The Navigator (1924)
In the National Film Registry
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59m
Hunger, storms, and even cannibals, all with Keaton's signature deadpan humor and acrobatic stunts.
Buster Keaton's 1924 silent comedy, The Navigator, incorporates elements that redefine comedic storytelling, making it a prime example of experimental film within the silent era.
The Navigator breaks away from the slapstick routines Keaton was known for. While physical humor remains, the film incorporates elaborate set design and stunts, creating a grander, more adventurous narrative. Keaton's character, Rollo, finds himself adrift on a seemingly deserted ocean liner. This fantastical premise allows for outlandish situations and gags, like a collapsing movie set or a room flooded with seawater.
Keaton's signature deadpan expression and use of his body for comedic effect are on full display. The Navigator also experiments with camerawork and editing using innovative techniques like slow motion and reverse-motion filming that heighten the absurdity of the situations.
The Navigator's lasting impact lies in its ability to blend humor with innovative filmmaking techniques. It paved the way for comedies that embraced the fantastical and explored the visual possibilities of the medium, leaving a mark on the evolution of silent film and comedy as a whole.
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