The early scenes of buster camping in the lap of luxury, complete with bearskin. The general 1927,72 min national film preservation board, usa 1989 directed by buster keaton, clyde bruckman, written by buster keaton, clyde bruckman, written by, al boasberg, charles henry smith adapted by, william pittenger. Set against the tumultuous political backdrop of 20th century america, academy award nominated director lee daniels precious epic drama lee daniels the butler tells the story of cecil gaines forest whitaker, an african american butler who serves at the white house during seven presidential administrations between 1957 and 1986. The hero of battling butler is alfred butler, one of many pampered playboys keaton portrayed. Arrow in the head report that editing has just been completed on i spit on your grave.
Rosemont music and ballard macdonald book and lyrics and produced on broadway in 1923 after tryouts in detroit and chicago the farcical story concerns a man who. Buster keaton and mary obrien in battling butler 1926 buster keaton in battling butler. This is a movie that we had talked about on the freedom tour of the south and i had been waiting for the chance to finally watch it. Although scholars who offer commentary in the sets extensive extra features note that keaton was more of a cult figure or acquired taste in his era compared to megastar charlie chaplin or even fellow. Forest whitaker stars as white house butler cecil gaines in the new film lee daniels the butler. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. Ben butlers exgirlfriend described him as pure evil. Battling butler was a boxoffice success, grossing nearly threequarters of a million dollars, and keaton often cited it as his favorite film. Based on the musical comedy of the same name, the film casts keaton as wimpy millionaire alfred butler, who goes on a vacation in the mountains in the company of his faithful valet snitz edwards. I couldnt have done the finish that was in the show, where he just finds out. The butler full title lee daniels the butler is a 20 american historical drama film directed and coproduced by lee daniels and with a screenplay by danny strong. Step inside broadways american airlines theatre playbill. Lee daniels the butler is the story of an african american man who becomes the white house butler during the eisenhower years and serves through the reagan administration. According to tmz, the 42yearolds aggressive role in the 2006 film 300 led him to take prescription drugs as a form of pain management.
Over the course of three decades, cecil has a frontrow seat to history and the inner workings of the oval office. Lee daniels the butler on dvd january 14, 2014 starring oprah winfrey, david oyelowo, john cusack, forest whitaker. Sequel to original i spit on your grave completed horror. Ironically, he is there mistaken for battling butler, a renowned prizefighter of firey temperament. Blumhouse to make modern day dracula film horror cult films. The film begins with a quote by martin luther king. Keaton was much more than just a stuntman and he could provoke laughs without needing to resort to outrageous, death defying stunts. A yukon metropolis is the snowbound setting for this parody of movie legends william s. For the restoration of battling butler thirteen elements were inspected and analyzed. Cecil had learned this fact years earlier he is forced to have soldiers protect the blacks. Slower in pacing than the other keatons, it builds up to the expected smashing climax.
Deja vu, but that we wont get to see the film till next year when its release will probably coincide with the 40th anniversary of the original. Keaton always selected battling butler 1926 as one of his pets. Battling butler is a 1926 comedy silent film directed by and starring buster keaton. I got tickets to see this film a day early because this has been on the top of my watch list for months and i was not disappointed. The screening of battling butler will feature a new restoration by cineteca di bologna in collaboration with cohen collection, with the event sponsored by mcroskey mattress company, and copresented by the california film institute, the exploratorium, and the niles essanay silent film museum. Gerard butler successfully completes rehab treatment for. Hes known as one of hollywoods most soughtafter action stars. Alfred is so pampered that he has a valet to flick his ashes into the ashtray, and when his father decides that a. The butler has no such element of satire, unusually for daniels, whose previous film the paperboy was an audaciously rude and overripe slice of steamy southern gothic that. At least a couple of pics have been released which you can see here. Lee daniels the butler contains all the elements you want in a biopic with spot on portrayals and an efficient script that smoothly goes through all the time periods.
Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film. Keaton always selected battling butler 1926 as one of his pets sometimes his top pet, perhaps because it was the weakest of his children. Nov 16, 20 the butler has no such element of satire, unusually for daniels, whose previous film the paperboy was an audaciously rude and overripe slice of steamy southern gothic that positively cackled with. Maggie smith battling cancer highdef digest forums. He brings his butler and all the modern conveniences. Battling butler has to be the strangest of buster keatons silent features.
Dempsey returned when the completed arena opened august 5, 1925, and was presented with a solid gold lifetime ticket, the size of a calling. It is launched under the title of battling butler, an idea of the plot having been inspired by a. Her father and brother ridicule him and refuse to let him marry her until his butler tells them that he is the famous boxer, alfred battling butler. Battling butler isnt nearly as uproarious as other keaton classics, although its sturdy enough to qualify as a good time. There must be a girl in every picture, and this film is no exception. Once in the wilderness, alfred ignores outdoor activities in favor of trying to woo a charming mountain girl, who wants nothing to do with her spoiled suitor.
A celebration of the american silent film, television documentary, 1980. Buster keaton rides again, documentary directed by john spotten, 1965. He doesnt catch or shoot anything, but he does fall in love with a mountain girl. Feb 21, 2019 the gritty film was a critical success, and in 1992 detour became the first bmovie added to the national film registry at the library of congress.
