Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of American Legends: The Life of Buster Keaton

American Legends: The Life of Buster Keaton
jjares avatar reviewed on + 3292 more book reviews


Amazingly, Buster Keaton was a star by the time he was 5-years-of-age. He was nicknamed by his godfather, Harry Houdini. The family was in vaudeville and all the children became members of the troupe. Only Buster stayed with it, however, his father became jealous of Buster's success and he struck out on his own (as an adult). This story of Keaton's life is very interesting and will open his films up to a whole new generation.

The quotes by Keaton really added a dimension to the story; he didn't seem to be destroyed by his first (disastrous) marriage to a woman who bled him dry of money. He seems to have been an original who only faltered when he let others tell him how to produce films. I was unaware that Keaton wrote, acted in, directed, and produced his own films for years. I was also unaware that he did all of his own tricks/acrobatic/stunts -- for his whole career. I would have liked to hear more about his personal life, but the story is fascinating.