The Cameraman (1928)
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100% of critics liked it
(13 reviews) -
57% want to see it
(1,635 ratings)
This is one of the last films from Buster Keaton's classic period, before the coming of sound and interference from MGM spoiled his work and softened his popularity. The Great Stone Face portrays Luke Shannon, a "tintype" portrait photographer who develops a serious crush on Sally… More This is one of the last films from Buster Keaton's classic period, before the coming of sound and interference from MGM spoiled his work and softened his popularity. The Great Stone Face portrays Luke Shannon, a "tintype" portrait photographer who develops a serious crush on Sally (Marceline Day), a beautiful woman who works as a secretary for MGM's newsreel department. Luke's primary rival for Sally's affections is a cameraman for the company, so Luke decides to sign to the newsreel department in hopes of impressing her. However, his hand with a movie camera is not especially sure at first; he mistakenly double exposes a reel of film that results in battleships sailing down Broadway, while his attempts to get footage of a Tong battle seem more successful until an organ grinder's monkey runs off with his film. Luke gets the axe before long, but he's not about to give up, and he tries to find another way to impress his lady love. This was Keaton's first film under a new contract with MGM, and director Edward Sedgwick for the most part allowed Keaton to stick to the creative formula of his best work. However, that would soon change, and many Keaton aficionados consider The Cameraman to be his last truly important work. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Edward M. Sedgwick
- Genres
- Comedy, Romance
Critic Reviews
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Studio interference damaged the film but could not destroy it.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Keaton's last great comedy.
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Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
The Cameraman gave Buster one of his best roles and he filled it with one of his most touching and fleshed-out performances, using mostly his intense eyes.
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Eric Henderson, Slant Magazine
One of Keaton's most impressively self-reflective films and an ode to the unexpected and elusive lightening-in-a-bottle nature of filmmaking.
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John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
A sequence in Yankee Stadium is a standout for its allowing Keaton a moment to actually extemporize.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Buster Keaton
as Luke Shannon
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Marceline Day
as Sally Richards
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Harold Goodwin
as Harold Stagg
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Sidney Bracey
as Editor
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Harry Gribbon
as Officer Hennessey
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William Irving
as A Photographer
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Dick Alexander
as The Big Sea Lion
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Edward S. Brophy
as Man in Dressing Room
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Vernon Dent
as Man in Tight Bathing Suit
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Ray Cooke
as Office Worker