Steamboat Bill, Jr.
1928 · Movie · NR · 70 min · ★ 7.6 · 95% critics
A mild-mannered college graduate visits the tough steamboat captain father he hasn’t seen since childhood and struggles to fit into his dad’s rough world. With a rivalry between riverboat owners and a budding romance adding pressure, everyday mishaps build into a chaotic showdown when a violent storm hits town.
Also known as Steamboat Bill, Junior
Where to watch
Watch free on Tubi — also streaming on Amazon Prime Video, FilmBox+ Now, Cohen Media Channel +1 more.
1 hour to watch.
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Details
- Years
- 1928
- Release date
- 1928-05-09
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 70 min
- Max quality
- HD
- Critic score
- 95/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.6/10 (392 votes)
About
You’ll likely enjoy this if you want classic silent laughs, an underdog trying to prove himself, and a huge, stunt-heavy storm finale; Not for you if you need a fast start or deep plot like The General.
Pros: inventive physical comedy; memorable storm finale; charming father-son dynamic | Cons: slow early stretch; thin romance thread; story feels secondary
Themes
- wind
- river
- girlfriend
- jail
- steamboat
- black and white
- makeover
- rescue from drowning
- silent film
- barbershop
- carnation
- father son reunion
- +8 more
Cast & crew
Buster Keaton
as William 'Willie' Canfield Jr.
Tom McGuire
as John James 'J.J.' King
Ernest Torrence
as William 'Steamboat Bill' Canfield Sr.
- TL
Tom Lewis
as First and Last Mate Tom Carter
Marion Byron
as Kitty King
- JM
James T. Mack
as Minister (uncredited)
- FW
Ford West
as Barber (uncredited)
Directed by Buster Keaton, Charles Reisner