The Railrodder

This short film from director Gerald Potterton (Heavy Metal) stars Buster Keaton in one of the last films of his long career. As "the railrodder", Keaton crosses Canada from east to west on a railway track speeder. True to Keaton's genre, the film is full of sight gags as our protagonist putt-putts his way to British Columbia. Not a word is spoken throughout, and Keaton is as spry and ingenious at fetching laughs as he was in the old days of the silent slapsticks.

Directed by Gerald Potterton - 1965

[ZekPatterson]

Buster sees an oncoming train: nothing.
Buster sees some geese: pure terror.
The appropriate response.

[leegray]

I love how EVERYTHING comes out of that little red box ! LOL ! Buster Keaton was great !

[spaguettoltd.]

He was 69 or 70 when this film was released. He would die the next year. What a legend.

[HardRockMiner]

Buster Keaton: A true legend. Nobody in Hollywood today could tie this man's shoes!!

[brain_apostrophe_t]

Covering a huge distance in one slowly upgraded outfit, with a map and seemingly infinate amount of storage in a small space. Itd make a good video game.

[surearrow]

>> He died less than a year after this filming, February 1, 1966. You will always be remembered Buster!

[machia]

Keaton was in love with trains all of his life.

[LWilliamsYoutube]

I find the fuel efficiency of the speeder quite amazing. At no time did Buster ever have to refill the tank! I've always admired Buster Keaton's deadpan comedy, and as a Canadian myself, it's fun to see him doing a travel logo for Canadian Tourism.

[parisgreen]

What a great little movie - how have I never even heard of it? The image where he's standing on top of the yellow buggy seems really iconic, like it should be on posters and T-shirts. It's funny, he doesn't play to the camera at all - he doesn't look at us, or direct his actions toward us - he's in his own little world.

And what an amazing face! He would have been great in a drama, gangster/detective movie or something. Got a stare like a Las Vegas pit boss but then he does these gentle comic bits about putting on a hat and making tea. There's something very Zen about it.

[TheRelger]

I worked on the railroad in the late ‘70’s and they were still using those old speeders.
They could do 70 mph if I remember correctly.

[bobwatson]

Watched this when I was really young in the '70s. I thought it was magical. I watched his old films, and having watched them a second time, and I know how important his hat is. I really hope its his original one.

[andrewmorrison]

Great movie and some fantastic railway memorabilia, in particular Old Union Station in downtown Ottawa. I’m so thankful this was produced one year before that operation was moved and torn up.

[kushbalaji]

These people in the movies are such legendary actors. Buster Keaton is well-performed in most of his movies during his whole career. Like literally when I watch him on the internet. He’s so well talented.

[HankleburyTV]

I'm so glad there was a Buster Keaton in this world.

[phoenixman]

I remember seeing this for the first time In elementary school in the 1970s on a big old clunky projector of course.

[legalman]

My grandfather was born in 1892 and die in 1989. He left on his workshop a big collection of cameras, projector and films.
Disney, WB, Keaton's, cartoons, Charles Chaplin, African safaris lots of Documentaries. He show me A living Tasmanian Tiger filmed in a cage. Thanks to all the old school boys !

[christopherescott]

The railways would NEVER allow this today. This is an all time

[terrywilliams]

Love this movie I'm proud to be Canadian

[alstokesveteranfilmmaker]

Thanks for putting this film up on YouTube. I first saw this production when I was learning the craft as an assistant film editor in the heart of London's late-1960s Soho film making district - and I've been searching for a copy of The Railrodder ever since. Buster Keaton was a comic genius who taught us all the tricks of his trade. Now, after 50-years in the British film industry and about to retire, I strongly recommend this film be shown at every film school ... or I cold post the link to it here. Wonderful, you've made an oldish man extremely happy. Buster lives!

[Parv]

This is like therapy. Loved every moment of film. Beauty. Love from India.