The Cameraman (1928)

Director:

Edward Sedgwick
(more)

Writers:

Clyde Bruckman (story)
Joseph Farnham (titles)
(more)

Release Date:

22 September 1928 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Family | Drama

Plot:

After becoming infatuated with a pretty office worker for MGM Newsreels, Buster trades in his tintype...

Plot Keywords:

Rescue From Drowning | Monkey In Sailor Suit | Motorboat | Tong War | Man In Love

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Buster Keaton	...	Buster
Marceline Day	...	Sally
Harold Goodwin	...	Stagg
Sidney Bracey	...	Éditor (as Sidney Bracy)
Harry Gribbon	...	Cop
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Richard Alexander	...	The Big Sea Lion (uncredited)
Edward Brophy	...	Man in bath-house (uncredited)
Ray Cooke	...	Office worker (uncredited)
Vernon Dent	...	Man in tight bathing suit (uncredited)
William Irving	...	Photographer (uncredited)
Harry Keaton	...	Extra in swimming pool (uncredited)
Louise Keaton	...	Extra in swimming pool (uncredited)
Charles A. Lindbergh	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse	...	Randall (uncredited)

Directed by
Edward Sedgwick
Buster Keaton		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Al Boasberg		uncredited
Clyde Bruckman		story
Joseph Farnham		titles (as Joe Farnham)
Lew Lipton		story
Byron Morgan		story (uncredited)
Richard Schayer		continuity

Produced by
Buster Keaton	....	producer
Lawrence Weingarten	....	producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by
Reggie Lanning
Elgin Lessley

Film Editing by
Hugh Wynn

Set Decoration by
Fred Gabourie		(settings)

Production Management
Edward Brophy	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Art Department
Ernie Orsatti	....	assistant property master (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Frank Dugas	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
George Gordon Nogle	....	camera operator: New York (uncredited)
Melbourne Spurr	....	publicity photographer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
David Cox	....	wardrobe

Other crew
Tony Campanaro	....	wrangler (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1928) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Critics' Choice Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Facets Multimedia Distribution (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Kino Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Movies Unlimited (????) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

67 min | USA:75 min (TCM print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Silent

Certification:

Portugal:M/6 | Sweden:Btl | Spain:T | UK:U | Australia:G | Brazil:Livre

Filming Locations:

Balboa, Newport Beach, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Selected for the 2005 National Film Registry.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Near the end, when Sally and her Boss are watching the part of the tape filmed by the monkey, the shots of Luke bringing Sally to land change, as if the monkey had moved the camera. There's also some movement to fit the characters better, which couldn't be managed by an animal.

Quotes:

Edward J. Blake: [after screening Luke Shannon's lost newsreel footage] That's the best camera work I've seen in years! Get that man in here quick!

Movie Connections:

Featured in "MGM: When the Lion Roars" (1992)

Buster's "Annie Hall." A charming, fun romantic comedy.

Its sight gags may not be as funny, complex and clever as in Buster's independent films (The General, Sherlock Jr, Steamboat Bill Jr and others), but The Cameraman has probably the best romance of all his films, and is certainly one of the best directed. It has some wonderful sequences in it: the giant crane shot up and down the side of a gigantic stairway setpiece, contains probably the most impressive piece of direction. Buster's face was at its handsomest here, just before his excesses of the 30's. The version i saw had a fittingly gorgeous romantic score, which didn't hurt. Overall, The Cameraman is one of Buster's most charming, enjoyable films. And now one of my favourites.

If you've never seen a silent movie, i'd recommend this as a great place to start. Its such a welcoming, likeable movie. Visual humour does get much funnier than this - but the main source of joy in Keaton movies is Buster's irrepressibly likeable little character, here at his most likeable.