Buster Keaton Was the Tom Cruise of the Silent Film Era

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

Well, before Tom Cruise there was another famous actor who put his life on the line for the sake of the audience’s enjoyment. That actor was Buster Keaton; he really was the Tom Cruise of the Silent Film era when it comes 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 performers and take a dive into Buster Keaton's incredible legacy.

Keaton got his start in Hollywood thanks to his family's vaudeville background. Keaton was born into a family of vaudevillians in 1895, and he 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 parents' act, being thrown around and used as a human projectile. Keaton quickly developed a talent for falling and tumbling, 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 feature in his films. Arbuckle was impressed with Keaton's physical abilities and offered him a job as a gag writer and supporting actor. Keaton jumped at the opportunity and quickly began working with Arbuckle on his films.

Keaton's first appearance on film was in Arbuckle's 1917 short film The Butcher Boy. In the film, Keaton plays a supporting role, but his physical comedy steals the show. He performs a series of impressive stunts, including a fall from a rooftop and a leap onto a moving train. Audiences were immediately captivated by Keaton's talent, and he quickly became a popular feature in Arbuckle's films.

In 1919, Keaton struck out on his own and formed his own production company, which he named the "Buster Keaton Comedies." It’s here that 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 gained a reputation as one of the most innovative and daring performers in Hollywood.

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 one famous scene from his 1924 film Sherlock Jr., Keaton rides on the handlebars of a motorcycle while the driver jumps 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 thrive 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 stunt work.

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 that most people would never dare try.

One of Buster Keaton's most famous stunts involved a building falling down around him. In the 1928 film Steamboat Bill, Jr., Keaton stood in the middle of a street as the two-ton facade of a building came crashing down around him. He managed to perfectly time his movements and avoided being crushed by mere inches. This stunt has been replicated in several films and TV shows since. They even did at an old live stunt show at Universal Studios Hollywood in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.

Then there’s Keaton's famous train stunt in The General, which is widely considered one of the most impressive stunts in the history of cinema. In the film, Keaton plays Johnnie Gray, a train engineer during the American Civil War who is determined to rescue his beloved locomotive, The General, from Union spies.

The stunt occurs when Johnnie Gray is pursuing The General, which has been stolen by the Union army. Johnnie commandeers another locomotive, the Texas, and gives chase. The Union army, in an attempt to stop Johnnie, begins to lay track across a burning bridge in front of the Texas. Johnnie is forced to slow down, but he quickly devises a plan to jump the 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 several different angles. It required a number of takes to get right, and he managed to pull it off!

Keaton's willingness to take risks and push the boundaries of what was possible in cinema paved the way for future filmmakers and performers to create even more impressive stunts and action sequences like Tom Cruise.

In Cruise’s Mission: Impossible franchise, they has performed a number of incredible stunts, including hanging onto the side of a plane as it takes off, and performing a HALO jump (High Altitude Low Opening) from a plane at 25,000 feet. In his upcoming film, he drives a motorcycle off a cliff into a base jump and has a real fight sequel on top of 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 major 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, performing complex fight scenes and high-speed chases with ease. Like Keaton, Cruise's physicality is a major part of his appeal as a performer.

In addition to his acting, stunts, and physical comedy, Keaton was also a talented director and writer. He was involved in every aspect of his films, from conception to final cut. He was a true auteur, creating films that were both entertaining and artistically ambitious. This dedication to his craft is what makes his films incredibly fun and awesome!

Similarly, Cruise has also takes on producing and writing duties for many of his films. He is known for being deeply involved in every aspect of his movies, from the casting to the marketing. Like Keaton, Cruise is a consummate professional who is always striving to create the best possible product for the audience.

So yeah, Buster Keaton was the Tom Cruise of the Silent Film era. Both men have an incredible talent for performing daring feats and putting their lives on the line to create entertaining 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 world of cinema. There is no denying the impact that these two performers have had on the film industry.