Buster Keaton of the hats during his career. Keaton observed that during his silent period, such a hat cost him around two dollars; at the time of his interview, he said, they cost almost $13. The hat is currently sold online for $75. Buster Keaton Joseph Frank Keaton (October 4, 1895 – February 1, 1966), known professionally as Buster Keaton, was an American actor, comedian, film director, producer, screenwriter, and stunt performer. He was best known for his silent films, in which his trademark was physical comedy with a consistently stoic, deadpan expression which earned him the nickname "The Great Stone Face".
Buster Keaton: A Hard Act to Follow from the best available sources (though without the benefit of modern digital remastering techniques), and clips from Keaton's silent films are shown at their original speed. Keaton's widow Eleanor and his business associate Raymond Rohauer worked closely with Brownlow and Gill in the production, and appear in the documentary. The series was shown in the U.S. as part of the "American Masters" series in 1987, and has more recently been aired on Turner Classic Movies. It is currently available on DVD in the United Kingdom as a companion to the "Buster Keaton Chronicles" movie box set. Buster Keaton: A Hard