The Cameraman (1928)
A street portrait photographer falls for a secretary at the MGM newsreel office and buys a beaten-up movie camera to land a job there. His early attempts are disasters, but a tong war in Chinatown and a helpful monkey finally get him the footage that counts.
The last film over which Buster Keaton kept real creative control, made on his move to MGM, The Cameraman was for years kept by the studio as a training print for its comedy departments. It was selected for the National Film Registry.
Background
This was Buster Keaton’s first film for MGM, after he gave up his independent studio, and it is the last of his silent films in which he had much say. Edward Sedgwick is credited as director, and Keaton plays Luke Shannon, a street photographer who tries to win a girl by becoming a newsreel cameraman. He later said that signing with MGM was the worst mistake of his career.
What to watch for
For all that, it holds up as one of his funniest. The scene where he and another man try to change into their swimsuits in a single tiny bathing cubicle is a masterclass in physical comedy, and a tong war in Chinatown gives him a chance to film the chaos. Watch for the monkey, who ends up saving the day. It was selected for the National Film Registry, and its comedy about the film business feels warm and knowing.