The gritty film was a critical success, and in 1992 detour became the first bmovie added to the national film registry at the library of congress. The film is a true journey that may have you at the brink of tears or have you joyfully laughing. The hero, dress designer jerry mcguire william collier jr. For a look at keaton beefcake, try battling butler 1926, an mgm silent film with an interesting take on being tormented, albeit cloaked in comedy. Watching the films of buster keaton in kinos buster keaton collection or the ultimate buster keaton collection, according to retailers online is frequently like glimpsing into the future.
The butler movie guide is based on the true story of eugene allen, who served 8 presidents as a butler in the white house. Battling butler does end with a knockdown fight, though, and its an unexpectedly brutal and strangely unsettling one, largely because keaton is so convincing in the fights early stages as he receives repeated blows to the face while unsuccessfully trying to keep his opponent at arms length. Battling butler 1926 rotten tomatoes movie trailers. A joint endeavor between the cohen film collection and the cineteca di bologna, the keaton project. Charlie chaplin in the vagabond1916 edna purviance, eric campbell, leo white, llyod bacon duration. Last night i decided to watch lee daniels the butler on netflix. The accompanying music will be performed and conducted by the young musicians who composed it members of the filmscoring class and. After business hours, jerry secretly takes boxing lessons, enabling him to knock the stuffings out of his burly rival spike mullins johnnie walker. What could have been a powerful story of race politics set in the white house is held back by the whiff of downton abbey. Keatons battling butler a knockout finish to the sf silent film.
The american airlines theatre opened on july 27, 2000, with a revival of kaufman and harts 1939 comedy the man who came to dinner, starring nathan lane as. The navigatorseven chancesbattling butler 19242526 limited edition three film box set. Silent films need restoring and i am thrilled that such projects continue to be done. Watch lee daniels the butler online stream full movie. Though somewhat skeptical, i chose to see the butler in the spirit of optimism and curiosity. The film was inspired by a 2008 washington post story titled a butler well. Battling buttler is a musical in three acts with music by philip braham and a book and lyrics by stanley brightman, austin melford and douglas furber, which opened in london in 1922. It is inspired by wil haygoods washington post article a butler well served by this election. Trying to impress the girl, alfred masquerades as boxing star battling butler. The story is told in a chronological order, so that the viewer gets to see the world changing, particularly for african americans through the eyes of this butler. A fragile young man is sent into the country by his father in hopes that his masculinity will blossom.
Lee daniels the butler the new movie lee daniels the butler stars forest whitaker and oprah winfrey in a story that took five years and 37 producers to bring to the screen. It was easy enough to picture a braggart, and they have accomplished this. Battling butler lacks any really memorable slapstick gags or daredevil stunts. While communing with nature, alfred falls in love with a beautiful young girl sally oneil, who barely acknowledges his. The buster keaton story, directed by sidney sheldon, 1957. When her father and brother laugh at this, they are told that he is alfred battling butler, the championship fighter. Meek millionaire alfred butler goes on a camping excursion with his faithful servant. Everything you need to know about lee daniels the butler. And on wednesday, gerard butler was spotted onthejob in atlanta, georgia as he filmed stxfilms upcoming apocalyptic. Gerard butler looks ruggedly handsome as he films scenes. While communing with nature, alfred falls in love with a. Chaplinkeatonlloyd film locations and more by john. After leaving the south as a young man and finding employment at an elite hotel in washington, d.
Were excited to share one of the fruits of that labor, battling butler, in which keaton plays a rich. However, his commitment to his first family leads to tension at. Trying to impress the girl, alfred masquerades as boxing star battling. It doesnt go well but he does fall in love with a mountain girl whom he almost shoots.
Wilshire, the men turn left south onto berendo beside the immanuel presbyterian church completed in 1928. Battling butler may not be a great work of art, but i think both of my brothers are rather harsh on this very amusing little feature. Gerard butler looks ruggedly handsome as he films scenes for. Nevertheless it was a big hit with audiences of the day, far outgrossing keatons other feature film from 1926, the general, which, ironically, is now considered to be one of his greatest. After battling prescription drug abuse, gerard butler has reportedly checked into the betty ford center for rehab. Daniels the butler is always engaging, often entertaining and certainly never dull, the latter a fault for which neither the director nor the writer, thus far in their. Sound engineer helps restore 40s filmnoir drama detour. Granted it doesnt contain the ingenious set pieces that were so typical in a keaton film, but it still packs a lot of charm. Battling butler with new live score to close sf silent film festival.
Mar 27, 2016 last night i decided to watch lee daniels the butler on netflix. The water cooler maggie smith battling cancer from uk dame maggie smith, one of britains most distinguished actresses, is fighting a private battle with breast cancer, i can disclose. Buster takes refuge in a mansion rigged with a series of frightening booby traps. The butler is inspired by wil haygoods washington post article about an africanamerican man who served as a butler forest whitaker to. In this film, wimpy millionaire alfred butler goes on a vacation in the mountains with his faithful valet. Battling butler 1926 buster keatons favorite among his films appears to have been battling butler, which reached the screen in 1926, the same year as the general, his greatest feature. To optimize your experience with your screen reading software, please use our website, which has the same tickets as our and websites.
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