Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)
Directed by Charles Reisner, Buster Keaton

Film Review

Buster Keaton ended his association with United Artists by co-directing and starring in this feature-length comedy in which his flair for understated pathos and death-defying sight gags is once again put to good use.  This was the penultimate film over which Keaton would have directorial input; in his subsequent films for MGM he would have diminishing artistic control and would rarely achieve anything to match the genius of his earlier triumphs.

Although it was not a commercial success when it was first released, Steamboat Bill Jr. is now regarded as one of Keaton's most important films, mainly on account of the spectacular hurricane sequence seen in the latter part of the film.  Even by today's standards, this sequence is stunningly realised, employing cranes and wind-machines where today virtually everything would be achieved using graphics created on a computer.

The film contains what is possibly Keaton's most famous gag.  He is standing in front of a house when the entire façade falls onto him; he emerges unscathed because he just happens to fit in the space of a window.  This was probably the most dangerous stunt Keaton undertook in his entire career and was achieved without any trickery.   Another memorable gag is where  Keaton climbs a tree just before it is plucked out of the ground by the hurricane and he is seen flying high above a storm devastated  town.

Thanks to its pedestrian plot and the fact that there are few strong comic situations in its first half, Steamboat Bill Jr is less enjoyable than other Buster Keaton comedies.  Things pick up with a vengeance in the second half as the hurricane strikes, allowing for some highly inventive and spectacular visual jokes, so that, overall, it stands as an entertaining piece of silent madcap fun.

Film Synopsis

For years, Bill Canfield has made a successful living ferrying passengers up and down river in his old steamboat.  But now he faces ruin when the town's banker, James King, starts up a rival business with a brand new steamer.  Canfield is cheered by the news that his son is planning to stay with him, having just graduated from college.  Bill Canfield Junior has the enthusiasm to work for his father, but no ability and, to make matters worse, he begins an affair with Marion King, the banker's daughter.   Disappointed with his son, Canfield Senior soon sends him back home to Boston.   Before Junior leaves town, he sees his father being escorted to the town jail.  His attempt to rescue his father is thwarted by an even bigger calamity - a hurricane which threatens to destroy the whole town...