Buster Keaton was the Tom Cruise of the silent film era

It’s quite amazing to see the stunts that Tom Cruise he manages to pull off in his films. It’s exciting to go see his movies because you know he’s going to deliver something spectacular and these days, fans are always excited to see what kind of death-defying stunts he’ll pull off next!

Well before Tom Cruise there was another famous actor who put his life on the line for the amusement of the public. That actor was Buster Keaton; he truly was the Tom Cruise of the silent film era when it came to performing stunts.

Keaton was a master of physical comedy, and his death-defying feats were absolutely astounding. Just like Cruise, Keaton was willing to put his safety on the line for the sake of entertainment. I just wanted to explore the similarities between these two iconic artists and take a deep dive into Buster Keaton’s incredible legacy.

Keaton got his start in Hollywood through his family’s vaudeville background. Keaton was born into a vaudevillian family in 1895 and grew up performing in their traveling stage show. His father, Joseph Keaton, was a well-known performer and Keaton’s mother, Myra Keaton, also performed in the show.

As a child, Keaton was already performing stunts and physical comedy, which would later become his signature style. He was often used as a prop in his parenting act, tossed around and used as a human projectile. Keaton quickly developed a knack for tumbles and tumbles, and he became an integral part of the show.

In 1917, Keaton met Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle, a popular comedian who was looking for new talent to portray in his films. Arbuckle was impressed by Keaton’s physical abilities and offered him a job as a gag writer and supporting actor. Keaton jumped at the chance and immediately began working with Arbuckle on his films.

Keaton’s first film appearance was in the 1917 Arbuckle short The butcher boy. In the film, Keaton plays a supporting role, but his physical comedy steals the show. He performs a variety of impressive stunts, including falling off a roof and jumping onto a moving train. Audiences were immediately captivated by Keaton’s talent, and he quickly became a popular character in Arbuckle’s films.

In 1919, Keaton went out on his own and formed his own production company, which he called “Buster Keaton Comedies”. This is where he began writing, directing and starring in his own films, which allowed him to fully showcase his unique brand of physical comedy. Keaton’s films quickly became popular with audiences and he earned a reputation as one of Hollywood’s most innovative and daring performers.

Keaton’s films often featured elaborate stunts and physical gags that he performed himself, without the aid of special effects. He also became famous for his deadpan expression and his ability to remain composed in the face of mortal danger. In a famous scene from his 1924 film Sherlock Jr., Keaton rides on the handlebars of a motorcycle while the driver leaps over a moving car. The stunt was performed in one take and Keaton narrowly avoided being decapitated by the car.

Keaton’s career continued to flourish throughout the 1920s and he made some of his most famous films during this time, including The general AND Steamboat Bill, Jr. He was a true innovator in the world of comedy and film stunts.

Many of his most famous stunts were performed with only basic equipment and relied on his incredible athleticism and timing. Just like Tom Cruise, Buster Keaton was willing to take risks most people would never dare to take.

One of Buster Keaton’s most famous stunts involved a building falling around him. In the 1928 film Steamboat Bill, Jr., Keaton stood in the middle of a street as the facade of a two-ton building collapsed around him. He managed to synchronize his movements perfectly and avoided being crushed by a few centimeters. This stunt has since been replicated in several movies and TV shows. They also attended an old live stunt show at Universal Studios Hollywood in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Then there’s Keaton’s famous train stunt The general, which is widely regarded as one of the most impressive stunts in cinematic history. In the film, Keaton plays Johnnie Gray, a Civil War railroad engineer determined to save his beloved locomotive, the General, from Union spies.

The stunt occurs when Johnnie Gray is chasing the general, who has been stolen by the Union Army. Johnnie commandeers another locomotive, the Texas, and gives chase. The Union Army, in an effort to stop Johnnie, begins making tracks across a burning bridge across from Texas. Johnnie is forced to slow down, but quickly hatches a plan to jump Texas over the gap in the track and continue the pursuit of the General.

The stunt performed is incredibly dangerous, as it involves a full-sized locomotive traveling at high speed and jumping over a large gap in the track. Keaton himself performed the stunt and it was filmed from different angles. It took several takes to get it right and he managed to pull it off!

Keaton’s willingness to take risks and push the limits of what was possible in cinema paved the way for future directors and actors to create even more impressive stunts and action sequences like Tom Cruise.

From Cruise Mission Impossible franchise, they performed a number of incredible stunts, including holding on to the side of an airplane as it takes off and performing a High Altitude Low Opening (HALO) jump off an airplane at 25,000 feet. In his next film, he rides a motorcycle off a cliff into a base jump and has a real sequel fighting atop a speeding train. Like Keaton, Cruise’s willingness to take risks has made him a fan-favorite actor.

Keaton’s physical comedy was also a big part of his appeal. He was able to use his body in incredibly creative ways, making even the most mundane actions hilarious. One of his most famous routines involved him navigating a collapsing house, dodging falling debris and narrowly avoiding being crushed by walls and floors. This routine has since become a staple of physical comedy and has been imitated by countless performers.

When it comes to Cruise’s physicality, he uses his athleticism to great effect, pulling off complex fight scenes and high-speed chases with ease. Like Keaton, Cruise’s physicality is a big part of his appeal as a performer.

In addition to acting, stunt work, and physical comedy, Keaton was also a talented director and writer. He has been involved in every aspect of his films, from conception to final editing. He was a real auteur, he created entertaining and artistically ambitious films. This dedication to his craft is what makes his movies incredibly funny and awesome!

Similarly, Cruise has also taken on production and screenwriting duties for many of his films. He is known to be deeply involved in every aspect of his films, from casting to marketing. Like Keaton, Cruise is a consummate professional who is always trying to create the best possible product for the public.

So yes, Buster Keaton was the Tom Cruise of the silent film era. Both men have an incredible talent for pulling off daring feats and putting their lives on the line to create fun and memorable moments on the big screen. Their dedication to their craft and willingness to take risks has made them both beloved talents in the film world. There is no denying the impact these two artists have had on the film industry.