Overview
A young man returns to his roots, only to find love and chaos in a stormy showdown.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- deadpan
- breezy
- classic cinema night
- lazy afternoon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard the film as a classic of silent comedy, especially praising its brilliant storm and physical-comedy set pieces despite a lighter laugh rate than some Keaton works.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
J.J. King's newer steamer and business empire threaten Steamboat Bill's older boat and livelihood.
William Canning Jr. arrives as an elegantly styled, physically unassuming young man rather than the rugged river figure his father expects.
The storm, collapsing structures, wind, and unstable buildings generate the film's most famous kinetic comedy and rescue sequences.
Bill Jr. and Kitty's attraction is obstructed by the longstanding conflict between Steamboat Bill and J.J. King.
Films like Steamboat Bill, Jr., and why
The General
shared silent-era physical comedy, deadpan performance, romantic conflict, and elaborate practical set pieces
Sherlock Jr.
shared Buster Keaton deadpan humor, romance, action comedy, and inventive visual gags
Safety Last!
shared silent slapstick, fish-out-of-water comedy, romance, and escalating rescue spectacle
Movie Details
- Directors
- Charles Reisner, Buster Keaton
- Release Date
- 1928-05-09
- Runtime
- 70 min
- Rating
- 7.6 / 10 (409)
Cast
- Buster Keaton
- Tom McGuire
- Ernest Torrence
- Tom Lewis
- Marion Byron
- James T. Mack
- Ford West
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, TCM, IndieFlix, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, Artiflix
- Rent
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Steamboat Bill, Jr. about?
- A deadpan young riverboat heir must win over his disappointed father, outmaneuver a rival business family, and survive a devastating storm.
- What is Steamboat Bill, Jr. like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Steamboat Bill, Jr. as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Steamboat Bill, Jr. violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Steamboat Bill, Jr. as mild.
- What did critics think of Steamboat Bill, Jr.?
- Critics broadly regard the film as a classic of silent comedy, especially praising its brilliant storm and physical-comedy set pieces despite a lighter laugh rate than some Keaton works.
- Which films are like Steamboat Bill, Jr.?
- Films with a similar feel include The General, Sherlock Jr., and Safety Last!.
- How long is Steamboat Bill, Jr.?
- Steamboat Bill, Jr. runs 70 minutes.
- Where can I watch Steamboat Bill, Jr.?
- In United States, Steamboat Bill, Jr. streams on fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, TCM, IndieFlix, IndieFlix Shorts Amazon Channel, Artiflix.
