I can’t think of any modern figure who does physical comedy with this level of creativity and panache. If you can, please drop a name in the comments.
[Buster Keaton – The Art of the Gag] (Viewer #459,997)
Update – Ok, maybe Jackie Chan, but that’s about it.
You’re right about Jackie Chan. My only entry would be Benny Hill, to a much lesser extent.
Harold Lloyd, who also did the stunts while missing much of his right hand.
About the other two silent comedians. I guess Charlie Chaplin was one but was the other one Fatty Arbuckle?
Joe Biden.
Cheers
1. https://www.nfb.ca/film/buster_keaton_rides_again
2. https://www.nfb.ca/film/railrodder/
Cheers
There’s a wonderful series on Netflix (expiring in the middle of December) called The Story of Film: An Odyssey. I’m only a few episodes in (just got to the sound era), but I’m already highly recommending it to everyone. Episode Two:The Hollywood Dream has a fairly in-depth sequence about Keaton and then follows it with Chaplin and Lloyd. If you have Netflix, check it out!
Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean) is the only modern one who comes close, IMAO
Yeah, in the 50-70’s or so, you had Dick Van Dike, who had the skills, but not really the direction.
Mr. Bean reminds me of the movie – Rat Race – which had some sight gags. Monty Python possibly. Michael J. Fox in Back to the Future, Robin Williams as Mork.
There are examples here and there, but none as complete as Buster Keaton.