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Thanks for the tips and for checking, guys.
If I have any problems with disc 3 the next time I play this set on my main player - I don't think it will be a Denon - I'll certainly try a "deep clean".

Am I particularly obtuse, or is Neil Brand completely overlooked in the credits for this set?

I'm only part of the way through, but Neil deserves some major kudos for his marathon work accompanying these films. Indefatigable is the word that springs to mind, but also constantly alert and responsive.

Neil Brand is thanked in the booklet, and is mentioned on most of the end credits on the films themselves.

I agree, his work is exemplary on these films (Neil's recordings were done for Lobster Films in Paris a few years ago, and were not done specifically for MoC).

The Barbican Centre in London has a weekend devoted to Neil Brand on Feb 17-18th:

"Neil Brand is one of the UK's most celebrated pianists working with silent film, and in this special weekend presentation he will share his secrets about the art of musical improvisation, followed on Sunday 18 Feb with a accompaniment to F.W. Murnau's overwhelming 1927 film, Sunrise."

I recommend the Barbican presentation, and not just for the Murnau. Neil is wonderfully knowledgeable and passionate about silent film and he's a great talker.

(Thanks Nick - I noticed the list mention in the book but had overlooked the on-screen credits - too eager to get onto the next film, I suppose!)

Toots, it's, ahem, Christmas week. Have a gin and tonic, enjoy the sunshine and look again through the DJ catalogue. The Keaton will arrive very soon (mine came last week, as did I) and you will be forever in Nick and co's debt, again.

Sorry for not replying earlier, David. The Keaton set is all R0 PAL. Glad you could play it okay and that you liked it so much. We'll certainly be trying to replicate the roundtable process on future releases, it worked very well.

peerpee wrote:We'll certainly be trying to replicate the roundtable process on future releases, it worked very well.

It did indeed, and I'd just like to second David's praise - and you can rest assured that I highlighted it in my upcoming Sight & Sound review (assuming it doesn't get subbed out).

davidhare wrote:Not the least of the many pleasures the absolutely wonderful three way dialogue between Dan Sallitt, Brad Stevens and Jean-Pierre Coursodon for 150 pages! Regular trawlers of a_film_by already know these guys as extremely comprehensive writers on American cinema - indeed Jean-Pierre's "Cinquante Ans du Cinema American" is one of the finest film books ever written IMO. (It's translated and revised in English as American Directors Vols. 1 and 2.) It's difficult to imagine these discourses were conducted over the internet, the authors flow and complement each other completely fluidly.

Thanks for the kind words. I think it's worth pointing out the enormous contribution made by Craig Keller, who had the responsibility of editing together our e-mails. If the resulting text reads fluidly, that is largely due to Craig.

how is this set packaged, any photos? is it 4 keep cases plus the book?

godardslave wrote:how is this set packaged, any photos? is it 4 keep cases plus the book?

There are some photos of the set here

- Derek

derek wrote:There are some photos of the set here

thanks, nice link.

Nick,

Any likelihood we will be seeing a second volume of Buster? Perhaps his features from 1923 - 1929

Another four disc set would be great, perhaps -

Disc 1: The Three Ages (1923)/Our Hospitality (1923)/Sherlock Jr. (1924)
Disc 2: The Navigator (1924)/Seven Chances (1925)/Battling Butler (1926)
Disc 3: The General (1927)/College (1927)/Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928)
Disc 4: The Cameraman (1928)/Spite Marriage (1929)

I've just worked out that three out of four of the discs would be in excess of three hours, I imagine that would be ok, but I am technically stupid so...

Disc 1: The Three Ages (1923)/Our Hospitality (1923)/Sherlock Jr. (1924) 63+74+44= 181 minutes
Disc 2: The Navigator (1924)/Seven Chances (1925)/Battling Butler (1926) 59+56+71= 186 minutes
Disc 3: The General (1927)/College (1927)/Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928) 75+61+71 = 207 minutes
Disc 4: The Cameraman (1928)/Spite Marriage (1929) 75+80 = 155 minutes

I was also thinking that if MoC were to release a boxset like this they would surely monopolise the Keaton market (at least in the UK) and people would rid themselves of those horrible network boxsets (UK) and opt for the better versions?

I think this forum musta died. Shame.

peerpee wrote:re: the 16mm version of MOONSHINE. The only available material was very overexposed and NTSC (the MoC set is PAL). We weren't prepared to standards convert an NTSC master to PAL, especially when faces were bloomed out - but we are looking into ways of making this available online if possible.

Any news on the possibility of this?

