Steamboat Bill, Jr.

Starring:Marion Byron, Joe Keaton, Tom Lewis, Tom McGuire, Ernest Torrence
Director: Charles Reisner
Studio: Image Entertainment
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video
Buster Keaton stars in 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. Keaton's slapstick is inspired and precise, particularly during an amazing sequence in which he tries to walk across town during a tornado. Watch in amazement as the front of a building falls on Keaton and he walks away without a scratch. --Marshall Fine
Description
Flavored with Americana and loaded with cinematic inventiveness, "Steamboat Bill, Jr." (1928, 69 min.) was Buster Keaton's final independent production, a comic masterpiece. Set on the Mississippi River, "Steamboat Bill, Jr." follows the adventures of a spoiled young man who is forced by his crusty father (Ernest Torrence) to learn riverboating. Highlighted by remarkable special effects, the film includes the legendary stunt in which the front of a building collapses over Junior, who passes unharmed through an open window. Added to this DVD are two Keaton shorts. Surprisingly dark yet wickedly funny, "Convict 13" (1920, 20 min.) combines gallows humor with rapid-fire slapstick. In "Daydreams" (1922, 22 min.), Buster tries to establish himself in a profession--from veterinary assistant to street-sweeper to actor--and, in one of his most cleverly staged chases, is pursued by a herd of New York City "bulls." Digitally mastered from archival prints, with original musical scores.

The Art of Buster Keaton (The General / Sherlock, Jr. / Our Hospitality / The Navigator / Steamboat Bill Jr. / College / Three Ages / Battling Butler / Go West / The Saphead / Seven Chances / 21 Short Films)
Average customer rating:

Genius

Buying Asian versions

In Buster Keaton's memory!

Reeeealy close, but not quite a cigar

Contents of the set

The Art of Buster Keaton (The General / Sherlock, Jr. / Our Hospitality / The Navigator / Steamboat Bill Jr. / College / Three Ages / Battling Butler / Go West / The Saphead / Seven Chances / 21 Short Films)
Starring: Buster Keaton
Manufacturer: Kino Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video
General | Silent Films | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video
General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video
( A ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video
Used DVDs | Stores | DVD | Video | Action & Adventure | African American Cinema | Animation | Anime & Manga | Art House & International | Classics | Comedy | Cult Movies | Documentary | Drama | Educational | Fitness & Yoga | Gay & Lesbian | Horror | Kids & Family | Military & War | Music Video & Concerts | Musicals & Performing Arts | Mystery & Suspense | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Special Interests | Sports | Television | Westerns
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ASIN: B00005QW5A
Release Date: 2001-11-20

Amazon.com

Buster Keaton was arguably the cinema's first modernist, an old-fashioned romantic with a 20th-century mind behind a deadpan visage. His films brim with some of the most breathtaking stunts and ingenious gags ever put on film, all perfectly engineered to look effortless. And, as Kino's magnificent 11-disc boxed set The Art of Buster Keaton conclusively shows, they are among the funniest ever made. Keaton warped gags until they left the plane of reality in such shorts as The Playhouse (1921) and The Frozen North (1922), and takes a logic-defying leap into the very nature of cinema itself in his hilarious Sherlock Jr. (1924). He takes on the mechanical world with Rube Golberg ingenuity in The Navigator (1924) and perfects his match between man and massive machine in Steamboat Bill Jr. (1928), which features the funniest hurricane scene ever put to film, and The General (1927), one of the greatest comedies of all time.

In addition to the previously released 11 features and 19 shorts from the peak of Keaton's career, this set boasts the exclusive Keaton Plus, a collection of rarities and tributes. The greatest find is the long-lost ending to Hard Luck (1921), now restored to complete the film's final inspired gag. Other highlights include newly discovered scenes from Daydreams (1922) and The Love Nest (1923), entertaining excerpts from Keaton's 1951 TV show Life with Buster Keaton (he's still got it!), and his rare dramatic turn in the 1954 television play The Awakening. --Sean Axmaker

Customer Reviews:

Genius.......2007-05-18

SO glad I spent literally half a paycheck on this collection . Keaton was , quite simply , brilliant . His amazing stunts and incredible agility put so many present-day actors to shame . As for that signature "stone face"....The man could say so much more with his eyes than any spoken words could ever express . Truly unsurpassed talent .

