Clear Vision Films and The Lakeshore Museum Center are proud to present 2 new showings of the documentary film Buster Keaton: Home at the Muskegon Museum of Art’s Theater on Thurs. Aug. 8th at 7 pm and Sun. Aug. 11th at 2 pm. The film is a collaboration of Jim Schaub, the producer/director of “Up From the Bottoms: The Search for the American Dream” and Ron Pesch, a Michigan historian and Keaton expert. The two will be on hand to answer questions following the film presentation. The documentary has been showing at festivals over the last year and won Best Feature Film at the Toronto Documentary Feature and Shorts festival.
Buster Keaton: Home tells the story of Buster’s early life on the road as a child vaudeville star and how he found his home along the shores of Lake Michigan. Illustrated with rare images of family photos, datebooks and Buster’s personal autograph book, the film explores the personal life of Buster and his family as they traveled the country as a successful vaudeville act.
The story is told by a collection of Keaton biographers, experts and fans with beautiful images by illustrator Matt Phelan and animations by Jim Middleton, who help bring the rich stories to life. Carl Reiner is featured as well as character actor James Karen, Buster’s best friend in later life. Both actors delve into the genius of Buster as a filmmaker with Karen telling personal stories and conversations he had with his friend. In one of his last interviews, Carl Reiner praises the genius of Buster and says “I feel sad for anybody who hasn't seen the early silent comedians and Buster Keaton is the epitome of a silent comedian.”
James Curtis, author of Buster Keaton – A Filmmaker’s Life gives rich details of Keaton’s early life and dispels some of the myths that surrounded the young star due to the tall tales told about young Buster by his father, Joseph Keaton. Curtis regales us with stories of pranks pulled by the teenage Buster while at home in Muskegon, Michigan during his summers off from traveling the country. These whimsical stories are brought to life by award-winning animator Jim Middleton.
