Steamboat Bill Jr.

1928 - Dir: Buster Keaton & Charles Reisner

Shown at The FeckenOdeon on 27th February, 2010

This is the last film Buster Keaton made as an independent producer. It’s perhaps not surprising that the "great stone face" never cracks into even the hint of a smile. During the filming he was told that the money men had pulled the plug and that his studio was to be closed down once "Steamboat Bill" was complete. It’s said that he was so desolated by the news that he took more risks than usual because he didn’t really care if he lived or died. He later took a job with MGM who promised him creative freedom. A short lived promise - "The Cameraman" (shown here in April 2008) was the only picture he was allowed to direct and his career nose dived from then on.

It’s difficult to know if Keaton would have survived the transition to sound. His voice wasn’t great and his technique so physical that he was probably destined to become a museum piece. It wasn’t until the 1950s that the films of Jaques Tati made those techniques fashionable again.

• The original script featured a flood. However, due to the effects of a real flood, this became a "cyclone."
• Marion Byron couldn’t swim, so the scenes when she’s in the river used Buster's real-life sister Louise. The water was very cold and during a day of filming Buster and Louise each required 5 large glasses of French Brandy to keep them warm... well, that was their excuse...
• The film was the model for "Steamboat Willie" - Disney’s first sound cartoon.