French Literature Reviews - 2026

B. Keaton, The Mechanics of Laughter: Autobiography of a Comic Genius
Theatre and Performance

The Mechanics of Laughter: Autobiography of a Comic Genius
Buster Keaton, Charles Samuels
Translated by Michel Lebrun, Preface by Jean Douchet

Publication date: 17/04/2014 Publisher: Capricci Editions ISBN: 979-10-239-0014-9 EAN: 9791023900149 Format: Paperback No. of pages: 318 p.

A contemporary of Charlie Chaplin, Mack Sennett, Fatty Arbuckle, Harold Lloyd, and the Marx Brothers, Buster Keaton began his career on stage at the age of three alongside his parents, with whom he formed a comedic trio. He quickly became a child star of slapstick comedy, developing the physical prowess that would later enable him to perform the breathtaking stunts in his films.
In *The Mechanics of Laughter*, Keaton recounts his childhood and stage years, his wartime experiences, his entry into filmmaking, his rise to success and transition to directing, followed by his sudden decline shortly after the advent of talkies, all while sharing behind-the-scenes anecdotes and the cinematic tricks behind the Keatonian aesthetic... Imbued with remarkable modesty, this autobiography stands as a unique testimony from a man who witnessed Hollywood evolve from its rise to the end of its golden age.

Buster Keaton stands alongside figures like Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd as a defining master of early American film comedy, originating in the demanding traditions of vaudeville and slapstick performance. The volume recounts his progression from early theatrical appearances with his family to his extensive career in silent cinema, detailing his transition into directing and the challenges he faced with the arrival of sound film. Readers interested in the history of early American cinema and the evolution of Hollywood studio production may find this autobiography relevant.

The text traces Keaton’s experiences across the decades, encompassing his wartime service, his cinematic successes, and the later shifts in his professional trajectory. Throughout the narrative, he reflects upon his craft, sharing behind-the-scenes accounts and insights into the cinematic techniques that shaped his distinctive aesthetic on screen. Written with notable modesty, the work serves as a firsthand account of a transformative era in the history of the motion picture industry.