Buying Asian versions.......2007-01-10

I know spending $100 seems expensive when you can buy an Asian copy on eBay for $30 or $40. But when you do that, nothing is going to David Shepard to compensate him for acquiring these films, transfering them to video, doing some restoration, and adding a sound track. Even if these films are in the public domain, they don't save themselves. It takes time and money to do that. Please help preserve our rapidly disintegrating silent film heritage and buy the DVDs produced by the people doing the work of preservation.

In Buster Keaton's memory!.......2006-11-02

Buster Keaton still remains among the most reduced and even exigent list of the greatest exponents of the comedy genre.

It has been a common place to establsih the comparison between his craft and Charlot, and in this particular if I was inquired, I would say the main virtue of Keaton's grandess and obviously his personal landmark, is the kaleidoscopic vision he always around the characters and situations; while Charlot turned around the sentiments and the hope for a new and promising future, Keaton showed a demolishing narrative speech, hovered by a corrosive humor, deeply human but extremely devastating.

On the other hand, the resource economy and the emblematic expression of his facial grimace was another engaging tool to captivate the audiences.

I admire both of them and consider they represent the two sides of the same coin. Humanity above any other artistic considerations or sharp differences, was in last instance, the common denominator around these two genius of the intelligent humor.

A must for the hard collectors.

Reeeealy close, but not quite a cigar.......2005-11-03

First off, Keaton is one of the great artists of all times, and it's a joy to have such a complete collection of his silent work. (His last few silents, The Cameraman and Spite Marriage, and his sound films are a far cry from Keaton's best, and I suggest leaving them alone unless you're the absolute completist.) Kino has done a superb job on the features, restoring them to the best they've looked in decades and adding funny, unobtrusive musical scores. A perfect 5 here.

So what's not to like? I am saddened by the treatment of the shorts on these discs. They have *not* been restored, and my impression is that they were taken from 16mm prints with wildly variable (and often quite poor) soundtracks. Keaton's shorts are every bit as wonderful and fascinating as his features, and for Kino to foist these second-rate prints off on us makes me sad.

If I could, I'd give 4.5 stars for this collection. Be prepared for a bit of a disappointment when running the shorts.

Contents of the set.......2005-09-25

Before anything else, I agree with those who say that Keaton's shorts are all good; but I strongly disagree with those who say that they are better than his better features. What usually happens with comedy is that people sit down before the screen and just say: OK, make me laugh. Keaton's features are funny -but they are also, and more important, beautifully shot, superbly acted and perfectly structured -which is something only the best actors/directors can put all together. There are no cheap sets like in most movies of the 20's. Keaton's characters move in the real world, with real things, and that's part of what makes them lasting and unique.

In your shelves, Keaton shouldn't share his place with the Marx Brothers, but with Orson Welles (who called The General the best movie ever made about the Civil War) and Martin Scorsese (who said he watched over and over the final fight in Battling Butter -which, by the way, is not supposed to make you laugh, but to surprise you with it's realism)

Now, this are the complete contents of this DVD set. Aside from it, you should check out The Buster Keaton Collection, which includes THE CAMERAMAN, SPITE MARRIAGE and FREE AND EASY - and then you are done. Well, you could also read the only book he wrote -My Wonderful World of Slapstick. (June '06 Update: "Industrial Strength Keaton"(DVD) just came out. The set includes rare industrial films, promotional films, commercials, TV appearances and outtakes.)

The Saphead: 1920
Includes the shorts ONE WEEK (1920) and THE HIGH SIGN (1920)

The Three Ages
Year: 1923
Including THE GOAT (1921) and MY WIFE'S RELATION (1922).

