The Navigator
(1924)
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When asked to name Buster Keaton’s best film, many silent film enthusiasts will elect either The General (1926) or The Navigator (1924). And while we are certain that you can’t discuss Keaton’s best film without seriously considering a half-dozen other titles, we certainly agree that The Navigator is a top Keaton film.
The Navigator was directed by Keaton and actor/director Donald Crisp. Together they created a comic masterpiece that remains one of the silent era’s most memorable films. The film is filled with great Keaton gags, and the premise is inventive if not a little far-fetched. Keaton is the well-to-do and naive, impulsive suitor of Kathryn McGuire, who, through the machinations of plot that seem to be believable only in silent era comedies, ends up alone with McGuire on a large ship set adrift by anarchists. They quickly discover that their sheltered lives haven’t prepared them for surviving on their own. But Keaton’s character, as in other films, reveals his resourceful and inventive side and they not only survive their being without servants but also an assault by cannibals!
Keaton’s character, more than those of any other feature-length silent film comedian, crossed back and forth over economic and social lines and remained true to itself. Buster was not aggressive but was humbly confident, and while his character always had the audience’s sympathy he never asked for their pity. Keaton was equally true to himself when playing a penniless scrounger and a sophisticated societyperson. — Carl Bennett
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 1999 Kino International edition
The Navigator (1924), black & white, 59 minutes, not rated, with The Boat (1921), black & white and color-tinted black & white, 22 minutes, not rated, and The Love Nest (1923), black & white, 20 minutes, not rated.
Kino International, K124DVD, UPC 7-38329-01242-7.
Full-frame 4:3 NTSC, one single-sided, single-layered DVD disc, Region 1, ? Mbps average video bit rate, ? kbps audio bit rate, Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo sound, English language intertitles, no foreign language subtitles, chapter stops, snapper case (reissued in keep case, and in slimline keep case), $29.99 (reduced to $24.95).
DVD release date: 23 November 1999.
Country of origin: USA
Ratings (1-10): video: 8 / audio: 8 / additional content: 8 / overall: 8. |
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All of Buster’s nautical comedies are collected together in this DVD, which also includes The Boat (1921) and The Love Nest (1923). The Boat holds a lofty place among Keaton’s short films similar to those held by Cops (1922) or One Week (1920). It is considered by modern audiences to be one of Buster’s best short films. The Love Nest is very funny, with Keaton regular Joe Roberts playing a menacing ship captain. If you have not seen the films on this disc, we are certain you will be pleased and amused by all of them.
The video transfer utilized for this DVD is (like the others in this Buster Keaton DVD series) from The Art of Buster Keaton series originally released on laserdisc and VHS videotape in 1994-1995. The 35mm print of The Navigator is generally in excellent condition, with occasional wear and age flaws. Portions of The Boat were nearly lost forever to the print decomposition visible at times in this transfer. The Love Nest has been pieced together somewhat but is largely complete. The transfers of the short films are very good, with a generous, open framing. The films on the disc also feature great music scores by Robert Israel and organist Gaylord Carter. While we have been a longtime fan of the late Carter’s work, we are continually impressed by Israel’s orchestral scores. On more than one occasion, the presence of Israel’s work has been a selling point for us. We enthusiastically recommend these great Buster Keaton films and this disc.
USA: Click the logomark at right to purchase
a Region 1 NTSC DVD of this edition from Amazon.com. |
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Canada: Click the logomark at right to purchase
a Region 1 NTSC DVD of this edition from Amazon.ca. |
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| This Region 1 NTSC DVD is also available directly from Kino International. |
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