Runtime: 70 minutes
Directed by: Charles Reisner/Buster Keaton
Starring: Keaton, Marion Byron, Tom McGuire, Ernest Torrance, Tom Lewis
From: United Artists
Let’s ignore the steamboat’s name of Stonewall Jackson and instead appreciate this late effort from Buster Keaton where he was able to do his own thing. Jr. flopping at the box office regrettably had that impact on his career; one day I should check out Keaton during his early sound era for curiosity’s sake but it was about time I saw one of his most popular efforts for the first time.
Jr. is a smart college kid returning from Boston (w/ Vince McMahon mustache… no wonder Sr. wanted it shaved off!) to take over father’s position as steamboat captain of a ramshackle old ship… much to his reluctance. At least there’s his old lady pal Kitty-the daughter of a rival captain who has a new spiffy ship. The expected hijinks happen. After a slow start, the film becomes a sheer delight, especially when a cyclone hits & causes destruction.
If you’re unaware, this film was the origin of Buster’s most famous clip: the side of the house falling on him but he’s in the spot of the empty window. How many times has that been shown/spoofed in the almost 100 years since? The rest of the gags of course won’t be spoiled; instead I’ll conclude that while this isn’t legendary in my eyes like The General or have a high rate of gags per minute in shorts like One Week, Steamboat Bill, Jr. is still a quality late silent and one of the last hurrahs for Buster Keaton.
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