Steamboat Bill, Jr. / College Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Steamboat Bill, Jr. / College Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf February 22, 2017

After the release of “The General,” which failed at the box office and tarnished Buster Keaton’s name in Hollywood, the actor quickly rebounded with 1927’s “College” and 1928’s “Steamboat Bill, Jr.” While both pictures failed to deviate from Keaton’s routine, they made the most of an uncomfortable situation, with the actor losing his creative control, scrambling to preserve a directorial career. Professional pressure wasn’t easy on Keaton, but “Steamboat Bill, Jr.” and “College” remain solid examples of the comedian’s feature-length work, taking risks with stunts and jokes to make his movies unforgettable.

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Steamboat Bill, Jr. / College Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

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For a video review of "College," please click here.

Steamboat Bill, Jr. / College Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

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For an audio review of "College," please click here.

Steamboat Bill, Jr. / College Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Steamboat Bill, Jr.

• Commentary features film historians Michael Schlesinger and Stan Taffel.

• Introduction (4:22, HD) introduces Lobster Films representative Serge Bromberg, who welcomes viewers to the "Steamboat Bill, Jr." HD experience. Bromberg discusses the restoration process, which involved the discovery of a workprint in James Mason's utility room, and the labor involved with the removal of a printing error, restoring the feature back to its original framing after decades of cropped presentations.

• Vintage Alka-Seltzer Commercial (1:04, SD) reunites Buster Keaton and Speedy, with the comedian now facing digestive issues while commanding a ship, in need of quick relief.

College

• Commentary features Rob Farr.

• Introduction (4:29, HD) reunites with Lobster Film rep Serge Bromberg, who discusses the triumphs of "College," hoping to boost its reputation as one of Keaton's less interesting features.

• Lillian Gish Introduction (4:18, SD) is another episode of "The Silent Years," with the celebrated actress sharing her personal excitement for Keaton's career and his work on "College," also presenting a gentle warning about the effort's blackface content.

• Tour of Filming Locations (9:57, SD) is hosted by John Bengston, author of "Silent Echoes," and he takes viewers around L.A., using photographs to showcase where the production set up shop.

• "The Scribe" (29:31, HD) is a 1966 short about construction safety, produced by the Construction Safety Association of Ontario, Canada. It's a fine collection of Keaton comedy, refusing to let age slow him down, and it's also the actor's final performance.

• "Run, Girl, Run" (18:27, HD) is a 1928 short starring Carol Lombard.

Steamboat Bill, Jr. / College Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Restoration efforts help to sweeten the "Steamboat Bill, Jr." and "College" viewing experiences, providing a pleasing view of Keaton's directorial bravery and distinct way with timing. The features are right at home on Blu-ray, with "Steamboat Bill, Jr." a particular delight as it allows an examination of technique and stunt achievements, helping to grasp just how Keaton pulled off many of his cinematic magic tricks.