The theater and cinema of Buster Keaton

"Famous for their stunts, gags, and images, Buster Keaton's silent films have enticed everyone from Hollywood movie fans to the surrealists, such as Dali and Bunuel. Here Robert Knopf offers an unprecedented look at the wide-ranging appeal of Keaton's genius, considering his vaudeville roots and his ability to integrate this aesthetic into the techniques of classical Hollywood cinema in the 1920s.

By isolating elements of vaudeville within works that have previously been considered "classical," Knopf reevaluates Keaton's films and how they function."--BOOK JACKET.