The Silent Comedians: Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin?

[DBibby]

I finally watched the Great Dictator recently and loved it. But Keaton still takes this.

[Jeff Beachnau]

I love me some Lloyd.

[Capt. January]

Keaton never spoiled any of his films with preaching to the audience as in Verdoux and Great Dictator. But Chaplin was undeniably a great SILENT comedian.

I think I vote Harold Lloyd.

Here's another big thumb up for Lloyd. (A real thumb, not prosthetic)

[ldw]

Considering the fate of the world was hanging in the balance and Americans at that time were still isolationist, I am not bothered by Chaplin's preaching in The Great Dictator. My only problem with the speech at the end is the delivery (I think it would have worked better if it was delivered calmly throughout - just my take). As for Chaplin's post 1920's cinema, the only one I did not care for was The Countess From Hong Kong. Keaton's post 1920's work, on the other hand, can be rough sledding. That said, has any filmmaker ever had such a combination of prolificacy and brilliance as Keaton in the 20's. Chaplin was putting out masterpieces but Keaton was churning masterpieces out at a ridiculous rate. The output of fantastic shorts are incredible and he had three years in the 20's where he released 2 alltime masterpieces in the same year (Sherlock Jr. and The Navigator - 24; Go West and Seven Chances - 25, Steamboat Bill Jr. and The Cameraman - 28).

I think Chaplin was the greater actor and his films leave a bigger emotional imprint on me. Keaton made greater use of composition and his gags are, imo, more memorable. I laugh more at Keaton's best work but Keaton has rarely made me cry like Chaplin does. Not just City Lights either. The Kid, The Gold Rush (1925 version though I do agree with Chaplin's decision to get rid of the uncomfortable kiss in the 42 version*), The Circus, Limelight all have moments that get to me. All these years later and I still don't think City Lights has been topped in terms of power at the end.

So I will go with a tie. As for Harold Lloyd, love him too (The Kid Brother being my favorite). Imagine being a filmgoer in 1925 and Chaplin releases The Gold Rush, Keaton releases Go West, and Lloyd releases The Freshman in the same year.

*It seems like Chaplin is out of character and it is more a filmmaker kissing his lead actress. It just throws me off.

[JCSCH]

I believe Chaplin wrote largely alone and that Keaton usually wrote with a team of gag/story writers.
I think that must earn Chaplin a few points to redress the balance which seems to have tipped in favour of Keaton in the last decade or two.
Chaplin's stories/narratives are more developed and involving, Keaton's gags and stunts are more developed and incredible.
I couldn't choose between them any more than I could choose between tea and porridge or humming and whistling.
Hopefully no one's going to force me.

[crazyfists3600]

I...haven't seen a Keaton film yet

The Kid is easily one of my favorite films EVER