit Player)

LEGEND ---> (2nd Blg) = Non-starring 2nd Billing, or 3rd, 4th, etc.

 

 

SILENT ERA SHORTS (Starring Roles) (1915 - 1921)

 

After appearing as an extra and bit player in a few of Roach's comedy shorts, Lloyd had his first starring role in two shorts as "Will E. Work". In developing a screen persona for Lloyd, Roach suggested that Harold was too handsome to do comedy and required some sort of disguise. Wearing a fake mustache, Lloyd's initial character of Will E. Work was essentially a cheap variation of Charles Chaplin's Little Tramp character. Roach and Lloyd tweaked the character slightly to create the "Lonesome Luke" character, which was also a Chaplinesque character with a fake mustache. Lloyd's Lonesome Luke character proved to be quite popular resulting in a total of approximately 68 short films over a period of 2 years. Lloyd abandoned the Lonesome Luke character in disgust in late 1917 after deciding that he wanted to move away from tragicomic personas. Instead, Lloyd decided that he wanted to portray an average young man, an everyman, with unwavering confidence and optimism capable of conquering any obstacle thrown at him. The resulting "Glasses" character" (often named "Harold" or "The Boy" in the silent films) was a much more mature comedy character with greater potential for sympathy and emotional depth, and was easy for audiences of the time to identify with. It was the Glasses character which Lloyd maintained throughout the rest of his career in over a hundred films, both silent and sound.

 

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"WILL E. WORK" CHARACTER (1915)

 

25. Willie Runs the Pack (1915)
26. Just Nuts (1915)
.

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"LONESOME LUKE" CHARACTER (1915 - 1917)

 

27. Lonesome Luke Becomes a Pitcher (1915)
28. Lonesome Luke, He Does His Best (1915)
29. Lonesome Luke, He Loses Out In a Battle For a Fair Jane (1915)
30. Lonesome Luke, He Minds a Baby (1915)
31. Fresh From the Farm (1915)
32. Lonesome Luke's New Occupants (1915)
33. Bughouse Bellhops (1915)
34. Lonesome Luke Becomes a Janitor (1915)
35. Lonesome Luke Falls Into a Fortune and Out (1915)
36. Ragtime Snap Shots (1915)
37. A Foozle At the Tee Party (1915)
38. Ruses, Rhymes and Roughnecks (1915)
39. Lonesome Luke, He's Almost an Ostrich (1915)
40. Lonesome Luke, Social Gangster (1915)
41. Lonesome Luke Leans To the Literary (1916)
42. Luke Lugs Luggage (1916)
43. Lonesome Luke Lolls In Luxury (1916)
44. Luke, the Candy Cut-Up (1916)
45. Luke Foils the Villain (1916)
46. Luke and the Rural Roughnecks (1916)
47. Luke Pipes the Pippins (1916)
48. Lonesome Luke, Circus King (1916)
49. Luke's Double (1916)
50. Them Was the Happy Days! (1916)
51. Luke and the Bomb Throwers (1916)
52. Luke's Late Lunchers (1916)
53. Luke Laughs Last (1916)
54. Luke's Fatal Flivver (1916)
55. Luke's Society Mixup (1916)
56. Luke's Washful Waiting (1916)
57. Luke Rides Roughshod (1916)
58. Luke, Crystal Gazer (1916)
59. Luke's Lost Lamb (1916)
60. Luke Does the Midway (1916)
61. Luke Joins the Navy (1916)
62. Luke and the Mermaids (1916)
63. Luke's Speedy Club Life (1916)
64. Luke and the Bang-Tails (1916)
65. Luke, the Chauffeur (1916)
66. Luke's Preparedness Preparations (1916)
67. Luke, the Gladiator (1916)
68. Luke, Patient Provider (1916)
69. Luke's Newsie Knockout (1916)
70. The Cinema Director (1916)
71. Luke, Rank Impersonator (1916)
72. Luke's Fireworks Fizzle (1916)
73. Luke Locates the Loot (1916)
74. Luke's Shattered Sleep (1916)
75. Lonesome Luke's Lovely Rifle (1917)
76. Luke's Lost Liberty (1917)
77. Luke's Busy Day (1917)
78. Luke's Trolley Troubles (1917)
79. Lonesome Luke, Lawyer (1917)
80. Luke Wins Ye Ladye Faire (1917)
81. Lonesome Luke's Lively Life (1917)
82. Lonesome Luke On Tin Can Alley (1917)
83. Lonesome Luke's Honeymoon (1917)
84. Lonesome Luke, Plumber (1917)
85. Stop! Luke! Listen! (1917)
86. Lonesome Luke, Messenger (1917)
87. Lonesome Luke, Mechanic (1917)
88. Lonesome Luke's Wild Women (1917)
89. Lonesome Luke Loses Patients (1917)
90. Birds of a Feather (1917)
91. Lonesome Luke From Laramie To London (1917)
92. Love, Laughs and Lather (1917)
93. Clubs Are Trump (1917)
94. Lonesome Luke In We Never Sleep (1917)

