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Steamboat Bill, Jr.

7.8

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Original title: Steamboat Bill, Jr.
Year: 1928
Running time: 71 min.
Country: United States
Director: Buster Keaton, Charles Reisner
Screenwriter: Carl Harbaugh
Cinematography: Bert Haines, Dev Jennings (B&W)
Cast: Buster Keaton, Ernest Torrence, Tom McGuire, Tom Lewis, Marion Byron, James T. Mack, Joe Keaton
Producer: Buster Keaton Productions
Genre: Comedy | Silent Film
Synopsis: It is the story of a college-educated young man who comes home to help his father work on his Mississippi River steamboat and immediately demonstrates just what a landlubber he is. What's worse, the woman he falls for is the daughter of his father's worst rival, a bullying rich guy who wants to drive Buster's boat out of business.

Rankings Position

#31 Best Silent Movies of all time
#61 Best Comedy Movies

Critics' reviews

"It seems longer than it really is, and the end strikes one as being brought about through sheer fatigue."

Mordaunt Hall: The New York Times
"Buster Keaton's beautiful 1928 comedy equates parental rejection with the most violently destructive forces of nature; behind the elegant slapstick is an eloquent fable of survival."

Dave Kehr: Chicago Reader
"The greatest of the silent clowns is Buster Keaton, not only because of what he did, but because of how he did it (...) His philosophy is embodied in his body language (…) Rating: ★★★★ (out of 4)"

Roger Ebert: rogerebert.com
"It's a pip of a comedy. It's one of Keaton's best (...) The windstorm is a gem and the river stuff interesting and colorful."

Variety
"If Keaton didn’t exactly play characters utterly devoid of will, he at least portrayed those who were pure of heart."

Richard Brody: The New Yorker
"[It] features Keaton’s strongest treatment of father-son relations (...) The familial theme is never heavy-handed, but has an affecting emotional undertow (…) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"

Bill Weber: Slant
"The ensuing farce involves miraculous physical comedy and stunt-work. Keaton makes it look easy (…) Rating: ★★★★★ (out of 5)"

Peter Bradshaw: The Guardian
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