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sabotai · 04-16-2009, 11:52 PM

Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928)

Directed by: Charles Reisner
Starring: Buster Keaton, Marion Byron, Ernest Torrence, Tom McGuire
Length: 71 min.
Genre: Comedy
Based On: Screenplay by Buster Keaton*

One of Buster Keaton's better movies, and what had become typical by this time, one the critics did not like. It also includes his most famous stunt which everyone surely has seen.

Willian Canfield Jr. (Buster Keaton) finishes college and goes to follow in his father's footsteps by becoming a steamboat captain. His father (Ernest Torrence), when he sees his son for the first time in a long time, is completely disappointed and sets out to turn his "fancy" son into a real man.

Shortly after arriving, William also runs into a woman he knew in college, Kitty King (Marion Byron). He is completely smitten with her, but she is the daughter of a rival steamboat caption, John James King (Tom McGuire). Hilarity ensues as William's father tries to turn his son into a man (from trying to dress him to him teaching him how to do various jobs on the ship) while also trying to keep him from seeing Kitty.

Kitty's father eventually uses his influence to get William's father's boat condemned. Sr. fights back and is arrested. William Jr. tries to bust out his father, but ultimately fails and ends up in the hospital. The weather turns back and a cyclone blows through the town. William leaves the hospital and fights the storm as he tries to be the hero.

During the cyclone sequence is when we see the stunt that Keaton is most famous for. He's standing in front of a house when the front of it falls forward. Keaton is (quite literally) saved when his body is missed by the facade because a window was open.

The film was panned by critics. Again. This would be his last independant film for United Artists. His run lasted from 1923 (Three Ages and Our Hospitality) to 1928 (Steamboat Bill Jr.). After this, he signs with MGM, and except for his first movie for them (The Cameraman), the studio did not let him have creative control. He would keep making movies in the '30s and '40s (and then make TV appearances in the '50s), but none of them would gain the (modern) popularity of his silent masterpieces.

My Rating: 9/10
IMDB User Rating: 7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 100% (14 reviews - 9.1/10)

* - Officially, Carl harbaurgh is listed as the writer, but he didn't do anything. Keaton did all the work.

04-16-2009, 11:52 PM	#176
sabotai General Manager Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Satellite of Love	Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928) Directed by: Charles Reisner Starring: Buster Keaton, Marion Byron, Ernest Torrence, Tom McGuire Length: 71 min. Genre: Comedy Based On: Screenplay by Buster Keaton* One of Buster Keaton's better movies, and what had become typical by this time, one the critics did not like. It also includes his most famous stunt which everyone surely has seen. Willian Canfield Jr. (Buster Keaton) finishes college and goes to follow in his father's footsteps by becoming a steamboat captain. His father (Ernest Torrence), when he sees his son for the first time in a long time, is completely disappointed and sets out to turn his "fancy" son into a real man. Shortly after arriving, William also runs into a woman he knew in college, Kitty King (Marion Byron). He is completely smitten with her, but she is the daughter of a rival steamboat caption, John James King (Tom McGuire). Hilarity ensues as William's father tries to turn his son into a man (from trying to dress him to him teaching him how to do various jobs on the ship) while also trying to keep him from seeing Kitty. Kitty's father eventually uses his influence to get William's father's boat condemned. Sr. fights back and is arrested. William Jr. tries to bust out his father, but ultimately fails and ends up in the hospital. The weather turns back and a cyclone blows through the town. William leaves the hospital and fights the storm as he tries to be the hero. During the cyclone sequence is when we see the stunt that Keaton is most famous for. He's standing in front of a house when the front of it falls forward. Keaton is (quite literally) saved when his body is missed by the facade because a window was open. The film was panned by critics. Again. This would be his last independant film for United Artists. His run lasted from 1923 (Three Ages and Our Hospitality) to 1928 (Steamboat Bill Jr.). After this, he signs with MGM, and except for his first movie for them (The Cameraman), the studio did not let him have creative control. He would keep making movies in the '30s and '40s (and then make TV appearances in the '50s), but none of them would gain the (modern) popularity of his silent masterpieces. My Rating: 9/10 IMDB User Rating: 7.9/10 Rotten Tomatoes: 100% (14 reviews - 9.1/10) * - Officially, Carl harbaurgh is listed as the writer, but he didn't do anything. Keaton did all the work.