Our Hospitality / Sherlock, Jr.
Year: 1923/1924

The Navigator
Year: 1924
Includes shorts The Boat (1921) and The Love Nest (1923).

Go West
Year: 1925
Includes THE SCARECROW (1920) and THE PALEFACE (1921).

Seven Chances
Year: 1925
Shorts: Neighbors (1920) & The Balloonatic (1923)

Battling Butler
Year: 1926
Includes THE HAUNTED HOUSE (1921) and FROZEN NORTH (1922).

The General
Year: 1926
shorts: The Playhouse (1921) and Cops (1922)

College
Year: 1927
Includes THE ELECTRIC HOUSE (1922), HARD LUCK (in this version the ending is missing; but the complete version is found in the disc called Keaton Plus) (1921) and THE BLACKSMITH (1922).

Steamboat Bill, Jr.
Year: 1928
shorts: Convict 13 (1920) and Daydreams (1922)

Keaton Plus
Year: 1920-2001
Color home movies, complete short HARD LUCK, two Shorts from the 30's, commercials, TV shows and appearances. But best of all, Orson Welles talking about Keaton and The General.

Buster Keaton: The General/Steamboat Bill Jr.

Average customer rating:

So that you know...

Buster Keaton: The General/Steamboat Bill Jr.
Starring: Buster Keaton
Manufacturer: Direct Source Label
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
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Modern Times (2 Disc Special Edition)
Buster Keaton: The Great Stone Face of Comedy

ASIN: B00022LAMS
Release Date: 2004-04-01

Customer Reviews:

So that you know..........2005-09-25

Since nobody took the trouble of listing WHAT is inside of this edition, I bought one just to check it out. This DVD brings two of Buster Keaton's masterpieces: The General & Steamboat Bill Jr. Both transfers are worse than the Kino edition (which is the standard for Keaton's films). Even so, Steamboat... is not bad and the music is (if I remember well) the same as in Kino's edition. The General looks a bit fuzzier, the music is old jazz and not really related to the action, but not bad. If you take in consideration that this DVD is being sold for around a dollar... I think it's worth it. Still... to appreciate Keaton at his best, buy the Kino editions.

6-15-06 P.S.: Well, I see they finally put the title to this DVD. Mission accomplished... ¿¿¿???? I also see that the price went up a little... so beware...

Average customer rating:

Wonderful
Great movie/terrible music
Music Kills It
Great films ruined by hideous musical scores
FINEST TRANSFERS

The General / Steamboat Bill Jr.
Starring: Richard Allen , Glen Cavender , Mike Donlin , Jim Farley , and Ronald Gilstrap
Director: Clyde Bruckman
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0000C23GP
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Amazon.com

Buster Keaton's career reached its creative apex with the rousing comic adventure The General. Not merely one of the finest silent films, this remains one of the great film comedies of all time. The Great Stone Face stars as Southern railroad engineer Johnny Gray, a man with only two loves: the sweet Annabelle Lee (Marion Mack) and his trustworthy engine, the eponymous General. When Fort Sumner is fired upon he's one of the first to enlist, but when the war office rejects him (he's too valuable as a trained engineer) his sweetie rejects him as a coward. Johnny has the opportunity to prove his bravery when Yankee spies steal his engine and inadvertently kidnap Annabelle, and Johnny pursues with all the resources at his disposal: handcar, bicycle, and finally railroad engine. Keaton's love/hate relationship with technology and machinery shines as he becomes one with his beloved locomotive and wrestles with a finicky cannon that threatens to blow his engine off the tracks; with tremendous dexterity, he nails the humor with inimitably deadpan takes. Spunky Marion Mack makes a perfect partner for Keaton, not merely a foil but a gifted comedienne in her own right. Other Keaton films contain more laughs and inspired comic stunts, but none combines romance, adventure, and comedy into a solid story as seamlessly as this silent masterpiece. --Sean Axmaker

In Steamboat Bill Jr., Keaton stars in 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. Keaton's slapstick is inspired and precise, particularly during an amazing sequence in which he tries to walk across town during a tornado. Watch in amazement as the front of a building falls on Keaton and he walks away without a scratch. --Marshall Fine

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful.......2007-01-06

Both movies are really, realy side splitting funny. Buster Keaton was great physical comic genius. I love to watch him run!
Great print.Great music.

