Eureka! … Since 1981

Eureka! Classics | Special edition disc with bonus feature, The Boat – directed by and starring Buster Keaton

Steamboat Bill is William Canfield (Ernest Torrence), the larger-than-life owner of the stern-wheeler Stonewall Jackson which he has operated successfully for many years with his first (and only) mate played by Tom Lewis.

Almost all of the town is owned by entrepreneur and businessman J. J. King who has now introduced his own stern-wheeler, a pleasure palace named King, to take all the trade and drive Stonewall Jackson off the river and Steamboat Bill out of business.

William Canfield, Jr. (Buster Keaton), has been at college in Boston but a telegram informs Steamboat Bill that the son who he has not seen since a baby is going to visit. Expecting a giant of a youth to appear from the train, Steamboat Bill and his mate are amused and perplexed to find the small and skinny Keaton appear at the station.

Steamboat Bill Jr, gets kitted out to work on the Stonewall Jackson and then discovers that he is a college friend of Kitty, the pretty daughter of none other than J. J. King!

King contrives to get the Stonewall Jackson condemned as being unsafe but, during an enormous cyclone which destroys much of the town and sees Keaton performing numerous amazing stunts and escapes as buildings fall down around his ears. How will Steamboat ‘Willie’ save the day?

Steamboat Bill Jr. is the last great film Buster Keaton made before he gave up his independence and signed for MGM.

This seminal film also features the incredible ‘falling side of a house’ scene in which Keaton allowed himself two inches clearance all round. Half the crew couldn’t watch in case this time he really did kill himself!

Cast:
Buster Keaton
Ernest Torrence
Marion Byron
Tom Lewis
Tom McGuire

This Special Edition also includes:

The Boat (27 mins approx.)
Written and directed by Buster Keaton and Eddie Kline, this is another film of seemingly endless disasters as Master ‘craftsman’ Keaton builds, launches and sails his boat Damfino – complete with family, a bathtub for a lifeboat and an anchor that floats!