"Even More Restored Keaton!"
Once again we have Eureka continuing the essential work of ensuring there are as many Buster Keaton 2K & 4K restorations on Blu-ray on UK shelves as possible with the release of three more of his longer works. I previously reviewed Volume One in the series here, Volume Two here and Eureka's impressive box set of Keaton's short work here. As with the previous two volumes this one comes with a 60 page book and a wealth of extras on the discs. Let's take a look at what we get this time:
Our Hospitality (1923)
A breakthrough movie for Keaton in particular and film comedy in general, OUR HOSPITALITY features some fascinating attention to period detail (it's set in the early 1800s) including what looks like a working version of Stevenson's Rocket. Our unwitting hero turns out to be a member of one of two feuding families and has to go to absurd lengths to avoid being killed. A remarkable (and remarkably dangerous-looking) climax involving rapids is just one of the highlights on offer here.
Eureka's print is a 2K restoration and you get the options of playing it with a Carl Davis score or a commentary track by silent film historian Rob Farr. Extras include an early, shorter, workprint version of the film (entitled HOSPITALITY) which also comes with an optional commentary, this time from Buster Keaton expert Polly Rose. There's also a splendid 26 minute video essay by Patricia Eliot Tobias that contextualises the film both in Keaton's career and US silent movie comedy of the period, and a stills gallery.
Go West (1925)
If you've been watching all the films in all the Keaton sets so far this one may feel like a bit of a change of pace. It's still a comedy, and there's an amazing set piece to end the film that seems to feature hundreds of cows, but the story of pauper Friendless (Keaton) heading out to the wild west and befriending a cow (Brown Eyes who gets her own screen credit) before attempting to save her from slaughter, is more measured in its telling. The comedy routines and stunts aren't as plentiful or as rapid fire as in his other pictures. There's still plenty to enjoy but this isn't the film to watch if it's your first Keaton.
Eureka's print is from a 4K restoration. This time the soundtrack options are a score by Rodney Sauer (which I'll admit I thought could have done with being rather more frenetic as the film reached its climax) or an audio commentary by film historians Joel Goss and Bruce Lawton. A Window on Keaton is a 28 minute video essay by David Cairns and John Bengston provides another video essay on the filming locations for GO WEST. There's also the 11 minute comedy short GO WEST (1923) and a stills gallery.
College (1927)
Pro-academe anti-sports Ronald (our hero) finds that the only way he can get his girl at college is to become an athlete, which he proceeds to achieve in his own unique style. Like GO WEST this is very much one long build up to an entertaining set-piece payoff with some amusing sight gags along the way, but don't expect frequent stunts or breathtaking physical situations.
Eureka's print is a 2K restoration with a Rodney Sauer score. No commentary track for this one but you do get Silent Echoes, a 10 minute video essay by John Bengston on the film. Also included is THE RAILRODDER (1965), technically Keaton's final silent film (and in colour!) which comes either with or without commentary by director Gerald Potterton and DP David De Volpi. BUSTER KEATON RIDES AGAIN (1965) is a nearly hour-long documentary filmed at the time of THE RAILRODDER and going behind the scenes. There's the option of playing this with a live Q&A conducted in 2018 with the director and DP of the movie. There are also stills galleries for both COLLEGE and THE RAILRODDER on this disc.
The accompanying 60 page book contains new writing on all three films and the whole set comes in a limited edition hardbound slipcase to match the other two sets. Get them all and spend the week laughing and marvelling at a unique talent. More fantastic work from Eureka.
Buster Keaton: Three Films Volume 3 is out on Blu-ray from Eureka on Monday 24th August 2020
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