Great movie/terrible music.......2005-06-15

I was very disappointed when I watched this dvd. I had seen "The General" for the first time at an outdoor theatre last summer in Greece. I was absolutely blown away by Keaton's genius. I, along with a international audience were entertained, moved, and inspired by this film. I did a bit of research as to what dvd edition to purchase and took a chance on this one. Wrong choice. In my opinion the music here just doesn't "feel" right. And, at times even becomes a bit irritating. It really is too bad because the visuals of this eition are superb. Shame on Roger Ebert for saying The Alloy Orchestra is "the best in the world at accompanying silent films." I highly recommend this film but not this dvd.

Music Kills It.......2005-03-24

The picture is perfect. Why can't the Laurel and Hardy series be so good, especially their silents, which look just hideous, even in the Hallmark releases. BUT, the music for the General is SO BAD I can't get through it. I don't know what kind of organ or synthesizer they use, but the new-age sound certainly does NOT suit the 1920s. The music just plods along without humour, and very little contrast. I have seen these films with live accompaniment, and with great music, the comedy just comes alive; but with anything less than great, the film falls flat and seems at best droll, at worst just kind of stupid. Very, VERY BAD. But one thing this proves, movies even back to the middle 1920s are clean, clear, and sharp. Never accept less than that in your collection! And send companies letters demanding it!

Great films ruined by hideous musical scores.......2005-03-08

Two Buster Keaton classics, "The General" and "Steamboat Bill, Jr." are two of my most favorite films in the world. My viewing experience for both were shell-shocked by the wacked out scores by the Alloy Orchestra on this DVD. The experience was like having a hammer being repeatedly smashed into my brain. There are several GOOD versions of these two masterpieces out there, and I hope everyone buys one. But these disgraceful versions are not among them.

FINEST TRANSFERS.......2005-03-04

These are two of the greatest silent comedies and the finest of Buster`s meticulous `stone faced` work. An Image DVD is usually a guarantee of highest quality material and these transfers are absolutely are no exception.

Taken from the highest quality 35mm material itself drawn from restored original nitrate negatives, the image quality is unbelievable for films almost 80 years old.

These prints really highlight what excellent films these are and with detail so crisp and sharp it is like watching a new version.

Now the soundtrack: They are presented with a new stereo soundtrack composed and performed by the Alloy Orchestra which is actually incredible. It has a beautifully synchronised music and effects track using instrumentation that would make even Buster`s stone face crack. It has a quirkyness and originality that is so fitting with the two films. It really breathes new life into these movies.

The Alloy orchestra, 3 brilliant musicians from Boston, make their living creating modern soundtracks for restored silent classics. They make watching silent movies a new experience.

Overall this is the finest presentation I have seen of two of the greatest silent films of all time!

The Buster Keaton: The General/Steamboat Bill Jr.

Average customer rating:

The General/Steamboat Bill Jr.

The Buster Keaton: The General/Steamboat Bill Jr.

Manufacturer: Genius Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Comedy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0006GQN0Y
Release Date: 2004-01-01

Customer Reviews:

The General/Steamboat Bill Jr........2006-07-09

I assume if you're looking at this, you already know about the films and their production, star, etc. In short, Keaton is hilarious!!!
I bought this to see what was on it since there weren't any reviews.
This is a release by Movie Ventures. It's a double-sided disc with one of the films on each side. There is no inside case insert. The transfer is fairly good. Some sound effects have been added (such as guns and cannons firing), and others have been incorporated into the music (such as the trains' distinctive sound, as well as their speeding up and slowing down, and people falling).
The music itself is not 1920s music at all. It's all synthesized, and most of the train stuff is "drumset" (etc.) material. It definately sounds like MIDI. It's all very well synchronized with what's happening on the screen, but I don't think it does anything to make the film better. I was expecting old jazz on solo piano etc.
The case says that "Steamboat Bill Jr." runs 111 minutes, but it's actually only 79 minutes (or 1 hour and 9 minutes). I don't know what's up with that. It doesn't say "The End" or anything.
Despite the musical shortcoming, this is definately worth the $3.30 that I paid for it!
God bless,
Alex