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"GLASSES" CHARACTER - aka "THE BOY" (1917 - 1921)

 

95. Over the Fence (1917)
96. Pinched (1917)
97. By the Sad Sea Waves (1917)
98. Bliss (1917)
99. Rainbow Island (1917)
100. The Flirt (1917)
101. All Aboard (1917)
102. Move On (1917)
103. Bashful (1917)
104. Step Lively (1917)
105. The Big Idea (1917)
106. The Tip (1918)
107. The Lamb (1918)
108. Hit Him Again (1918)
109. Beat It (1918)
110. A Gasoline Wedding (1918)
111. Look Pleasant, Please (1918)
112. Here Come the Girls (1918)
113. Let's Go (1918)
114. On the Jump (1918)
115. Follow the Crowd (1918)
116. Pipe the Whiskers (1918)
117. It's a Wild Life (1918)
118. Hey There (1918)
119. Kicked Out (1918)
120. The Non-Stop Kid (1918)
121. Two-Gun Gussie (1918)
122. Fireman Save My Child (1918)
123. The City Slicker (1918)
124. Sic 'Em, Towser (1918)
125. Somewhere In Turkey (1918)
126. Are Crooks Dishonest? (1918)
127. An Ozark Romance (1918)
128. Kicking the Germ Out of Germany (1918)
129. That's Him (1918)
130. Bride and Gloom (1918)
131. Two Scrambled (1918)
132. Bees In His Bonnet (1918)
133. Swing Your Partners (1918)
134. Why Pick On Me? (1918)
135. Nothing But Trouble (1918)
136. Back To the Woods (1918)
137. Hear 'Em Rave (1918)
138. Take a Chance (1918)
139. She Loves Me Not (1918)
140. Wanted - $5,000 (1919)
141. Going! Going! Gone! (1919)
142. Ask Father (1919)
143. On the Fire (1919)
144. I'm On My Way (1919)
145. Look Out Below (1919)
146. The Dutiful Dub (1919)
147. Next Aisle Over (1919)
148. A Sammy In Siberia (1919)
149. Just Dropped In (1919)
150. Young Mr. Jazz (1919)
151. Crack Your Heels (1919)
152. Ring Up the Curtain (1919)
153. Si, Senor (1919)
154. Before Breakfast (1919)
155. The Marathon (1919)
156. Pistols For Breakfast (1919)
157. Swat the Crook (1919)
158. Off the Trolley (1919)
159. Spring Fever (1919)
160. Billy Blazes, Esq. (1919)
161. Just Neighbors (1919)
162. At the Old Stage Door (1919)
163. Never Touched Me (1919)
164. A Jazzed Honeymoon (1919)
165. Count Your Change (1919)
166. Chop Suey & Co. (1919)
167. Heap Big Chief (1919)
168. Don't Shove (1919)
169. Be My Wife (1919)
170. The Rajah (1919)
171. He Leads, Others Follow (1919)
172. Soft Money (1919)
173. Count the Votes (1919)
174. Pay Your Dues (1919)
175. His Only Father (1919)
176. Bumping Into Broadway (1919)
177. Captain Kidd's Kids (1919)
178. From Hand To Mouth (1919)
179. His Royal Slyness (1920)
180. Haunted Spooks (1920)
181. An Eastern Westerner (1920)
182. High and Dizzy (1920)
183. Get Out and Get Under (1920)
184. Number, Please? (1920)
185. Now Or Never (1921)
186. Among Those Present (1921)
187. I Do (1921)
188. Never Weaken (1921)

SILENT ERA FEATURES (1921 - 1928)

 

In his "glasses" personification, Lloyd's popularity grew exponentially with each new release, but Lloyd rapidly grew dissatisfied with his relationship with his producer and the two ended up arguing constantly; not so much that Lloyd didn't want to work for Roach, he didn't want to work for anyone. Beginning in 1921, Roach and Lloyd moved from shorts to feature length comedies, and then eventually parted ways in 1924. Lloyd formed his own independent film production company, the Harold Lloyd Film Corporation, with his films distributed by Pathe and later Paramount and Twentieth Century-Fox. It was during this independent phase when Lloyd achieved his greatest success with mature features Girl Shy, The Freshman, The Kid Brother, and Speedy.

