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Big Value Comedy Show (Late)
Bill Bailey
Blue Grassy Knoll and Buster Keaton On The Big Scr
Brendan Burke: One Night In Baghdad
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Show type: Edinburgh Fringe 2000
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Blue Grassy Knoll and Buster Keaton On The Big Scr
This show has not yet got a description.
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Original Review:
A silent-movie virgin, I wasn't expecting much from a vintage Keaton flick. I envisaged a scratchy, wobbly print of some dated, unfunny slapstick accompanied by a clunky piano soundtrack. How wrong I was. Our Hospitality clearly deserves its classic status, with visual gags as funny today as they were the day they were written in 1923. Although it's by no means a perfect film the plot is hardly watertight and the narrative is sloppy the extended sequence in which Buster travels west on an early bone-shaker of a train is worth the admission price alone. There's also a genuinely breathtaking stunt on a waterfall's edge, even more dramatic with the knowledge there could be no special effects wizardry involved. But what elevates this from a screening for silent movie trainspotters into such a special occasion for anyone, is the spirited soundtrack composed and performed live by Australian gypsy-bluegrass outfit Blue Grassy Knoll. The new score is a perfect complement to the pacy on-screen antics, and adding a superb extra dimension. Although occasionally indulging in an anchronistic in-joke and the odd comedy sound effect, the band's witty and lively performance enhances the film rather than upstaging it. With the live music, and an up-for-it crowd willing to boo and cheer at all the right places, this is the movie as it was always meant to be seen and what a treat it is. You know, this Keaton chap could just make it big |
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