Average customer rating:

Steamboat Bill Jr.
Truly Funny Silent Comedy
Two rare restorations and a Keaton classic
Sight gags to structural collapse
Steamboats and Slapstick

Steamboat Bill, Jr.
Starring: Marion Byron , Joe Keaton , Tom Lewis , Tom McGuire , and Ernest Torrence
Director: Charles Reisner
Manufacturer: Image Entertainment
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Classics | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Slapstick | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Classic Comedies | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Buster Keaton Collection (The Cameraman / Spite Marriage / Free & Easy)

ASIN: 6305609950
Release Date: 1999-10-26

Amazon.com essential video

Buster Keaton stars in 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. Keaton's slapstick is inspired and precise, particularly during an amazing sequence in which he tries to walk across town during a tornado. Watch in amazement as the front of a building falls on Keaton and he walks away without a scratch. --Marshall Fine

Description

Flavored with Americana and loaded with cinematic inventiveness, "Steamboat Bill, Jr." (1928, 69 min.) was Buster Keaton's final independent production, a comic masterpiece. Set on the Mississippi River, "Steamboat Bill, Jr." follows the adventures of a spoiled young man who is forced by his crusty father (Ernest Torrence) to learn riverboating. Highlighted by remarkable special effects, the film includes the legendary stunt in which the front of a building collapses over Junior, who passes unharmed through an open window. Added to this DVD are two Keaton shorts. Surprisingly dark yet wickedly funny, "Convict 13" (1920, 20 min.) combines gallows humor with rapid-fire slapstick. In "Daydreams" (1922, 22 min.), Buster tries to establish himself in a profession--from veterinary assistant to street-sweeper to actor--and, in one of his most cleverly staged chases, is pursued by a herd of New York City "bulls." Digitally mastered from archival prints, with original musical scores.

Customer Reviews:

Steamboat Bill Jr........2007-06-20

Co-directed by Keaton, this delightful comic romp follows a hapless steamboat operator who just can't seem to please his steely, rough-edged pop. As always, Keaton's antics and sight gags are a hoot, such as when he tries, feebly, to bust his dad out of jail for socking McGuire, the ferryboat proprietor who's edging into his business. His expressive facial gestures here rival Chaplin's for sheer sad-clown poignancy. The film's set piece, which involves a raging tornado and an uprooted tree, culminates in one of the comedian's most daring stunts--all of which he performed himself. Steamboat Bill Jr. is a gas, powered by a master of physical comedy.

Truly Funny Silent Comedy.......2007-03-20

Steamboat Bill (Ernest Torrence) is in competition with another local riverboat man (Tom McGuire). Aside from his problems at home, his son (Buster Keaton) is coming home from college. Bill Jr. is a bit of a klutz and besides causing trouble that way, he's in love with the rival boatman's daughter (Marion Byron). Because of his son, Bill lands in jail in the midst of a wild storm.

Steamboat Bill, Jr. features some of the most well known stunts of Keaton's career including the scene where the house falls down on him and he's in the window looking around. The storm scene is one of the best parts of the film. It features many impressive stunts and lots of action as well as comedy. However, Keaton does not only excell in outrageous scenes. The bit in the jailhouse is subtley hilarious.

Two rare restorations and a Keaton classic.......2006-09-14

These three samples of Buster Keaton' work span most of his silent solo career (1921-28) and show the infinite diversity of mood and theme he was able to create. The short films are particularly interesting in being rarely seen and only recently preserved and reconstructed; one of them, Daydreams, is still fragmented but with enough of the film rescued to be worthwhile. Both of the shorts show significant signs of decomposition and many scenes have very poor quality. Of course, none of that matters to Keaton fans, who will be happy to see his movies in any state but lost.

