"You'll laugh yourself completely out of focus!"
Director: Edward Sedgwick, Buster Keaton
Cast: Buster Keaton, Marceline Day, Harold Goodwin, Sidney Bracey, Harry Gribbon
The Cameraman — Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
Don't be discouraged. You just keep trying.
Context
This intertitle appears after Buster's first batch of film is screened at MGM and is met with laughter and derision. While everyone else dismisses him, Sally offers these words of comfort, inspiring him to not give up on his new dream.
Meaning
This line encapsulates Sally's role as Buster's primary source of support. It's a simple but powerful message of encouragement that fuels his determination in the face of constant failure and ridicule. It establishes the film's romantic core and its theme of perseverance.
The new cameraman seems to have a fine artistic touch--He shot this battleship coming down Broadway.
Context
This line is shown as an intertitle representing the mockery from the MGM staff as they watch Buster's first reel. One of his mistakes was double-exposing footage of a battleship over a shot of a city street, leading to this comical observation.
Meaning
This sarcastic comment highlights the technical incompetence of Buster's initial filmmaking attempts. The humor lies in the absurdity of his double-exposed footage, which accidentally creates a surreal, artistic image. The quote underscores the theme of accidental art versus commercial filmmaking.
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