Review of Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928) by Jonathan S — 31 Jul 2009

Sadly, most moviegoers today have never heard of the great masters of the cinema, entertainers to the entire world, film geniuses. One of those great men is Buster Keaton. In Steamboat Bill, Jr., Keatonâ??s brilliance shines once again. This film, along with The General, is considered one of his best works. After watching it, I do not doubt this opinion.

When Keaton first arrived in the filmmaking business, he said he tore the camera to pieces so he could learn every single nut and bolt to making a movie. He wanted to know the entire process of how an idea got to the screen, and this technical study helped make him the genius he was (and still is for that matter). His technical know how helped him pull off some of the greatest stunts ever caught on film.

Todayâ??s comedies will often result to using idiotic, simple slapstick humor such as a guy getting hit in the groin again and again. Keaton was one of the true masters of slapstick comedy. Words truly canâ??t describe the great moments of physical comedy in this movie, but I will tell you that this is the film which contains the famous shot of a side of a house falling onto an unsuspecting Keaton, who survives because of an open window. This is only one of the many great moments in this film.

Keaton wasnâ??t only a pantomime artist and a stunt man, he was also a great storyteller. Steamboat Bill, Jr. is the story of a young man (Keatonâ??s character) reuniting with his father, Steamboat Bill, who is the owner of a raggedy old steamboat, and they donâ??t seem to have much in common. Keaton then runs into the girl he loves in the local barber shop, and he soon discovers she is the daughter of the man who owns just about everything in town, including a rival steamboat. Itâ??s a bit of a Romeo and Juliet conflict. Both fathers try to break the two apart. But all that becomes secondary when things turn chaotic as a hurricane hits the town leaving Keaton in charge of saving the day. Itâ??s also one of the most magnificent scenes ever filmed and sure to blow you away (Yes, I know that was cheesy).

Keatonâ??s mastery of pantomime, stunt work, and filmmaking all come together in Steamboat Bill, Jr. to make it one of his best works. This film is sure to entertain all audiences, not just Keaton fans, or silent film fans, or classic film fans, but all lovers of the cinema. It is sure to make you laugh.

And for those who think silent films wonâ??t relate to viewers today, allow me to quote Mr. Keaton: â??They say pantomime's a lost art. It's never been a lost art and never will be, because it's too natural to do.â??