THE BUSTER KEATON COLLECTION: VOLUME 2: Cohen Film Collection Releases Wonderful Restorations Of SHERLOCK JR. & THE NAVIGATOR

The Buster Keaton Collection: Volume 2 is a new and improved release of Sherlock Jr. and The Navigator by Cohen Film Collection. The collection contained 4k restorations of both films with new scores.  This release follows volume 1, which contained The General and Steamboat Bill, Jr. The Cohen Film Collection also has a third volume set to release August 2o, 2019. It will contain 4k restorations of Seven Chances and Battling Butler. I look forward to this release, and any future restorations done by Cohen Film Collection after viewing the volume 2 collection on Blu-Ray.

Restoration Quality

The restorations featured on the Cohen Film Collection release of Sherlock Jr. and The Navigator are beautiful and go beyond even the highest expectations. These restorations are crisp and clean in every moment. Both films were given the perfect treatment to be shown in exactly the way they deserve. Images were never too dark or too bright. With the use of multiple transfers to create the perfect depiction of these films, everything flows together and feels cohesive.

The amount of time and energy it took to restore these Buster Keaton classics to what is seen on this release is well worth the end product. Much like how updating your collection to feature these 4k restorations is also very much worth it. Even if you have multiple copies of both of these films, buying this new collection is worth it for the quality of these restorations.

Sherlock Jr. (1924)

Sherlock Jr. is a remarkable film, which captures the medium of cinema in unique and passionate ways, while maintaining a truth in its characters. A film so enriched in the history of cinema deserves a restoration which shows just how beautiful cinema can be when presented in the best way possible. While watching this restoration, I was blown away by how clean and crisp it is in every frame. I have seen far too many very poor transfers of silent films, ones where the color is too high on contrast and almost too blurry to focus, so seeing Sherlock Jr. presented in a way that looks just as clean and clear as any modern blu-ray made me more appreciative of restorations, as well as making my excitement for future releases that much stronger.

This restoration brought my attention towards the use of close-up shots and inserts, in addition to inter-titles, in Buster Keaton’s work. I absolutely loved seeing these inserts of pieces of paper, signs, and much more, in a quality which makes every word pop against any background, no matter the shade. Sherlock Jr. is a film which explores cinema, and the beauty of projection, losing yourself in the world of a film on screen. This makes the new restoration from Cohen Film Collection feel that much more special.

Sherlock Jr. explores cinema in an especially memorable scene where Buster Keaton flickers across a multitude of different films within the screen of a theater, before landing on the one where most of the film takes place. This scene is beautiful, and touches on the beauty found within different types of films.

The Navigator (1924)

The Navigator is a memorable and entertaining comedy exploring reliance on having everything done for you, and the struggles that come with being forced to take care of yourself. It is filled with so many memorable sight gags, and they come across so wonderfully in this new restoration. Buster Keaton and Kathryn McGuire star as two rich people, who end up stranded on an ocean liner. The film utilizes this to create unique and funny moments from trying to cook with giant knives to escaping from cannibals near the end of the film.

Cohen Film Collection gave The Navigator a wonderful 4k restoration, which allows every sight gag to be seen with the precision they deserve. Nearing the end of the film, Buster Keaton is underwater in a diving suit, and this memorable scene is now even more beautiful and funny than it has ever been. Watching a sword fight with two swordfish is something you will never forget, and now you can see it in a cleaner and crisper depiction than ever before.

This restoration of The Navigator is beautiful in its more energetic moments as well as in its smaller, more intimate moments. One element which stands out in this restoration is how clearly I can see differences in dark clothes against dark backgrounds. Nothing ever felt lost in the background. I am amazed by how much detail you can see in the card shuffling scene. This moment was one of my favorites, as it shows that even the simplest things can be undone and take from granted.

Conclusion

Cohen Film Collection’s release of Sherlock Jr. and The Navigator brings these films to life in such clean and remarkably crisp restorations. The new scores blend effortlessly well with the films, creating a memorable experience for both existing Buster Keaton fans, and those introduced to his work through these beautiful restorations.

If you are a Buster Keaton fan, will you purchase these new restorations? Which Buster Keaton films are your favorites? Please share your thoughts in the comments. 

The Buster Keaton Collection: Volume 2 released on DVD and Blu-Ray July 9th by Cohen Film Collection.