Modern Times

75 years after its release, I sat in my living room with my wife to watch "Modern Times". Most of it holds up just fine. There are a few interludes in the film that fall flat today, and the female foil to Chaplin's lead can seem completely superfluous, but these are small qualms. Charlie Chaplin was a man of seemingly all talents. Not only did he write, direct, star in, and produce "Modern Times", he also composed all the music that comprises the score. His famous tune "Smile" is laced throughout the second half of "Modern Times". It's an instrumental version that pops up several times. Its famous melody is always immediately recognizable. Part of me wishes more of "Modern Times" would have depicted Chaplin facing off against ridiculous gadgets of the technology age. This storytelling path is presented at the outset, but Chaplin soon veers the tale in a different, more broadly slapstick direction. I'm excited now to go back earlier than this 1936 release to enjoy more work from a master of early Hollywood.

Steamboat Bill Jr.

I saw this as the second feature in a double bill of Buster Keaton movies. "Steamboat Bill, Jr." is perhaps most notable for its extended sequence of stunts near the end, in which Keaton's character is swept about by a hurricane. In the midst of this sequence is the iconic scene in which the front of a house falls on Keaton but he is standing perfectly positioned where there is a window opening. He emerges unscathed. One thing notable about Keaton is how short he was. He didn't stand more than 5 foot, 6 inches, and his paucity of height is played as a sight gag repeatedly here. The story of "Steamboat Bill, Jr." is a bit thin, but Keaton is always lively and fun to watch.

The General

I was surprised at how clean this film looks, considering that it dates from 1927. I'm sure restoration work has been enacted. Those who participated in the restoration deserve applause for their efforts. Buster Keaton is one of the great screen stars of the silent film era. This is my first time seeing him onscreen (besides his brief cameo in Billy Wilder's "Sunset Boulevard"), and he is a joy to watch, kinetic and lively at all times. "The General" is set in the deep South during the Civil War. Keaton plays a train conductor who yearns to be part of the war effort. A lengthy section of the film involves a runaway train and all kinds of wacky hijinks. Some of the stunts Keaton executes are stunning. Apparently, "The General" was a box office flop in the time of its release, but the film is now esteemed as one of the greats of all time. I understand the revisionism - "The General" may be Keaton's finest hour. It's a fun romp that stands up to the scrutiny of modern viewing.