 

Hal Roach Studios (1921 - 1923)

 
189. A Sailor-Made Man (1921)
190. Grandma's Boy (1922)
191. Dr. Jack (1922)
192. Safety Last (1923)
193. Why Worry? (1923)

Harold Lloyd Productions (1924 - 1928)

 
194. Girl Shy (1924)
195. Hot Water (1924)
196. The Freshman (1925)
197. For Heaven's Sake (1926)
198. The Kid Brother (1927)
199. Speedy (1928)
.

*************** LLOYD IN SOUND ERA ***************

SOUND ERA FEATURES (1929 - 1947)

 

"Welcome Danger" (1929) was originally planned as a silent film but Lloyd decided late in the production to remake it with dialogue. Released a few weeks before the start of the Great Depression, "Welcome Danger" was a huge financial success, with audiences eager to hear Lloyd's voice on film. Lloyd's rate of film releases, which had been one or two a year in the 1920s, slowed to about one every two years through the 30's. Unfortunately, his go-getting screen character was out of touch with Great Depression movie audiences of the 1930s. As the length of time between his film releases increased, his popularity declined, as did the fortunes of his production company. With his own production company in deep financial trouble, Lloyd signed a 2-movie deal with Paramount. His first Paramount Picture was "The Milky Way" (1936). His final film of the decade, "Professor Beware" (1938) was made by the Paramount staff, with Lloyd functioning only as actor and partial financier. But following the release of that film, at the relatively young age of 45, Harold Lloyd's Hollywood career was effectively over. Lloyd produced a few comedies for RKO Radio Pictures in the early 1940s which went nowhere, ending his career as a producer, and Lloyd effectively retired from the screen until 1947. He returned for an additional starring appearance in The Sin of Harold Diddlebock, an ill-fated homage to Lloyd's career (and Lloyd's famous 1925 film "The Freshman"), directed by Preston Sturges and financed by Howard Hughes. Lloyd and Sturges had different conceptions of the material and fought frequently during the shoot. The finished film was released briefly in 1947, then shelved by producer Hughes. Hughes issued a recut version of the film in 1951 through RKO under the title Mad Wednesday. Such was Lloyd's disdain that he sued Howard Hughes for damages to his reputation "as an outstanding motion picture star and personality", eventually accepting a $30,000 settlement. At that point, Lloyd left the film industry for good. Harold renewed his interest in photography, which included glamour and 3-D photography. He took hundreds of stereo images of Hollywood stars, including numerous shots of Marilyn Monroe and John Wayne. Since Lloyd had full ownership of his films, it gave him the ability to withhold his films from being shown on television for fear incorrect projection speed and commercials would damage his reputation. As a result, a generation of film fans saw very few of his films and his reputation was diminished. He did release 2 compilation films, of which the first, World of Comedy (1962) was very successful. Harold Lloyd died from prostate cancer on March 8, 1971.

 

 

Harold Lloyd Productions (1929 - 1934)

 
200. Welcome Danger (1929)
201. Feet First (1930)
202. Movie Crazy (1932)
203. The Cat's-Paw (1934)

Paramount Studios (1936 - 1938)

 
204. The Milky Way (1936)
205. Professor Beware (1938)

Preston Sturges/Howard Hughes Film (1947)

 
206. The Sin of Harold Diddlebock (1947)

MISC. SILENT CAMEOS

 

 

207. Dogs of War (1923)
---> (see note #1)
208. Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ (1925)  (UnCred)
---> (see note #2)
.

NOTE #1 = Harold Lloyd makes a cameo appearance as himself in Hal Roach's 14th Our Gang comedy. The short was filmed alongside Lloyd's "Why Worry?" (1924) feature comedy which was also produced and directed by Hal Roach.

 

NOTE #2 = Uncredited (UnCred) Extra in Crowd at Chariot Race.

 

NOTE #3 = Lloyd never directed a film on his own. He has four official directing credits as a co-director: 95.Over the Fence (1917); 96.Pinched (1917); 107.The Lamb (1918); 161.Just Neighbors (1919). He also has three "uncredited" directing credits assisting the Director of record: 198.The Kid Brother (1927); 202.Movie Crazy (1932); and as "uncredited fill-in director" for 203.The Cat's-Paw (1934).

 

NOTE #4 = Lloyd has no official writing credits, although he does have seven "uncredited" writing credits assisting the writer of record.