Convict 13, the earliest of the 3 films in this set, was the third short since his departure from his mentor Fatty Arbuckle. It reveals some remnants of the Arbuckle-Keystone influences, including wild scenes of mob chaos , as when Buster wields a heavy leg shackle to subdue a prison riot. But the formula of the film is pure Keaton, as his character undergoes a series of mishaps, first as a golfer, then as a prisoner, before displaying superhuman skill at singlehandedly thwarting a prison riot and winning the girl.

Daydreams, one of his last shorts from late 1922, has a formula that is rich enough in comic possibilities that one could almost imagine it as a feature film. In fact, it suggests the formula of "The Three Ages", insofar as the story is told in disjointed fragments with different settings. It also has the characteristic hints of darkness, as Keaton's character resolves to prove himself a worthy suitor by becoming a success at a chosen occupation; if he fails, he promises to "shoot himself", whereupon the father of the girl (played by Joe Keaton) gleefully offers to supply the gun. Of course Buster fails at everything he tries, but fortunately for him, he also fails at shooting himself by missing! The film has the famous shot of Buster being trapped on a moving paddlewheel of a boat, a scene which is as iconic to Keaton's character as the Clock in Safety Last is to Harold Lloyd's.

The feature, Steamboat Bill Junior, fits into essentially the same formula as Convict 13: again, an underdog with virtually no respect shown to him by man or nature eventually performs an almost superhuman act to redeem himself to the world and win the girl. The setting here is a river town, Buster is the weak, clueless son of a tough steamboat captain who tries and eventually succeeds in helping his father defeat the rival corporate entity. First however he must undergo significant abuse as he tries to adjust from spoiled big city life to the rugged life on the river. The climax of the film is a cataclysmic storm that floods everything, and Buster saves his girl, his father and his girl's father from drowning. Buster's acrobatics are as always amazing to watch; this time, he maneuvers around a large steamship with the dexterity of a monkey but also with the grace and beauty of a ballet dancer.

Steamboat Bill Jr. is not as successful and universally satisfying to watch as The General or Sherlock Jr., but there are enough wonderful moments to make it worthwhile. Of all the KINO volumes in this collection, this may not be the best, but its quality makes it worth owning.

Sight gags to structural collapse.......2006-06-27

This was a surprising and remarkably paced film of Keaton's. What starts out as pretty quaint and rural extends to higher and higher proportions as the comedy switches from the difficulties of two lovers trying to get together despite a family feud to Keaton running around town during a tornado. All of it is filled with those Keaton conceits one comes to love, but it's the most physical of his full-length features, where even in quiet parts he will do pratfalls of stunning dexterity that can leave you no less than awestruck.

The beginning, however, is a lot more a set-up of sight-gags, most of which are very funny and surprisingly inside-jokey. At this point, it seems Keaton expects the audience to know him, which leads to some pretty original takes on his own character. Another earlier site-gag involving a mix-up in the father and son trying to reconnect and accidentally coming across various and unamused strangers is a little politically incorrect for our time, but is still very funny anyway.

--PolarisDiB

Steamboats and Slapstick.......2004-05-13

STEAMBOAT BILL, JR (1928) was Buster Keaton's final independent film -- the last feature he would make before financial issues forced him to sign what would be a disastrous contract with MGM. Therefore, it seems fitting that this film contains a quick throwaway laugh where, upon being handed a familiar looking porkpie hat (a mainstay throughout his career), he throws the headwear away in horror. This movie has a lot going for it. While it takes a little time to get started, it finishes strong with a finale that shows exactly how hilarious Keaton could be when given the creative control he craved.

