The Great Buster celebrates the life and career of one of Hollywood’s most prolific and influential filmmakers, Buster Keaton. Stunning restorations of archival works bring Keaton’s magic to life on the big screen, while interviews with his friends, family, collaborators, and a broad array of artists influenced by his singular vision detail a life and character that was as complex, bold, and graceful as the great works themselves. Director (and narrator) Peter Bogdanovich’s personal dive into the Keaton archives reveals a visionary artist who put everything on the line for a laugh in such treasured films as "The General" (1926), "Steamboat Bill Jr." (1928), "Sherlock Jr." (1924), and so many others. Includes interviews with Bill Hader, Mel Brooks, Cybill Shepherd, and Quentin Tarantino.
Q&A WITH SPECIAL GUEST: Professor Rodney F. Hill
RODNEY F. HILL teaches film in the Herbert School of Communication at Hofstra University. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas and an M.A. from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Dr. Hill is co-author of The Francis Ford Coppola Encyclopedia and The Encyclopedia of Stanley Kubrick, co-editor of Francis Ford Coppola: Interviews, and a contributor to several other books, including The Essential Science-Fiction Television Reader and The Stanley Kubrick Archives. His essays have also appeared in Film Quarterly, Cinema Journal, Literature/Film Quarterly, and elsewhere; and he recently served as guest editor for a special issue of the journal, Post Script, on the films of Jacques Demy.
In addition to his academic experience, Rodney Hill worked for several years in film distribution and marketing, handling theatrical campaigns for various international, independent, and documentary films, including Chuck Workman’s The Source (starring Johnny Depp, John Turturro, and Dennis Hopper) and the Oscar-nominated On the Ropes.