Chris xx

Just picked this set up (finally!) at the nice discount Amazon.uk currently offers (about $60 delivered to the US). A really gorgeous production! Can't wait to really sink my teeth into it. Thanks Nick, and all who were involved!

Sorry if it was discussed before but...

Why A Reckless Romeo (1917) wasn't included into this set?
IMDB says "Film was long thought lost, but in 1999 the Norwegian Filminstitute made a restored print available."

Because it doesn't actually feature Buster Keaton (although before the norwegian copy was found it was thought he might be in it, which is probably why he's listed on imdb as being in the film).

bollibasher wrote:Because it doesn't actually feature Buster Keaton (although before the norwegian copy was found it was thought he might be in it, which is probably why he's listed on imdb as being in the film).

Interesting. Could you provide any source to read about it? Thanks in advance.

Senya wrote:

bollibasher wrote:Because it doesn't actually feature Buster Keaton (although before the norwegian copy was found it was thought he might be in it, which is probably why he's listed on imdb as being in the film).

Interesting. Could you provide any source to read about it? Thanks in advance.

The film is on Milestone's compilation The Cook and Other Treasures - here's a detailed review that confirms Keaton's absence.

I'm going to purchase this set soon but I found it for cheap on Amazon UK's marketplace.

Just wondering if it was legit and not bootlegged or something

I finished making my way through this set today (including special features) and I just have to applaud MoC for what they've done with this set. This box sets a standard in DVD presentation, particularly the presentation of short films. It's beautifully comprehensive (it took me over a year to watch all of it), everything is presented in the best possible quality, and the features are in-depth and entertaining.

I won't talk much about the films, because those mostly speak for themselves: his work is ceaselessly inventive, full of modest poetry and surrealist gestures, and among the funniest stuff ever put to film. He's a wonder. But I'm also glad MoC included the Arbuckle shorts. They are completely different in style and tone, and they don't soar like Keaton's films, but I love their rambunctious, anarchic energy. Arbuckle as a performer is a walking (leaping/falling/acrobatic) contradiction. It's hard to believe that what you're seeing is real.

I may come back and talk about some particular films (Keaton is one of the few filmmakers I feel a serious urge to write critically about, and his short films have done plenty to exacerbate that impulse), but for now I'll shower the package itself with praise.

The booklet is a revelation. Hell, I can't even call it a booklet. It's a book. I'd heard of the MoC books before, and I have other MoC DVDs, but this is the first of the really thick books I've perused. Everything in it is top notch, but I feel like the roundtable deserves particular praise. It is probably the best written feature in any DVD set that I've read. It covers every film in great detail, delves into all sorts of exciting and fascinating corners, offers three thoughtful perspectives, and miraculously manages to cover as much ground as Keaton's diverse filmography. It is lengthy but never boring. Kudos to the critics and filmmakers who participated, and kudos to MoC for daring to include such a substantial piece in their book.

Another thing I love about the book, and the packaging in general, is the proliferation of personal touches. Most labels, including Criterion, tend to act as editors alone, so their DVDs have a professional and impersonal quality (not to slight Criterion's work, of course; they are obviously labors of love). But MoC peppers their packages with quotes, little asides, humorous bits, and other curiosities. They're all delightful; I especially enjoy the bit commenting on the book's cover and the Welles quote on top of the box (which I discovered nearly a year after buying the set; a great surprise, and satisfying, to find one of my favorite filmmakers praising another of my favorites). I even like little touches like the special features listing, which describes Keaton as being in "fine fettle" during the audio recording.

That recording, by the way, was another wonderful surprise. It's strange to hear this man who seems so obstinately silent not only speak, but speak with such wit, energy, and charm.

The McBride commentaries almost felt like an anti-climax when I got to them. Don't get me wrong, I like them. They are informative and offer some nice ideas. I like most when he points out specific details which might otherwise be overlooked, like Eddie Cline's appearances. They do, however, sometimes suffer from that affliction of describing what you're seeing. (I do like when McBride can't help but chuckle at a gag, though; it gives the commentaries a flavor most lack, makes it very personable).

That's all for now. I just wanted to offer my thanks to MoC for making such a remarkable set. Everyone who doesn't own this set: buy this set. It's Region 0 so you have no excuse. This isn't just one of the best DVD purchases I've ever made; it's one of the best purchases I've ever made, of any kind. A fitting tribute to the Great Stone Face.

I wonder how Kino's forthcoming region 1 set -- Buster Keaton: The Short Films Collection, Three-Disc Ultimate Edition -- will compare in terms of quality and supplements, and whether or not it will use PAL transfers with the 4% speedup. Due July 12.