The Buster Keaton Collection returns from Cohen Collection. It’s been over a year since Volume 3, but that’s to be understood. The pandemic has screwed everything up and a ton of the Keaton movies are entering the public domain. Hell, by the time you see this review, Seven Chances will have entered the public domain.
Go West is the first film on the disc and it gets a brand-new 4K restoration. Having seen the films several times before, I’ve never seen it look better. Friendless Greeley goes West to be a cowboy. What happens next involves Metro Arizona and eventually causing a micro flood in 1920s Los Angeles.
The master of physical comedy exerts perfect control over one of his finest directing efforts. All the while, you never know what’s coming next in this 83 minute long laugh odyssey. I know that sounded like a crappy infomercial spiel, but Keaton is meant to be experienced.
College was directed by James W. Horne and not by Buster Keaton. It’s not a bad thing, but the creative differences are sharp. What follows is a 66 minute long romp that lacks Buster Keaton’s usual punch-up. The comedy is fun, but it feels like this movie could’ve been any other silent comedy of the era.
Cohen wraps up the Blu-ray with a 1923 Hal Roach short for Go West. Plus, you get a featurette and trailers for the Cohen restoration efforts. I’d recommend a purchase to comedy fans.