Steamboat Bill is a rough, working man, trying to keep his head above water in the steamboat ferry business despite his extremely wealthy competitor. He welcomes the forthcoming return of his son, who he hasn't seen since the boy's childhood. But when short, pampered Buster Keaton (the Junior of the title) arrives, Bill Sr.'s hopes of having a strong, vigorous young man to help his trade are dashed. But to make matters worse, Keaton is madly in love with the fetching young daughter of his rival, and the two lovers continue to see one another, despite the objections of their respective families. Yes, it's "Romeo and Juliet", had Shakespeare been less interested in suicide and more friendly with steamboats and slapstick.

Three years earlier, Keaton had done a film called SEVEN CHANCES (1925), a movie I felt wasn't really memorable until the long and hilarious chase sequence that begins towards the end of the film. And like SEVEN CHANCES, this film really takes off in its wild grand finale. Not that the film is bad beforehand. It isn't. There are numerous strong sequences. But I love Keaton when his pace really starts to pick up and he madly runs from one crazy sight gag to another. And once the rain starts falling and the hurricane turns up the intensity, the film presents us with some of the most successful material of his career, as well as the most famous. Everyone has seen the scene where the exterior wall tips over and Keaton only survives by standing where the empty window falls -- that's from this film. The pace resembles one of his more frantic short films, and the timing is, of course, superb.

The disc also contains two short films from earlier in Keaton's career. CONVICT 13 (1920) involves a case of mistaken identity. A golfing Keaton is accidentally put in jail, confused with a prisoner who is due to be executed that very day. This short is devilishly funny. The sequence of Keaton being hanged by an elastic rope has to be one of the funniest few seconds ever committed to celluloid. And, of course, it's always entertaining to see Joe Roberts in another amusingly over-the-top fight sequence where he gets to throw extras (and Keaton) around like ragdolls. This ranks as one of Keaton's strongest short films.

The other short film included is DAYDREAMS (1922). Actually, it would be more accurate to say that this is merely a reconstruction of the film itself, as a complete copy did not exist at the time of this release. That said, the fact that some minutes of footage are missing doesn't hurt the film at all (although I did dislike the apparent decision to slow down the occasionally piece of footage; it really hurt some of the gags). On the contrary, this is a fabulous twenty-two minutes, and while some of the gags are a bit predictable (he writes to his girlfriend that he's really "cleaning up" Wall Street; she imagines he's become a power player, but I think anyone reading this can guess what he's really doing), they are strikingly funny in execution. Some of the jokes are quite inventive and surprising. Keaton shoveling dirt into a trash can with no bottom is amusing (and a quiet recycling of an earlier joke), but it's hilarious when he shifts position to reveal that the receptacle was sitting on top of an open manhole cover with an angry sewer worker underneath.

Product Description

Double-feature of Buster Keaton classics, including: THE GENERAL - The two things engineer Johnny Gray (Buster Keaton) loves most in the world are his Southern belle sweetheart and his locomotive. When Northern spies steal the latter, the intrepid Confederate single-handedly takes on the entire Union army in order to get it back. Against a backdrop of magnificently photographed Civil War battle scenes unfolds one of the great chases in movie history. Set almost entirely aboard moving trains, Keaton's THE GENERAL is physical comedy refined to elegant perfection and widely considered to be the actor-director's greatest film. STEAMBOAT BILL JR. - In STEAMBOAT BILL, JR., Buster Keaton plays the mild-mannered son of a steamboat captain caught in the middle of the bitter rivalry between his father and another Mississippi riverboat owner. This silent classic contains the famous stunt in which a cyclone blows down a two-story wall over Keaton who passes unharmed through an open window.

Average customer rating:

extraordinary
Very bad picture quality
Buy the Image/Kino/Warner DVD's
Charlie vs. Buster

Buster Keaton/Charlie Chaplin
Starring: Keaton , and Chaplin
Manufacturer: Direct Source Special Products
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $7.49 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( B ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

4-for-3 Comedy | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video

4-for-3 All DVDs | 4-for-3 DVD | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B00022Q1SQ
Release Date: 2005-02-01

Product Description

Four movies on 2 Discs, old time silent comedies. The Kid, Tillie's Punctured Romance, The General, & Steamboat Bill Jr

Customer Reviews:

extraordinary.......2005-01-27

I had to watch all four films from these dvds in my film class, and I loved them. Yes, the film quality is lacking, but you have to remember just how old these films are. Charlie Chaplin's The Kid is, in my opinion, one of the best films ever made. And of course, Buster Keaton keeps you laughing. I've been looking for this specific collection at walmart (my teacher told us thats where he got it from) with no success, so I'm very excited to find it here. If you can convince yourself to sit and watch the movies, then you'll soon be sucked in, and fall in love with them too.

