A Comedy with Buster Keaton for the entire family | Cine-concert

Directed in 1928 by Charles Reisner, Steamboat Bill, Jr. is an exceptional example of Buster Keaton’s talent for physical comedy and daring stunts. The story follows William Canfield Jr. (Buster Keaton), a frail and awkward young man who returns to his hometown to join his father’s steamboat business. His father, Steamboat Bill Sr., is disappointed in his son, whom he sees as unfit for river work. Things take a comically dramatic turn when Bill Jr. falls in love with the daughter of his father's rival, sparking a series of comedic conflicts. The film’s climax features one of the most famous scenes in silent film history: during a devastating storm, the front of a building collapses onto Keaton, who escapes unscathed thanks to a perfectly positioned open window. This iconic stunt was performed without special effects.

Steamboat Bill, Jr. is considered the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Steamboat Willie (1928), released just six months later—a production that introduced Mickey Mouse to the world.

The film will be accompanied live by pianist John Sweeney, who has been composing and performing live music for silent films for nearly thirty years. Originally from New Zealand, Sweeney now lives in London. In the UK, he has performed at Riverside Studio Cinemas, the National Film Theatre, Nottingham Broadway, and the Barbican Centre. Internationally, he has appeared at prestigious festivals including Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna, Le Giornate del Cinema Muto in Pordenone, and at film events in Austria, Germany, Italy, and Slovenia.

The cine-concert is recommended for both adults and children.

Steamboat Bill, Jr. will be screened Tuesday, June 17, at 5:00 PM, at Florin Piersic Cinema.