JohnHowardReid Buster Keaton (Junior), Ernest Torrence (Canfield), Marion Byron (Marion King), Tom McGuire (King), Tom Lewis (first mate).Director: CHARLES REISNER. Screenplay: Carl Harbaugh, Buster Keaton. Story and titles: Carl Harbaugh. Photography: Bert Haines, Dev Jennings. Art director: Fred Gabourie. Film editor: Sherman Kell. Supervisor: Harry Brand. Assistant director: Sandy Roth.Copyright: 2 June 1928 by Buster Keaton. United Artists release: 12 May 1928. New York opening at the Rialto. 6,400 feet. 71 minutes. COMMENT: One of Keaton's most famous films. And deservedly so. It's a lavishly produced riot of fun from start to finish, and not only incorporates some absolutely incredible stunts and some really hilarious routines, but gives the comedian splendid back-up with an outstanding support cast.This great support was led by none other than Ernest Torrence (who was equally adept at both drama and comedy), Marion Byron (here in her movie debut), Tom Lewis (who died before the movie was completed), Tom McGuire, and the talented actor who plays the burly sheriff.

Bill Slocum It is ironic that the greatest film stunt ever pulled by comedy's finest man in motion, Buster Keaton, involves Keaton doing little more than rubbing the back of his neck as he stands perfectly still.Perfect stillness is hardly apt in describing "Steamboat Bill, Jr.," Buster's final and finest independently-produced comedy. For nearly the entire length of the film, he's stumbling, falling, somersaulting, and splashing around like a total madman. What you get is a distillation of Buster as he made his name in his short-film days, filled out with the help of a riverboat yarn to develop his sentimental side in surprisingly winning ways. Stone face, yes, but stone heart, never!Bleak days are upon Steamboat Bill Canfield (Ernest Torrance), captain of the once-proud, now-near-derelict riverboat Stonewall Jackson. His rival, John James King (Tom McGuire) runs both the town of River Junction as well as a fancy riverboat which he plans to use to put Canfield out of business. With a kind of optimism we recognize at once as misplaced, Steamboat Bill anticipates the arrival of his son from Boston, expecting a tall, strapping lad and not at all someone like Buster outfitted with beret, pencil mustache, and ukulele."If you say what you're thinking," Steamboat Bill Sr. warns his first mate, "I'll strangle you!"A fish-out-of-water comedy that ends up putting everyone in the water, "Steamboat Bill, Jr." spends a surprisingly long time setting the scene and the final 20 minutes sorting it out in a wild, anarchic way that recalls classic Buster shorts like "One Week" and "Cops." It's not an easy Buster film to characterize, requiring the audience to know Buster's history in getting in and out of trouble.You expect he will win over his gruff father, but how? You just know he'll find a way to pay off his affection for King's sweet daughter Kitty (Marion Byron), but how will he square things with her likewise stern dad?There are a bevy of winning scenes in this gag-packed film. Just watch Buster's eyes in an early scene when a barber (played by Buster's real- life father) shaves off his 'stache while Papa Bill glowers over his shoulder. He's so alive to the hilarity of the moment yet gives nothing away, even after the barber plucks a loose hair off his cheek.Demonstrating the unseaworthiness of the "Stonewall Jackson," Buster accidentally knocks a life preserver into the water only to watch it sink like a millstone. Later, trying to impress Kitty, he stands at the deck barking orders to people she can't see aren't really there, only to bid a quick retreat when the first mate approaches to see what he's up to.Torrence is a riot, too, mortified at the Eastern fop he has sired and pushing him about, then getting violently enraged whenever he sees anyone else doing the same. His temper (and King's machinations) finally land him in prison, which Buster tries to help him break out of by baking him a giant loaf of bread stuffed with files and other tools. Big Bill, not knowing what's inside the bread, wants nothing to do with it or his disappointing son."I'll just wait around until he's famished," Buster says, then performs a pantomime for his father mimicking a jailbreak with two fingers and a thumb that reminds me of Charlie Chaplin's similar hijinks with baked goods in "The Gold Rush." Again, Buster's eyes are key to the comedy.I don't know what to believe about the famous story where Buster, told he was about to lose his independence as a filmmaker, allowed himself to be filmed in a life-threatening stunt where a building facade falls on his head, only to leave him unscathed as the open attic window lands directly upon him. It reads too perfect to be believed, because it's the ultimate gesture of a filmmaker's faith in his vision overcoming grim reality. But there it is, Buster's most vividly remembered stunt, as astonishing the 50th time you see it as the first.It's also astonishing how the scene is mere preamble to a lengthy hurricane sequence that amazingly sets all to rights in Buster's topsy- turvy world, a triumph of comic imagination over harsh reality. If Buster never got such a break in real life, it's some compensation to see him effortlessly wind up on top in this sterling comedy milestone.

wes-connors Mississippi steamboat owner Ernest Torrence (as William "Steamboat Bill" Canfield) hopes the arrival of his son will help him compete with rival Tom McGuire (as John James "J.J." King). He expects a big, tough guy, but Boston college student Buster Keaton (William "Willie" Canfield Jr.) turns out to be an awkward and unassuming young man. He knows little about steamboats and becomes friendly with competitor McGuire's fetching daughter Marion Byron (as "Kitty" King)...How strange to read this was not a success for Mr. Keaton and company, consequently becoming the classic comedian's last independent feature. There is free advertising for MGM films herein, so perhaps Keaton's new studio deal was already in the offing. Plainly visible are posters promoting "The Boob" starring George K. Arthur and "The Temptress" starring Greta Garbo. As I post this, only "The Boob" is noted in the IMDb "connections" section. I'm not very good at editing, so hopefully someone will read this and add the Garbo film (it's on the fence door, to the right of "The Boob")...Like many feature films made for comedians of stature, "Steamboat Bill Jr." strings together some revisions of tried and true routines, in a flimsy plot. The story and romantic subplot herein are not superlative, but the bits are assembled well, with nothing too strained. Keaton is still at the peak of his physical comedy and Mr. Torrence contributes grand support. The stormy climax and tremendous, and includes one of Keaton's best moments - you'll know it when you see it. And, you mustn't blink.********* Steamboat Bill, Jr. (5/12/28) Charles Reisner ~ Buster Keaton, Ernest Torrence, Marion Byron, Tom McGuire

Serpico Jones After watching Steamboat Bill, Jr. the only word you can think about is - amazing. After the week you'll think, what was the film about, but you never cant forget those magnificent stunts performed by Buster Keaton. Steamboat Bill, Jr. was the first ever Buster Keaton movie I saw. I'm usually quite skeptical when I decide to watch silent film. Only silent before Bill I had seen was The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. I liked that one also. But I'm afraid silent films might be too boring and they are out dated too much. But Steamboat Bill, Jr. managed to convince me that they are not boring at all (at least Buster Keaton's movies). Now I feel that I have to go through all the Buster's movies.The film starts bit slow but with the scene in the hat shop where Buster plays straight into the camera the film starts building the pace until the extreme climax in the storm. Brilliantly timed stunts that you can't see in the modern cinema anymore (unfortunately), heartwarming father- son relationship and comedy. And the stunts amazed me the most. You can watch all the modern action films but all you can see is CGI. Steamboat Bill, Jr. is all in flesh. And when you think all those neck breaking stunts Buster performed you never want to see any Transformers or Resident Evil ever.Steamboat Bill, Jr. is really the film that changed my life. It did something to me that only Jackie Chan has managed to do before.