Very bad picture quality.......2004-06-25

Watching these DVDs is like watching a tiny mpeg blown up to fill the screen. The compression artifacts are annoyingly apparent and it's like watching the video through a curtain of debris.

"The Kid" isn't as bad in quality as the other three shorts are, but the picture is still a bit blurred nonetheless.

I'm going to take pjmccart's advice and get the Warner/MK2 copy of "The Kid" ... or maybe even the 2-disc Special Edition version.

Buy the Image/Kino/Warner DVD's.......2004-05-12

I knew that the "Legends of the Silver Screen" DVD's would be awful, but what's worse is that they simply stole transfers from other companies. "The Kid" is from the old CBS-FOX laserdisc (later a DVD from Image Entertainment). While the great transfer is obvious, the nearly 2.1 mbs bitrate makes the image totally blurry. The General and Steamboat Bill Jr. appear to be from Killiam prints released by Republic on laserdisc (both are very blurry). Tillie's Punctured Romance isn't terrible, but it too is obviously from another company's laserdisc.

AVOID this 2-disc set. Get the Image Entertainment DVD for The General and Steamboat Bill Jr and the Warner/MK2 DVD for The Kid. I think Image Entertainment has a DVD of Tillie, but I'm not sure. If they do, it'll at least have something better than 2.1 mbs!

Charlie vs. Buster.......2004-04-30

In one of my college classes recently we watched a Charlie Chaplin film, so when I saw this box set at WalMart (for $5.50) I knew it was too good to be true. These four movies are absolute classics; they can never be replaced by the movies of this day and age. If you're the type who can sit through a silent movie... this is definitely for you.

Average customer rating:

Steamboat Bill Jr.
Truly Funny Silent Comedy
Two rare restorations and a Keaton classic
Sight gags to structural collapse
Steamboats and Slapstick

Steamboat Bill, Jr.

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( S ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

Family Films | Kids & Family | Genres | DVD | Video

The General
Our Hospitality/Sherlock, Jr.
The Navigator
Seven Chances
Buster Keaton Collection (The Cameraman / Spite Marriage / Free & Easy)

ASIN: B0000WSS1Q

Amazon.com essential video

Customer Reviews:

Steamboat Bill Jr........2007-06-20

Truly Funny Silent Comedy.......2007-03-20

Two rare restorations and a Keaton classic.......2006-09-14

Sight gags to structural collapse.......2006-06-27

Steamboats and Slapstick.......2004-05-13

amazon.com

Buster Keaton is the son of a steamboat captain who returns home after many years of college. His father hopes he will take over as captain of the steamboat but, Keaton doesn't seem to have his heart into the task and would rather spend time with the daughter of a rival steamboat captain that has feuded with his father for years. Keaton proves his worth as a captain when he must break his father out of jail, due to a misunderstanding, and also save some people, including his girlfriend, during a horrible storm.

Comedy Classics (2 DVD Set, 6 Feature Films) Country Gentlement, Freckles Comes Home, the Town Went Wild, Steamboat Bill, Jr., College, and the General.

Average customer rating:

Comedy Classics (2 DVD Set, 6 Feature Films) Country Gentlement, Freckles Comes Home, the Town Went Wild, Steamboat Bill, Jr., College, and the General.

Manufacturer: Platinum Disc
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

Product Description

Country Gentlement, Freckles Comes Home, The Town Went Wild, Steamboat Bill, Jr., College and the General. Each a little over 1 hour long.

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