Typical
silent movie
nonsense about a
foppish son proving his worth to his father, STEAMBOAT BILL,
JR.
is
a frequently amusing Keaton vehicle with most of the gags based on
subtle
pantomime, and few really powerhouse physical gags. Keaton
saves
the
best for last, however, with a spectacular tornado finale that ranks
among his best endings ever. In other words, the first two
thirds
of the film are filled with cute gags and charmingly silly moments,
most of which you will forget after the windstorm hits. In a
weird way, that makes it one of Keaton's most repeatably watchable
silent features.
STEAMBOAT BILL, JR., the third
in a
series of box-office disappointments after THE GENERAL and
COLLEGE, was
Keaton's last
independent silent film. His final two silent features (THE
CAMERAMAN and SPITE
MARRIAGE) would be made as an official employee for
MGM.
-
JB